Issues
I believe that the 2008 election represents a tipping point for Escambia County. We can either slide back to the politics of the past, or we can move forward with bold new leadership that will guide Escambia County toward a stronger future. Escambia County needs leaders that are willing to look past the next election and focus on long term solutions. We need Commissioners who are willing and able to find solutions based on what will move Escambia County forward. My campaign is about that kind of bold leadership. It is time to look forward and move our county toward a brighter future with a county government that is focused on solutions for the future, not the problems of the past.
County Government
Taxes
As a business owner, I know that the two easiest ways to raise revenue are to either increase your prices or increase your customer base. The same holds true for county government. The government can either increase revenue by increasing taxes and fees, or it can increase revenues by increasing the tax base. As a fiscally conservative Republican, I am fundamentally opposed to the idea of raising taxes or fees as a way of increasing county revenue. I believe that it should be the focus of county government to increase the tax base by attracting new business and industry into the county as well as attracting more people to move into Escambia County because of the quality of life in our county.
County Budget
One of my core political beliefs as a Republican is that smaller, less intrusive government is the only good government. Over the years, Escambia County has developed a bloated and inefficient government bureaucracy. It is up to the Board of County Commissioners to oversee a responsible and fiscally conservative county budgeting process that puts emphasis on providing the best services to the citizens of Escambia County for the least amount of taxpayer dollars. In order for this type of budgeting process to be effective and successful, there will have to be no “sacred cows” in the county budget. The County Commissioners have to be willing to look at cutting expenses wherever possible without sacrificing services. This means cutting expenses that are simply "government for the sake of government" and finding more efficient ways to provide services to the taxpayers.
I truly believe that these cuts should start at the very top of county government with the County Commissioners themselves. I believe that the County Commissioners' salaries should be cut by at least 40% which would save the county nearly $148,000 each year. Unfortunately, it appears that the salaries of County Commissioners are set by state law (Chapter 145 of the Florida Code), so there may be no way for the Board to cut its own salaries. However, if elected as the County Commissioner for District 5, I will be taking 40% of my county salary and giving it back to the citizens of Escambia County by donating it to non-profit organizations that provide services to the community.
Economic Development
No government or elected official can actually create new jobs in the private sector. The only jobs that can be directly created by county government are more government jobs that are paid for by taxpayer dollars.
What our county government can and should do is to promote economic development by creating a business friendly atmosphere through tax incentives for new and expanding businesses and easing the burden of government regulations as much as possible.
I believe that Escambia County needs to have a county-wide focus on bringing high quality businesses into not just Pensacola, but all of Escambia County. The county government needs to ensure that the north end of Escambia County has the infrastructure in place to accommodate residential and industrial growth. For too long, county economic development efforts have focused on the area south of Interstate 10. Why should the people of Century, Walnut Hill and Molino have to drive to downtown Pensacola to find good paying jobs?
Quality of Life
Library System
One of the main areas where the County Commissioners can have an impact on the day to day lives of the citizens of Escambia County is through numerous quality of life issues. One of the biggest of those issues is the funding of the West Florida Regional Library System.
Public libraries have been part of the American landscape since the 1800s. When it comes to the development of a community and determining whether it is viable, a vibrant public library is one of the main attractions for new companies and new employees. Libraries are part of the economic development package presented as part of the "quality of life" of a community. A public library is definitely part of the "essential services" that government provides, both educationally and economically. A 2004 study for the State Library and Archives of Florida showed that there was a direct correlation between public investment in libraries and increased jobs and wages.
With libraries being such a vital part of the well-being of a community, Escambia County needs to take a hard look at our library system and find ways to provide better funding and better access to the West Florida Regional Library. District 5 is especially hurt by the current lack of funding and facilities. In the southern part of the county (south of Nine Mile Road), residents have 4 public library facilities available to them within a short drive. However, if you live north of Nine Mile Road, the only library branches available are anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes away. It is obvious to anyone who lives in District 5 that one of the quality of life priorities for the county needs to be the addition of another branch library in north-central Escambia County.