Phil Lantry (St. Cloud City Council Member, Florida, candidate 2024)

Phil Lantry (No Party Affiliation) ran for election to St. Cloud City Council Member in Florida on August 20, 2024.^[1]

Elections

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Phil Lantry completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Lantry's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Hello Citizens of St. Cloud! My name is Phil Lantry. I am a lifelong resident running for St. Cloud City Council Seat 2. I want to make our community better and safer for everyone that lives here. I believe in honesty and transparency. Your City Council should be a voice for all St. Cloud residents and I will be that voice. I will work with City and County officials to improve infrastructure, strengthen public safety, expand youth programs, practice smarter spending, encourage responsible growth, and ensure clean water for all residents.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

STRENGTHEN PUBLIC SAFETY The City of St. Cloud is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. With over 65,000 residents, we must ensure that our law enforcement and emergency services are provided with the necessary equipment and resources to keep the public safe. I support using proactive strategies to address social and criminal issues affecting our community. Serving on the Osceola County Fire and Rescue Advisory Board helped me understand the challenges our first responders face and the resources they need.
EXPAND YOUTH PROGRAMS As the population of St. Cloud grows, we must also acknowledge the growing youth population. The need for more youth programs and civic spaces such as parks and sports venues will require more collaboration between private entities and city government services. We must ensure that our young residents living here will have access to positive youth development programs enhancing the characteristics of our children while improving physical health and academics.
RESPONSIBLE GROWTH The need to build communities that are socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable is greater now than ever before. I will work with city and county officials to revise outdated zoning codes that discourage healthy and sustainable growth. Our land and natural resources are our most valuable asset, and it must be held to the highest value so that we can preserve the small town way of life for generations to come. As a member of the Planning Commission, I have experience working with city staff which will be needed to accomplish this goal.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I will work with City and County officials to revise our outdated zoning codes to make new development more self-sustainable. This means integrating civil, social, and environmental amenities such as schools and parks into our new neighborhoods so that people do not have to drive everywhere for everything. This approach makes neighborhoods safer and more equitable for our children and people walking/biking. Housing sprawl has gotten out of control and continuing in this way is not sustainable. It puts unnecessary strain on our emergency services and does not encourage local economic growth.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

An elected official should always be honest and transparent. They should have the ability to lead and make good decisions. The ability to work collaboratively with other elected officials to take actions for the betterment of all constituents is essential. Elected officials should always make time to speak with constituents about issues and be a good steward of taxpayer money. They must represent and protect the interests, prosperity, and well-being of all citizens.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibilities for a City Council Member are to adopt budgets and policies that define ordinances, purchases, contracts and agreements for the city. A Council Member should represent their constituents’ interests that are impacted by the city government.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Financial transparency and government accountability are extremely important to me. We must put an end to wasteful spending. Accurate and timely information about budget execution is necessary to hold officials to their budgetary commitments. Adopting more transparent spending practices is especially important now when many local governments are managing large sums of money to address large scale repairs to deteriorating infrastructure. My experience in construction contract administration for multi-million dollar projects will be a valuable asset to the St. Cloud City Council.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The areas of public policy that I am passionate about are improving infrastructure, strengthening public safety, expanding youth programs, practicing smarter spending, encouraging responsible growth, and ensuring clean water for St. Cloud Residents.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

The decisions that the St. Cloud City Council makes impact hundreds of thousands of people. Although there are just less than 70,000 people living in the city limits of St. Cloud, there are many that live near and around the city who are also impacted by changes implemented by the city government. St. Cloud is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States and the decisions made now will have a lasting impact in this area for generations to come.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

The St. Cloud City Council votes on all land use and zoning changes inside the city limits. However, I don't think that most people understand the separation between private business and city government. The City Council must treat every applicant fairly and must render decisions that are impartial. If not, it increases the risk of legal action against the city which could prove to be very costly.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

I don't think it is necessary for City Council Members to serve in government prior to being elected. However, I do think that it is important to understand local politics and the way that city government operates.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

I believe that those who serve on the city council should understand the land development code and business contracts at a minimum. Experience in the world of business and understanding how the private sector works with local government is also important. In my job as an architect, I provide construction contract administration services on large multi-million-dollar projects including schools, hospitals, sports complexes, mixed use commercial, and performing arts centers. During the span of my architecture career, I have gained extensive experience with construction contracts, methods, and costs. Serving on zoning code task forces for the zoning division in Orange County in connection with the American Institute of Architects has given me a unique perspective on urban sprawl and how to prevent it. I have been serving in a voluntary capacity on the City of St. Cloud Planning Commission for the last 3 years.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was was mowing lawns with my older brother. We did this together for 2-3 years before I was able to get my first job in food service at Sea World when I turned 16 years old.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to people who have mentored me and helped me grow professionally. It is difficult to understand the perspectives of others sometimes and I try to remind myself that my experiences may be very different from someone else's. You always have to try to see the big picture and be empathetic to others who come from different backgrounds. I have learned so much from people that I never thought would be able to help me see the world differently so it reminds me that you have to be willing to learn from others and keep an open mind to the way the world around us is always changing.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I learned to appreciate the importance of hard work and determination from a very young age. I have made mistakes in my past just like everyone else and I learned from those mistakes. My life experiences helped to shape me into the person that I am today. Success doesn’t just take hard work to achieve, it takes everything. I believe in honesty and transparency. I know that serving on the City Council will be a lot of work and it will not be easy, but I want to do it so that I can make our community better and safer for everyone that lives in St. Cloud.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I have often struggled with sharing things about myself. I enjoy success as much as the next guy but I didn't want to feel like I was being arrogant or make others feel bad because of my success. I am learning to share the good things in my life more and understand that it is also possible to inspire others to do better for themselves.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Fire And Rain by James Taylor.

What is your favorite book? Why?

My favorite book is Hidden Potential by Adam Grant. It helped me to realize the opportunities in life that I let pass by and inspired me to always work towards being better in everything that I do.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical event I can recall by memory is when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded. It was devastating to know that all of the crew members had perished. I remember that we were all watching at school because there was a school teacher named Christa McAuliffe on board.

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