Veteran seeks Punta Gorda City Council District 2 seat

PUNTA GORDA — Greg Julian is running for District 2 on the Punta Gorda City Council.

Bill Dryburgh currently holds the seat.

Julian, 64, said he’s running to bring a “much-needed perspective to the council.”

“I personally witnessed most of the sitting council turn their backs on its citizens by voting 4-1 on the Comprehensive Plan to allow vastly greater density in the heart of Punta Gorda while minimizing requirements for parking space allowances,” Julian said.

Numerous traffic safety hazards need attention throughout Punta Gorda, he said.

“Punta Gorda urgently needs failing infrastructure repaired or replaced,” he said. “Meanwhile, most of the council are pursuing plans to waste at least $16 million on renovating the City Hall ahead of addressing flooding problems and other infrastructure needs, including our water.”

Julian said he would listen to residents as a guide for decision-making.

“Residents feel most of the current council do not care,” he said. “One example is last week the council was talking about the Cooper Street Rec Center and (Council Member) Debi Lux was trying to get clarification. Council Member Bill Dryburgh said the discussion was getting out of hand and wanted to move on. Debi said she had more questions and he told her he didn’t care.”

“I believe the direction that some of the current council and City Manager (Greg Murray) are taking us is not in keeping with the desires and needs of our community — it’s time to get the train back on the tracks,” he said.

Julian, a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Army and father of six, has participated in combat and peacekeeping operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Bosnia. He served as a tank company commander in Operation Desert Storm before serving as a public affairs adviser and spokesperson for the Department of Defense in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Supreme Allied Command Europe under NATO, and U.S. Southern Command in Miami.

He served as the press secretary for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement in the Department of the Interior, as well as the National Security Agency media relations chief until he retired in 2021.