Heritage Harbour South CDD Seat 5: Tad Parker

Tad Parker

Age: 72

Family: Wife, Marsha; a son; a daughter; six grandchildren; and one great granddaughter

Hometown: Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Residence: Stoneybrook

Hobbies: He’s a Harley-Davidson owner and rides his motorcycle to Anna Maria Island every Sunday morning.

Interesting fact: A graphic arts and print specialist, Parker crafted designs on the dinnerware set President

Ronald Reagan used in the ‘80s in the White House.

EAST COUNTY — Throughout his career, Tad Parker’s livelihood was based on his attention to detail.
After he received a college degree in graphic arts management, he held a range of design-based careers in seven states, from Pennsylvania to Kansas.

Parker, 72, printed road maps, designs on greeting cards and athletic uniforms, as well as the ceramic decals on Ronald Reagan’s dinnerware.

But, there’s more to Parker than his years printing labels on millions of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cans and cartons of Twinkies.

He has a range of stories his now-adult children have heard countless times, Parker said, laughing.

“I’m a storyteller,” Parker said. “I turned 21 years old, President Kennedy was assassinated, I received my physical exam for the Vietnam War draft and got married all in one week.”

Now retired, Parker has maintained his mental filing cabinet of personal and professional experiences — his eye for perfection. He believes the trait will aid him in his next project.

In the Nov. 4 election, Parker is vying for seat five on the Heritage Harbour South Community Development District board against incumbent Joe Jaudon.

For Parker, who also held careers in real estate and the commercial truck driving industry, his work and volunteer experiences have given him knowledge in money management and being a member of a team.

After attending CDD meetings for about a year, Parker has noticed less of an emphasis on wetlands and more focus on overhead costs.

He also hopes his insight can help further bridge the gap between the previously at-odds Stoneybrook Homeowners Association and the CDD.

Should he take Jaudon’s seat, he plans to continue to mend the fences to make the groups one team.

Jaudon is also a member of the Stoneybrook finance committee

— Amanda Sebastiano

The grandfather is a member of the Stoneybrook finance committee and has been a member and president of homeowners associations in Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Becoming a member of a CDD would give him a look at both ends of the spectrum. He hopes his insight can help further bridge the gap between the previously at-odds Stoneybrook Homeowners Association and the CDD.

Should he take Jaudon’s seat, he plans to continue to mend the fences to make the groups one team.
Having Heritage Harbour’s governing players working together is in the community’s best interest, Parker said.
“We need to take the common sense approach (as a CDD),” Parker said. “Both groups need to work together to get things done.”

As a family man who moved to Florida in 2006, the presence of law enforcement is a detail the community can’t overlook.
Should he become one of the CDD’s newest members, he plans to spotlight the issue.