Tara CDD Seat 3: Darby Connor

Darby Connor

Age: 75

Family: Wife, Terry; a son; a daughter; and six grandchildren

Hometown: Guilford, Connecticut

Residence: Stoneybrook

Hobbies: Camping, boating, motorcycling, karaoke

Interesting fact: Connor traveled to 46 of 48 continental states.

TARA — Darby Connor is a hands-on kind of worker.

That style of effort came as second nature after serving in the U.S. Navy as a Tin Can Sailor, the name used to delineate those who served in The National Association of Destroyer Veterans.

He then went to work for Southern New England Telephone Co. Connor retired as the southern area operations manager after starting as a line installer 40 years earlier with the company.

Since retirement, he’s been a vocal member of Tara Community Development District government. He previously served on the CDD board for six years, with four of those years as chairman.

He hasn’t held a position on the board since November 2012, but he’s actively trying to change that.

One of his biggest concerns is landscaping within the community, which he says has deteriorated since a new contractor began at the beginning of the year. Connor said the previous contractor, Florida Lawn Pros, was let go for a lower bid.

He said the new contractor, West Bay, has been subpar. Connor believes that West Bay’s handling of landscaping in the community has led to dissatisfied residents and unsightly common grounds.

“Unless they do something soon, our common grounds are going to be a disgrace, and they are going to lower our property values,” Connor said. “No question about it.”

Another concern of Connor’s is the expansion of Interstate 75, near the Tara CDD’s eastern border.

“We want to make sure that the opportunity is given on the east side of the community for the state to put up a noise barrier, which they have basically committed to in the past,” he said. “But sometimes, politicians have a short memory.”

If he wins the election, Connor said he would make changes immediately.

“I’ve been a problem solver all my life,” he said. “I enjoy that type of work.”

— Alex Rostowsky