Karen Fiore has one goal in mind: to help Archer stay financially afloat.
Fiore, a long-time Archer resident and vocal presence at commission meetings, was confirmed in mid-October to be the sole candidate for the city’s open commission seat. It was left vacant after Commissioner Joan White resigned in September.
Fiore, who will be sworn in at Monday’s commission meeting, enters her first elected position amid the city’s ongoing financial struggles. Archer had amassed $1.3 million in debt as of January.
Archer city commissioners are currently under half-pay amid the crisis, and Fiore will be given a salary of $250 per month, amounting to $3,000 annually, according to city staff.
Fiore works as Gainesville Regional Utilities rates and budget manager and has over 25 years of experience handling money. She plans to make finance her top priority.
Ahead of her swearing in, WUFT News reporter Bailey Diem sat down with Fiore to discuss her goals for the new role.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Diem: You're going to be sworn in on Monday. How are you feeling leading up to that?
Fiore: I'm excited. I have a lot of ideas. I'm ready to get started.
Diem: Following Commissioner White's resignation, when and why did you decide that you wanted to run for the seat?
Fiore: A lot of people reached out to me and said that during the normal commission meetings, I've been very vocal, and so they asked, ‘Maybe that's something that you should do, because you have a lot of budget background and accounting background,’ and with all the financial issues with the city of Archer, they felt like I would probably be strong in that suit to help with that. And to be honest, I love budget. I want to see the city succeed, so I'm willing to give as much help as possible in those areas: budget, accounting, policies and procedures.
Diem: Archer has started to implement changes to deal with those financial issues. What do you want to add or change to the way that Archer is approaching them?
Fiore: They need to be strict with their finances. They adopt a balanced budget. They need to use that budget as the Bible, and it's going to be their roadmap and not differ from that.
Diem: Besides finances, are there any other issues that you plan to tackle once you step into your role?
Fiore: Citizens have a right to be heard, so that's a priority. I want the citizens to be heard. I don't want them to be talked over during public comment. I don't want the commission mumbling without using their microphone. I think that's rude. Same with the citizens. We can't be out there screaming at the commission as well. It needs to be orderly, but we all need to be able to be heard, so that's something that is important to me.
Diem: Are you proud to live in Archer?
Fiore: I am. I love Archer. I think it's a beautiful area. I raised my two daughters here. I've been here for over 20 years. The house we purchased back then was barely livable. I think we made it a home.
We just have to stay really focused, and the number one priority has to be finances, because if we can't pay our employees, if we can't pay our bills, then we don't deserve to have the charter as a city of Archer, and no one's going to step in and take care of all that. No one's going to stroke a check. We have to come up with the remedy to put us in the right direction, and it's not going to be overnight. It's going to take a long time, but we have to show the world, the community, the governor, that we are attempting to make things right.
Diem: If you had to describe Archer in one word, what word would you use? And why?
Fiore: Humble. I think you have a lot of residents here in Archer that have been around for a long time, that can tell you stories, and they're still here. They're proud of their upbringing here in Archer.
Diem: Is there anything else that you think I or the public should know about you?
Fiore: I was very vocal as a citizen, and if you talk to anyone that knows me, they'll probably say ‘She'll continue to be very vocal sitting up there as a commissioner,’ and that's good, and I'm OK with that. I'm there to help. I'm not there to bully. I may come across sometimes like that, but it's for the betterment of the city, not my own personal agenda. It's about the city, not me.