Tara CDD Seat 3: Dan Powers

Dan Powers

Age: 71

Family: Wife; a son; a daughter; and three grandchildren

Hometown: Philadelphia

Residence: Tara

Hobbies: Fishing, traveling

Interesting fact: Once afraid of flying, Powers is now a licensed pilot

TARA — For Tara Community Development District board member Dan Powers, the question of “what if?” is paramount to the CDD’s future.

Powers has been on the board for the past 10 years and has seen substantial growth within the community. He wants to continue to try to answer the district’s possible questions in the coming years.

“It’s all about the future of the CDD,” he said. “Where do we want this development to be in five years?”
Powers’ larger concerns have yet to present themselves. They are of the “what if?” variety.

He wants to make sure the district has the financial stability to address unforeseen circumstances. With hurricane activity and a wide range of wildlife in the area, he said these problems can present themselves “in the blink of an eye.”

Powers learned much in his 23 years of service in the Philadelphia Police Department. The most important lesson he learned behind the badge, though, was how to properly investigate an issue.

“I put myself in the democratic way of managing,” he said.

“Who, what, when, where, how and why,” Powers said. “Once you get answers to those questions, then you can formulate an opinion and make a decision.”

While board member terms run four years, Powers has never had to campaign for re-election. He now has competition for the seat from challenger Darby Connor.

And like Connor, Powers would like the situation with the district’s current landscaping company, West Bay, to improve.

Powers believes West Bay will improve its performance in the future. The landscapers will have the benefit of a defined map of the 275-acre district, something Powers said they didn’t have at first.

Working with the public has been a facet of local government that Powers has enjoyed.

“I like to get out there and talk to the people and help answer those ‘what if’ questions,” Powers said.

— Alex Rostowsky