Younger steps up to new challenge

It’s a bright Thursday morning, less than 72 hours after Phill Younger stepped down from his seat on the Town Commission, which he held for seven years and could no longer retain because of term limits. 

Sitting on his screened porch, the former vice mayor gives no sign that he plans on slowing down.

“I may not be on the commission, but I do have an interest in the welfare of the town,” Younger said. “I want to contribute in any way that I can that’s feasible.”

The previous day, Younger was appointed to serve on the Charter Review Committee. The committee will consider refining portions of the town’s charter, which serves as a basic framework under which the municipality operates, much like the constitution of a state.

With the committee, Younger hopes to explore adjustments to the town’s districting process regarding commission elections. Currently, there are two at-large seats on the commission and five district seats. Younger favors having a higher number of at-large seats to “open up the field for more qualified candidates that want to serve, knowing that all are responsible for representing the entire island.”

As an at-large commissioner, that style of representation is one Younger honed on the dais. He said he governed with an open mind, understanding that his responsibility was to the entire population of the Key and was never to fulfill his own interests.

It’s an attitude for which his former colleagues have commended him, among other traits, including his precise attention to detail.

“When it comes to dotting the i’s, crossing the t’s, reading every single word and coming back with an opinion, I don’t think any commissioner’s ever done a better job than Commissioner Younger,” said Commissioner Irwin Pastor. “I believe this whole community owes him a tremendous thank you.”

Younger’s analytical skills were evident during his first year on the commission, when he presented beach-monitoring data that prompted the commission to change the town’s beach-nourishment approach from renourishing sand on all of the island’s beaches to a focus on nourishing spots with high erosion.

Younger said the combined efforts of Lenny Landau and himself were instrumental in bringing the estimated cost of the program down from $45 million in 2012 to $22 million in 2017.

“A lot of analysis went into cutting that number in half,” Younger said.

While serving on the commission, Younger also developed a reputation for voicing his opinion.

“I’ve never been bashful,” he said with a smile.

Former Commissioner Lynn Larson remembers running for a seat on the Town Commission alongside Younger in 2010, recalling a man who was a soft-spoken while talking to voters. Though Younger lost that election, he was appointed to the commission two months later after Gene Jaleski resigned.

“Well, he hasn’t been soft-spoken since then,” Larson said with a laugh.

Though Younger expressed strong opinions, he showed strength in flexibility as well.

Mayor Terry Gans noted situations where he has seen Younger start out “very, very strong” on one side of an issue, then, after listening to commission discussion, change his opinion.

“That takes a lot of courage,” Gans said. “I’m going to miss having him by my side, though I think figuratively he’ll always be there.”

Younger’s open-minded style has set a precedent for newer commissioners, like Jack Daly. While running for the first time for his District 4 seat, Daly said Younger reminded him of the value of listening to the other commissioners, and being careful not to make up his mind “until the final dust clears.”

As Younger begins his next chapter, he wants Key residents to know he is grateful for the support they have shown him.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve this island,” Younger said.