FEATURE
Lucie County, being close to the water has always been important
to Mast, whose work to keep Florida’s waterways
clean and pollution-free is practically legendary.
“Hands down, the thing we work on and spend most
of our time on is Florida’s water issue and specifically our
coast,” he says.
Having been such an integral part of his life, Mast has
an affinity and desire to ensure that future generations can
continue to enjoy Florida’s beauty and water.
“I can’t say I always thought of it,” he says, “but as a kid,
all you want to do is jump off the dock, be pulled behind
a boat, or jump a wave or sit with your dad and a line in
the water. Everything you love to do at that age is around
the water. It’s still that way, but now the stakes are higher
because you look at the health of your kids, value of your
home, businesses and livelihoods of your friends — all of it
revolves around clean water, and the stakes go beyond that.”
NEW TYPE OF SERVICE
Representing Floridians in the state he has called home
since 1999 has been a new experience for Mast. He says
being able to help others is both an honor and responsibility
he embraces with every fiber of his being, even during a
time when the country and its constituents are so polarized
that navigating even the community is an adventure in and
of itself.
Despite the opposing opinions, Mast says he is stridently
dedicated to serving all of his constituents and is grateful
for the tools that his position provides to do so.
“It’s not a magic wand,” he says of the position, “but it’s
the opportunity to help. I think a lot of people realized that >>
Port St. Lucie Magazine 15
The Mast family, left to
right, Maverick, Madalyn,
Major, Brianna, Brian and
Magnum enjoy a moment
at one of their favorite
places – waterside on the
beautiful St. Lucie River.
Defending the Treasure Coast environment, particularly its waterways that
fuel tourism, is critical to Mast, who frequently samples water from Lake
Okeechobee, which is plagued by toxic algal blooms.
ANTHONY CENTRONE PHOTOS