Matzner decides it's time to move on

As mayor of Pinecrest, Gary Matzner might not have been able to completely resolve the village’s controversial well-water issue.

But he cut ribbons for a new library and community center, added a third acre to open Flagler Grove Park and lit Red Road’s exercise path. And that is good enough for him.

Matzner, 59, announced Wednesday that he will not run for a second four-year term.

“All the major things are done,” he said. “It’s time to move on for me.”

He made the announcement at a special meeting where council members approved a new, long-awaited contract with the village’s police union — an agreement Matzner said he is proud the village negotiated before the end of his tenure. The contract gives officers a pension and better benefits.

His biggest regret: not bringing fire hydrants and access to county drinking water to nearly half of Pinecrest’s homes, which rely on well-water. He hopes a contract to build a spine for the system and connect about 330 homes will be signed by November.

One of Pinecrest’s founding fathers, Matzner fought for incorporation with Evelyn Greer, who became the village’s first mayor in 1996. After she was termed out of office in 2004, he ran for the job unopposed.

Before being mayor, Matzner raised funds for the village to purchase the former site of Parrot Jungle — now Pinecrest Gardens and home to the library and community center.

Now, with no other large projects on the village’s horizon that he might be interested in, Matzner said he wants to spend more time with his family and on his day job as a shareholder of law firm Akerman Senterfitt.

“There’s just not enough left to do to make it worthwhile,” he said, adding that while he hopes to do charity work, he does not plan to run for office again.

“Some people say, ‘Never say never,’” Matzner said. “I can tell you right now: never. I’m not a politician at heart.”

His decision not to run was only somewhat surprising to those who know Matzner in public life. They guessed he might not seek reelection since he had not started campaigning yet, and because he faced some contentious issues as mayor.

“I’m not sure if this was to his liking,” said council member Gail Serota, who is running for mayor. “There are aspects to this job that are more fun than others.”

Matzner said he enjoyed his tenure but admitted he sometimes was not “diplomatic” enough.

“I didn’t do politically correct in terms of building consensus and going out and getting the pulse of the community,” Matzner said.

Some of those occasions brought angry people to village hall: the plan for two lit soccer fields at Flagler Grove Park, which passed; the idea to construct a park-and-ride lot west of Evelyn Greer Park, which Matzner dropped after hearing much opposition; and the numerous meetings on the well-water issue and whether to switch fire departments from Miami-Dade County to Coral Gables.

Still, Matzner said he considered running and kept changing his mind until this month. Even though he and Serota sometimes butted heads on how things should be done, both said they agreed on many issues and would not enjoy running against each other.

“She’s going to do a great job, and she’d be a tough opponent,” said Matzner, who said he told Serota he would support her campaign.

Matzner is happy with how things have turned out.

“Over these 12 years, we’ve accomplished more than we ever could imagine,” Matzner said. “That’s very satisfying.”

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