Kenny Holmes files for Indian River Commission District 4 seat

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Former National Football League player Kenny Holmes, who was a defensive end in his seven seasons, is now going on the offensive for a new goal — the County Commission’s District 4 seat.

“In order to truly have a leg to stand on, in order to complain about things that happen here, you’ve got to get up and get active,” Holmes, 36, said Friday.

Holmes, a native of Gifford, filed campaign papers without any party affiliation. This means, so far, he would face Democrat Steven Deardeuff and the Republican nominee, either incumbent Peter O’Bryan or party challenger Tom Lowther, in the Nov. 2 general election. Other candidates have until June 18 to file and qualify for the race.

Holmes, who graduated in 2001 from the University of Miami, played for the Tennessee Titans, New York Giants and Green Bay Packers before retiring in 2006. He said he never left his roots. He said he is running to return government to the people after years of decisions by political insiders.

“Too much of what government does isn’t right,” he said. “We’ve strayed too far from the people in the ability to make decisions.”

For instance, he pointed to the $10.3 million North Beach sand-replenishment project. It’s the county’s third such project to counter erosion since 2004, but the first to use inland sand from mines instead of offshore sand from underwater borrow pits.

And either method, he said, replaces sand only in the short term.

“Another hurricane, and that stuff will be gone again,” he said. “There has to be some solution for the long term. If we’re spending (millions) on sand and have to do it again, what are we doing? We might as well pile the money up and burn it.”

He said he was also interested in exploring the use of solar energy in county buildings and more aggressive marketing of the county’s industrial park on State Road 60 west of Interstate 95.

Meanwhile, Holmes has become the newest county candidate to have to move to be eligible. He lives in District 3 on a 16-acre, 12th Street parcel he bought in 2000. State rules say he’ll have to live in District 4, in the Oslo area, by the date of the general election. No problem, he said.

“I’m going to move,” he said. “I’m going to downsize. I’m not making those big NFL checks anymore.”



(tcpalm.com)