Three first-time candidates from the Aug. 18 primary ballot have been narrowed down to two in the Nov. 3 runoff. The winner will earn the St. Cloud City Council Seat 5 that Shawn Fletcher is not running to retain.
The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race were asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates' answers were fact checked and only edited for space considerations.
Alex Rodriguez
Age: 38
Residence: St. Cloud
Local board/agency background: HOA Board President
Why do you deserve to be elected to the open seat in this race? I believe local government works best when it is transparent, fiscally responsible, and focused on serving residents. While I have not previously held elected office, I have spent time attending meetings, engaging with the community, and staying informed on the issues affecting our city. I’m running because I want to bring transparency, accessibility, and practical problem-solving to City Hall. As a husband, father, business professional, and community advocate, I understand the importance of making thoughtful decisions that protect taxpayers while planning responsibly for our city’s future. My goal is to ensure that St. Cloud grows responsibly without losing the character that makes our community special. I will continue listening to residents, asking tough questions, and making decisions based on facts, fiscal responsibility, and what’s best for the entire community.
What do you feel are St. Cloud’s three most pressing problems and how would you advocate they be solved?
Traffic and Infrastructure: As our city continues to grow, our roads and infrastructure must keep pace. I support long-term planning, improving roadway connectivity, coordinating with county and state agencies, and ensuring growth pays for the infrastructure it requires.
Managing Growth Responsibly: Growth is inevitable, but poor planning is not. I support smart development that balances residential, commercial, and public safety needs while protecting neighborhoods, maintaining quality of life, and ensuring our city services can keep up with demand.
Public Safety: A growing city requires continued investment in police, fire, and emergency services. I support planning for future facilities, providing first responders with the tools they need, and ensuring public safety remains one of the city’s highest priorities.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with St. Cloud’s affordability issue?
Housing affordability requires a balanced approach of a mix of housing options that meet the needs of young families, seniors, and our workforce while protecting existing neighborhoods. The city should also continue attracting quality employers that create higher-paying jobs so residents can better afford to live where they work. Responsible growth, strong infrastructure, and thoughtful planning all play an important role in keeping St. Cloud affordable for future generations.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Yes
I support meaningful property tax relief for homeowners. Families have experienced rising costs across nearly every aspect of daily life, and property taxes are no exception. Any tax reform should provide relief while maintaining the city’s ability to fund essential services such as police, fire, parks, and infrastructure. I support solutions that ease the burden on residents while ensuring local government remains financially responsible.
Kirk Zilke
Age: 57
Residence: St. Cloud
Local board/agency background: While I have not served on an advisory board, my career in public service required me to work alongside City departments, regional partners, community organizations, and residents on a daily basis.
Why do you deserve to be elected to the open seat in this race? St. Cloud isn’t just where I live, it’s home. My family has been part of this community for nearly 50 years, and I dedicated over 35 years of my life to serving its residents through the St. Cloud Police Department, retiring as Deputy Chief. Throughout my career I worked closely with every City department, managed budgets, led major projects, and helped make decisions that affected our community every day.
I believe our City deserves leaders who understand how local government works, who will ask tough questions, listen to residents, and make decisions based on facts rather than politics. My experience gives me a unique understanding of City operations, public safety, budgeting, and the challenges our community faces.
What do you feel are St. Cloud’s three most pressing problems?
Managing Growth & Infrastructure: St. Cloud continues to grow rapidly, but our infrastructure has not always kept pace. Roads, utilities, schools, and public safety services must be planned before development, not after. I support responsible growth that protects our quality of life while ensuring new development contributes fairly to the infrastructure it requires.
Traffic Congestion: Traffic has become one of the biggest frustrations for residents. We need better long-term transportation planning, coordination with state and county agencies, and road improvements that anticipate future growth instead of reacting years later.
Fiscal Stability: With discussions surrounding the possible elimination of property taxes, cities face significant uncertainty. Regardless of what happens at the state level, St. Cloud must continue providing police, fire, parks, roads, and other essential services. I will advocate for responsible budgeting, careful spending, and long-term financial planning that protects taxpayers while maintaining the services residents depend on.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with St. Cloud’s affordability issue?
Housing affordability is a difficult issue with no single solution. We need an approach that encourages a variety of housing options while ensuring growth does not overwhelm existing infrastructure. The City should continue working to attract higher-paying employers, expand local business opportunities, streamline permitting where appropriate, and encourage thoughtful residential development that includes a range of housing choices. We also must carefully manage taxes, fees, and City spending so local government does not unnecessarily increase the cost of living for our residents.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: No.
While everyone wants lower taxes, eliminating property taxes without first identifying a stable replacement for local government funding creates significant uncertainty for cities like St. Cloud. Property taxes help fund essential services including police, fire, parks, roads, and other critical infrastructure. Floridians deserve a clear, sustainable plan explaining how these services will continue to be funded without shifting the burden elsewhere or reducing the quality of services residents expect.
