Pat Roff Says Wares Creek, 14th Street Focus of Next Term if Reelected

BRADENTON - “I promised two years to being a councilman full-time, and I’ve now kept my two year promise to an additional six,” said Patrick Roff at an interview with TBT. The Ward 3 Councilman and former arborist, who is up for re-election in November, says he believes he has found a calling in the position and has no higher aspirations.

Plans to beautify and help control flooding from Wares Creek, which runs through the councilman’s ward has been something of a pet project since his first term. With dredging, widening and restoration of the creek being planned for decades, the councilman says he spent part of his first term getting money and permits to begin the project.

Phase I of the project, which cost $3.5 million and involved the removal of muck and sediment, was completed in 2012. Phase II, which will remove vegetation from the creek, has been stalled and is currently set to begin by Oct. 1. Phase III, which is currently in progress under a different contractor from the one set to begin Phase II, involves erosion control through putting in a steel wall and widening the creek from 21st to 30th Avenue.

The councilman noted he also played a part in creating Realize Bradenton, which has been committed to revitalizing the downtown area. His is currently Co-Chair of the nonprofit organization.

Roff says his next term will be dedicated to the redevelopment of 14th Street, though he doesn’t expect to project to be easy. “It’s going to be just as hard as the Wares Creek project, maybe even harder,” he says.

Roff faces Paul Thomas in the November 4 general election.