Commissioner Doug Coward first moved to Florida in 1984. He relocated to St. Lucie County in 1991 after graduating from Florida State University with a Master's Degree in Urban and Regional Planning and a dual Bachelor's Degree in the Social Sciences and Geography. Over the last two decades he has worked as a professional planner for St. Lucie County, 1000 Friends of Florida, and the private sector. He works full-time as a St. Lucie County Commissioner. His wife, Tara, is an Ultrasound Technician, and they have one son. Commissioner Coward was sworn into office in 1998 and re-elected in 2002 and 2006.

Commissioner Coward is the Vice-Chairman of the St. Lucie Board of County Commissioners, Vice-Chairman of the Environmental Control Board, Vice-Chairman of the Florida Local Government Investment Trust, Board liaison with the Treasure Coast Research Park  and the Board representative on the Sustainability Committee. Commissioner Coward is also actively working on the new $23 million Solar and Energy Loan Fund program (Green CDFI Article), the new partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory  (read the news release), and business recruitment activity - particularly in the emerging green sectors.
 
Commissioner Coward has been the recipient of numerous regional and statewide awards, including:

(1) "Public Official of the Year" from the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association (FAPA);

(2) "Conservation Leader" from the Florida Chapter of the Nature Conservancy;

(3) "Community Steward" from 1000 Friends of Florida;

(4) "Maggie Bowman Award" from the Marine Resources Council for outstanding service to the Indian River Lagoon by an elected official;

(5) "Distinguished Public Official Award" from the Treasure Coast Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA);

(6) United States Green Building Council - South Florida Chapter Award for Outstanding Green Elected Official and, 
 
Commissioner Coward has also spearheaded two programs that received national awards:

(1) "2010 Community/Economic Development Achievement Award" from the National Association of Counties for the St. Lucie County Local Stimulus Program. (Click here to watch a CNN interview with Comm. Coward on this subject)  

(2) The County's new Solar and Energy Loan Fund program which was recently selected as one of the top 20 most innovative programs in the nation. The County was awarded $2.9 million in energy block grants from the U.S. Department of Energy. (read the news release) 

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