Port St. Lucie City Council
Mayor Patricia P. Christensen
Mayor Patricia P. Christensen is serving her first term as mayor. She has previously served on the City Council for 12 years as council member and Vice Mayor. Born and raised in Rhode Island, Patricia moved to Port St. Lucie with her husband and three children in 1987. The move allowed her children to be closer to their grandparents, who had retired to Port St. Lucie.
Soon after moving to the city, she became involved in her community by joining several homeowners groups. Through her involvement with these groups, Patricia realized there were many quality of life issues needing to be addressed. These included the availability of central water and sewer, parks and activities for residents of all ages, and the desperate need for better roads.
In 1990, Patricia successfully ran for the City Council, the youngest person to hold office in the city’s history. During her first term in office, Patricia was instrumental in breaking the city’s ties with General Development. She worked with the council to begin addressing the quality of life issues that brought her to public service, such as building more parks, beginning a road resurfacing program and a stormwater improvement program—both sorely needed and previously non-existent. She also holds the distinction of being the only council member to give birth while in office—to twins no less. (The twins were also the first to be born in the city limits.) Patricia held office until 1994.
From 1994 to 1999, Patricia remained active in the community. She sat on the Board of Directors of the United Way of St. Lucie County and successfully raised $1.3 million as campaign chairman in 1998. She chaired the City of Port St. Lucie Economic Growth Team and became President of the Port St. Lucie Breakfast Rotary Club and Assistant District Governor for Rotary District 6930. Patricia was employed by USA Waste & Waste Management as District Sales Manager. In 2000, Patricia realized she sorely missed public service and again ran for the City Council She was elected to the District 3 seat, and in 2002, after district lines were redrawn, Patricia successfully won the District 1 seat.
“Public service is one of the most rewarding endeavors I have ever been involved with. I am honored by the opportunity I have been given to help guide the success our city has experienced over the past years. I am excited about the new challenges we are facing and want to ensure the solutions benefit every citizen,” said Patricia. In addition to her Mayoral duties, she serves as a member of the Transportation Planning Organization, Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, Treasure Coast Council of Local Governments, Executive Round Table, Florida League of Mayors, Treasure Coast League of Cities, Board of Directors for CASTLE, Port St. Lucie Sunset Rotary, and other organizations.
Patricia is married to Frans and the mother of five. Eldest son Andrew is married to Sara and they have a daughter Emma. Since being discharged, after serving two tours of duty in Iraq, Andrew and his family now reside in California. Matthew is discharged from the Air Force and is a student at FAU. Jennifer is studying at the University of Florida. Twins Eric and Dane attend SLW Centennial High School.
Vice Mayor Jack Kelly
Councilman Kelly is the current voted Chairman of the 13 member St. Lucie County Transportation Organization and liaison to the Martin MPO. Past chair of the SLC Fire District and was elected Vice Mayor by his Council peers 2 years ago. He is the Council appointment to the St. Lucie County Economic Development Board and serves on multiple other City Boards.
Married 44 years to Gail, he has a married son and daughter and 5 grandsons. Both Jack’s wife and daughter are SLC teachers.
Jack has many years of “hands on” experience with civic endeavors past and present including past President of the SLC Boy’s and Girl’s Club, Lions Club Florida District Governor, United Way Board Member, and was last years PSL Elk’s Lodge 2658 “Citizen of The Year”. He serves on 10 different boards of directors.
“I still have a great passion for the job. I possess the energy, desire, and tenacious attitude to stay focused and task oriented. I have been the balance on the City Council and balance must be maintained in the decision process. The Council position is my full time job. It’s my life’s work. I take it seriously and rely on listening to the public, common sense, experience, and the true facts!”
Councilwoman Michelle Berger
Michelle Berger was elected to the Port St. Lucie City Council in November 2004 with 60 percent of the voters approving of the fresh ideas and positive message she offered during her campaign.
As the mother of two boys and the wife of a Palm Beach County firefighter, Michelle understands the expectations of Port St. Lucie’s families, and has been a strong proponent of the quality-of-life issues that make the city the destination of so many new residents.
And with more than 14 years of management and small business owner experience, along with a bachelor's degree in business management, she understands the important role businesses play in the city’s stability and development. That’s why she has been a supporter of policies that ensure the city’s growth will include a healthy mix of commercial and residential areas, and that the local infrastructure will be among the best in Florida long into the future.
As a persistent advocate for fiscal responsibility, Michelle urges that taxpayer money be used only for those projects that bring the most value to the city, and her support of a proposal to change the financing plan for construction of the Crosstown Parkway will help the city save millions of dollars on a project that won approval of 89 percent of Port St. Lucie’s voters in 2005.
Perhaps her greatest strength, however, is her contagious energy and her ability to build consensus for the programs and projects she believes in. As a volunteer in several local organizations and committees, Michelle has demonstrated this to the residents and officials who have worked with her, and who now see the positive impact she has had on the future of the city.
Her favorite activity is spending time with her family, and their boating and camping experiences have allowed them to enjoy the best of what the magnificent state of Florida has to offer. She currently serves on the St. Lucie County Scenic Highway Committee, the St. Lucie County Bridge and Expressway Authority, St. Lucie County Tourism Development Council, SLC/Martin Metropolitan Planning Organization, Florida Atlantic University Advisory Committee, St. Lucie County Habitat for Humanity, North Fork of the St. Lucie River Management Advisory Committee, and as an alternate to the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council. Michelle also serves on the Community Advisory Board for Seacoast Bank, as well as two non-profit organizations’ boards: the YMCA of the Treasure Coast and the Police Athletic League in Port St. Lucie. A major accomplishment recently has been the marriage of resources between the Y and PAL which resulted in a new facility for after school care within the City of Port St. Lucie funded by a Children’s Services Council grant. Michelle was also recently appointed by Senate President Ken Pruitt to a newly formed State of Florida Fireworks Task Force, which has been assigned the task of crafting new state legislation for fireworks sale and distribution.
