Frank Chapman Questionnaire

Below is a questionnaire sent by the Tribune staff to sent to Chapman and his answers.

Name: Frank Chapman

Age: 47

Address: 450 East Coconut Palm Road

Hometown: Boca Raton, Florida

Family: Ann, my wife and three sons: Jack 15, Hugh 12, Jimmy 10

Current occupation: Attorney, retired

Highest level of education: Juris Doctorate Degree in Law

Public service experience: n/a

Civic involvement:

Boca Raton Community Middle School – past Chairman School Advisory Council (SAC), PTSA
Addison Mizner Elementary School – past Secretary and Chairman School Advisory Council (SAC), PTSA
Boca Raton Community High School – asst. wrestling coach, School Advisory Council, PTSA, re-incorporated the Boca Raton High School Football Boosters a non-profit organization, supporter of the theater, scholarship night presenter of the John Futch Memorial Trophy, and Founding Member and Past President of the Boca Raton Alumni Association.
Boca Raton Pop Warner Football and Cheerleading – founding member, past President, past Treasurer, Coach
Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc, Treasure Coast Conference, Football and Cheerleading – Executive Board Member and Football Commissioner for Palm Beach County.

Have you ever been arrested? If so, when, what were the charges and what was the disposition?

Political figure you admire most and why:

Winston Churchill because he lead with great bravery during World War II, the darkest hours of his country’s history.

Fun fact about yourself:

I was Boca Raton student Mayor for a day in May, 1986. During this meeting we annexed the Town Center Mall and put lights on Airport Road to dissuade drag racing. The Jewish American War Veterans also awarded me a scholarship that day.

Which sitting Supreme Court justice do you admire most and why? Which current justice do you think has been the greatest disappointment and why?

The best Supreme Court is a court with all political perspectives available to support a healthy discourse. I therefore respect and like them all. My favorite is Benjamin N. Cardozo who in Murphy v. Steeplechase Amusement Park, 166 N.E. 173 (1929) denied a right to recover for knee injury from riding “The Flopper” funride since the victim “assumed the risk.” Thanks to Justice Cardozo we can all still have a great time riding roller coasters!

Is there a problem of a growing income and wealth gap in the United States? If so, what’s to be done about it?

We need to strengthen the middle class. We need opportunity, which is available through a strong affordable educational system.

Is global warming real? What, if anything, should be done about it?

Climate change is real and is caused by humans. We have a responsibility to our children to protect our planet and strengthen our ecosystems. In Boca, we must continue to preserve our beachfronts.
Join us March 8^th from 9 am to 12 pm for a Boca Beach Clean up. Parking will be free and lunch will be served to all the volunteers.

Why is city government important?

I feel a real responsibility to my community and am extremely passionate in my beliefs. I believe that local government has a day-to-day responsibility to provide the services to the public. Once these basic necessities are fulfilled, local government has a responsibility to the community through providing a clear path to the future of the city. In our case that clear path is fulfilled through the representation of the best interests of the residents of the community and not the subjective selfish interests of the power brokers, builders and political lobbyists.

What is the future of city government?

I will not be a part of nor accept the path to “Browardization.” We need to define our future with a new 20-year plan. This is a serious discussion, which needs to be open so that the residents have actual input. I have scheduled a Town Hall meeting on Thursday, February 19^th from 6pm to 8pm at the Old Train Station on Dixie to allow for this discussion to begin. This plan will determine whether we continue on the wrong path or we regain control of our future Boca Raton.

Do you think fundamental changes are required in the city’s annual budget?

The last 8 years have been challenging for Boca Raton. Now that we have more money available from rising home prices we need to make certain that taxes are not raised and that we invest responsibly in the community. We need to invest in a Development Officer and also restore the services lost in the recession.

What do you think the public’s perception of the city government is? If there are problems, what do you want to do to improve that perception?

It is not simply a perception, it is a reality. Boca Raton needs to strive for a higher citizen satisfaction rating. The city needs to learn to say “yes” to non-profit groups simply trying to make the community a friendlier more beautiful place to live.

Downtown development has been on the move inBoca Raton. What are your thoughts on the redevelopment efforts downtown?

I will not stand by while Boca Raton is changed forever. I do not wish to live in a city that loses its community character and beautiful neighborhoods. When we allow outsiders and developer interest groups to change the landscape of Boca Raton, we must stop fulfilling their interests, but rather fulfill the interests of our citizens.

Traffic can be frustrating, particularly downtown. How should the city address this issue?

Traffic is now frustrating and is simply going to get worse. The present City Council has allowed for the development of 1,443 new units in downtown Boca with more in the planning stages. That is an increase of 84% since 2013, and we need to stop! We need to see the impact upon our city streets and then determine a course of action. This is all part of a new 20 year plan that the community as a whole must discuss, formulate, and approve. We will not get a second chance.

Annexation is on many people’s minds. What is your position on expanding the service boundaries of the city?

Annexation was an issue in 1986 during Boca High Youth Government Day and continues to be a hot topic today. Annexation was designed to consider properties West of the city and East of the turnpike for inclusion within the city limits and thus I believe areas West of the turnpike should not be included in any discussion. The remaining properties are not a financial consideration and thus whether or not the city makes money is not the reason for annexation. We take action to annex these areas when annexation is in the best interests of Bocan Raton citizens. The best interests are fulfilled when we make our community smarter, stronger, and more relevant.