Mast to answer questions about safe schools at taxpayers meeting

Stopping the threat of more school shootings

The Martin County Taxpayers Association opened ticket sales to the public for its annual dinner Thursday, March 29, to hear the opinions of two Republican political leaders, US Congressman Brian Mast and Martin County Sheriff Will Snyder.

Mast’s unexpected and apparent change in position regarding gun control following the Feb. 14 shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, near where Mast once lived, has alienated some members of his own party and confused others.

Currently, Mast, a decorated military veteran, is the only Republican in the 2018 election showdown for the District 18 seat; however, candidates have until May 4 to file for the August 28 primary.

With just his one term under his belt, Mast’s committee appointments include the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, and the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.

Fielding both praise and criticism from both sides of the aisle for his suggestion to ban military-style weapons, Mast can address the argument at the national level.

At the local level, after serving 30 years in law enforcement, 20 of them in the much more diversely populated county of Miami-Dade, Martin County Sheriff Will Snyder will tap into his own experience to tell us how we can keep our kids safe at school.

He will answer such questions as: How do we spot troubled children? Is the real answer to safe schools arming teachers? How much will it cost us, the taxpayer, to keep our kids safe? Snyder, having also served as a state representative, also will interpret the new “safe schools” bill just signed by Gov. Rick Scott.

“For 66 years your taxpayer watchdog organization has been asking the tough questions,” says MCTA President Tom Kenny. “We hope to see you at the Martin County Taxpayers Association annual dinner, and bring some tough questions of your own.”

The annual dinner will be at the Monarch Country Club, 1801 SW Monarch Club Drive, Palm City, on Thursday, March 29, from 6-9 p.m. Tickets are $60 per person for members and $75 for non-members. Go to www.mctaxpayers.org to purchase tickets or join the MCTA on line, but hurry, as seating is limited.