Voters Beware

It seems less important whether a candidate for Hernando County Commissioner is politically aligned with the Republican or the Democratic Party than it is for any of them to get elected any way possible. It seems a recurring epidemic to find one or more political hopeful to not only switch political affiliation but to move from one District to another to better the prospects of victory. One or both of these tactics may eventually give the person a victory as long as they have taken residency prior to election day, although the requirement for eligibility relies not so much on where they may live since the countywide vote determines the winner.

In a county this size, still with many longtime residents, it’s important the contender has sufficient supporters to prompt other acquaintances to get out and vote. Having met requirements necessary to have their names placed on the ballot might suggest validation for their cause to succeed in their bid for election, but it’ll take more than just a handful of door-to-door to claim a victory celebration.

Observing the general turnout at commission meetings, demographics plainly indicate those 55 and older are the sections of the electorate that candidates will target to gain support. Such a shortsighted assumption should lead directly to defeat. Attracting young adults and middle-age parents should be of greater importance since their futures, and that of their children, will be greatly affected beyond the all-consuming debate on property taxes. Jobs for themselves and future generations should be a drawing card for family-friendly voters.

Apathy among voters doesn’t provide a positive future. It suggests candidates may simply pocket votes that are easily attained. They should be out there to reach out and touch all voters’ hearts and minds.

Stable, upward-moving employment opportunities in Hernando County must be a priority. Construction, lawn maintenance and retail jobs have limited futures, especially in a shaky economic atmosphere. Talk of broadening the base of manufacturing and technical jobs is cheap. Empty words shortchange the need for action, and yet these same concerns are repeated time and again. Are all candidates inept at addressing the needs of, not only workers, but the County as well? A broader tax base is but a dream away but politics leave our leaders catatonic.

A major drawback to attracting larger businesses to the county is the lack of communication facilities. AT&T and Bright House aren’t likely to lay cable without the prospect of financial gain. They’re not likely to make poor investments when there are profitable markets to harvest elsewhere. Call it a case of the chicken and the egg, but it still has to be topic of immediate concern.

Another perennial topic is the need for “affordable, workforce housing”. Community business leaders talk about it, County Commissioners make reference to it, but there’s no honest effort to address the issue. I hadn’t realized it until recently but there’s an echo from local to state government that reverberates through the air and reaches deaf ears somewhere out there in deep space. If extraterrestrials understood our language, there wouldn’t be any more action on their part than there is down here on Earth.

It’s too easy for political hopefuls to center their campaigns on high profile topics, such as the perceived excessive monetary compensation given to department heads. Candidates who have made this and similarly obvious issues a basis of attracting votes should keep in mind they may have already put themselves at odds with professional county employees. What degree of camaraderie can be expected with existing department heads after criticizing them for their excessive pay scales and their supposed inadequacies at performing their duties responsibly?

I’ve witnesses both smiley-faced and nasty-toned citizens, including candidates for County Commissioner, moan and groan about how the Board mismanages time, money and county resources. They’re all for show and don’t necessarily deserve voter approval from any quarter. They’re a dime a dozen, a pretty cheap denomination.

How do local business leaders perceive the candidates? Voters must be assured there will be harmony among all decision makers in Hernando County. Respect among professionals can bring thoughtful dialogue and positive change for the future.

Everyone says the county must reign in expenses. Rather than harping on the negatives that have resulted in the current economic shortfalls, candidates will have to demonstrate leadership abilities with specific resolutions they plan to integrate in their election platforms. Maybe this was a good-feel, good-time community in the past but serious leadership is called upon to bring Hernando County out of the shadows of Tampa.

Perhaps incentives for attaining the commissioner job has less to do with providing the community with dedicated service as it is about the financial compensation nearing twice the income of the average worker in Hernando County. The pay and benefits are well above most other employment opportunities in the county.

I am decidedly in doubt of candidates with backgrounds in construction, real estate and property insurance. Hernando County doesn’t need more thoughtless growth. My faith in their abilities to avoid cronyism within their professions goes far beyond their assurance of being ‘a nice guy’. It has to be more than a popularity contest.

There are plenty of subdivisions-in-waiting to accommodate residential growth for the next twenty years. Nine hundred and ninety-none homes here, one thousand fifty homes there and more along the west side of Hernando County is quite enough. Eventually, the County and the State will have to realize that continued residential development is no longer the wisest course to travel.

My expectations for the primary and general elections have a voter turnout unlike any in the past, which is very unlikely. A worst-case scenario would be a slim victory in any politic race; it would indicate a perception that the political winners are as inept as the other candidates.

Hernando County doesn’t need any more fogies to govern its future. Qualifications for County Commissioner are not demanding. No college necessary. A high school diploma might be preferred but the resume may as well indicate “self-educated”. A criminal record may not even keep a prospective candidate from running for political office.

A youthful, well-mannered, conservative resident may find a following if he/she relates well with a broad range of civic groups. With common sense, community involvement, family values, communication skills, and a personality that is unquestionably honest, there must be at least one young adult who could bring a fresh, new outlook to the attributes of Hernando County.

Enough of the same old buddy, buddy attitude of local politics. It is the young who inherit the past. It is they who thrive in the present. It is they who should bring their own futures to reality. It is we who must trust in youth, as they have placed trust in us.