Councilman Christopher Cooper
A Columbus, Ohio native, District 3 Councilman Christopher Cooper came to Port St. Lucie in 1993, relocating from Plantation, Florida. He was elected to a four-year term in November 2002 and was reelected without opposition in November 2006. He has represented the city for six years on the Harbor Port Authority and Community Redevelopment Agency.
The Councilman also serves as a commissioner on the St. Lucie County Fire District Board where he has sat as the Vice-Chairman and is currently the Chairman. He also serves as a member of the Transportation Planning Organization for the Port St. Lucie Urban Service Area and as an alternate liaison to the Martin County Metropolitan Planning Organization. Previously, he served as a member of the Florida League of Cities’ Criminal Justice Policy Committee for three years.
Chris is a mentor for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, where he works with two boys at Windmill Point Elementary School. He has also been a mentor to young referees at the Mako Soccer Club, and has served as the club's president, treasurer, director of referees and as a soccer coach.
Along with the support of the city's Mayor and fellow council members, he was instrumental in the expansion of the McChesney Park soccer facility. The complex now hosts major tournaments and can be arranged into different sized fields to accommodate all age groups. It is without a doubt the finest soccer facility on the Treasure Coast. A co-founder of the club's soccer scholarship program, Councilman Cooper continues to work with the referee program and is a grade 8 United States Soccer Federation (USSF) referee. The Mako Soccer Club works with more than 800 young men and women in Port St. Lucie.
Chris is the President of The Friends of the Port St Lucie Botanical Gardens, a member of the Port St. Lucie Elks Lodge #2658, The Downtown Lions Club and the German American Club of The Treasure Coast. He was instrumental in helping establish the city's annual Oktoberfest, and he credits the German American Club for being a terrific partner in making this event a huge success.
Currently he is working on bringing a 10-acre botanical garden to city property off Westmoreland and Port St. Lucie boulevards. He anticipates construction beginning by the end of 2008. His interest in landscaping motivated him to work toward creating a beautiful park setting on the St. Lucie River, where people can enjoy the beautiful outdoors, as well as participate in the project as volunteers. His certification in landscape design is useful in establishing a vision for the project.
Professionally, Councilman Cooper works as a driver engineer with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, where he began his career in April of 1987. He has been a member of the International Association of Firefighters for 21 years, and has earned numerous commendations and citations for his efforts, including the Distinguished Service Cross for helping contain the 1999 wildfires that ravaged western Port St. Lucie. Chris was awarded Firefighter of the Year and Emergency Medical Technician of the Year and he is a certified process server for the 19th Judicial Circuit.
Recognizing the need for high paying jobs in the city, Councilman Cooper has supported efforts that have successfully attracted biomedical research jobs and will provide a community where our children will return after completing college.
Other issues of importance to him are the improvement of roads and bridges, the timely completion of the Crosstown Parkway, the continued focus on parks and recreational activities, improved police and fire protection, and better preparedness for hurricanes and other natural disasters. Essential governmental services for the public are a priority for Chris, as are the success of the downtown concept in the CRA and the Riverwalk projects.
His wife of 23 years, Ruth, is a fitness instructor for the YMCA of Martin County. They have two sons; Brian, 19, graduated from Centennial High School and now attends Indian River College. Brian was a member of the St. Lucie County Fire Rescue Explorers Program and hopes to follow in his father's footsteps to become a firefighter. Brian has been employed with UPS, part-time, for the past two years. He previously played soccer for the Mako Soccer Club for 12 years and was also a USSF grade 8 referee. Jeffrey, 16, has attended both the Port St Lucie Police Junior Explorers Program and the Advanced Explorers Program. Jeffrey has been playing for the Mako Soccer Club for the past 13 years and continues to be part of a state championship team. He previously attended the Treasure Coast High School and is now being home schooled. Councilman Cooper currently sits on the school advisory committee for Treasure Coast High.
Councilman Cooper enjoys meeting Port St. Lucie residents and business owners and he welcomes comments from the public. To schedule an appointment with Councilman Cooper, call (772) 871-5159.
For more information on my activities, please be sure to visit my Web site, www.christopherscooper.com.
Councilwoman Linda Bartz
Linda Bartz is serving her first term as Councilwoman, District 1. Linda is a business woman
who knows how to balance a budget and manage money.
Linda is active in the community serving with the Port St. Lucie Rotary, Council on Aging, Treasure Coast Crimestoppers, the Exchange Club, Hospice Ethics Committee, Concerned Citizens, Big Heart Brigade, and the recently formed St. Lucie County Sustainability Ad Hoc Committee.
Whether it’s helping to address important issues in the community such as traffic and roads to ensure that emergency vehicles can get to and from hospitals and accident scenes quickly, working with the Superintendent and members of the St. Lucie County School District to raise educational standards or helping to bring down the high cost of taxes, insurance and living on the Treasure Coast, Linda is dedicated and committed to keeping Port St. Lucie moving into the future.
Originally from New Jersey, Linda and her husband Gary have been residents of Port St. Lucie for 20 years. They have three grown daughters and are the proud grandparents of three grandchildren. In her spare time, Linda relaxes by reading a good mystery.