Commissioner Fitos: Your Advice To Her?
On November 21, Barbara Fitos replaces Randy Harris. The lone female and Democrat, she likely won’t have an easy time. However, let’s help her get off to a positive start by giving her some Politically Homeless blogger advice.
What would you suggest Commissioner Fitos do early on to get off to a good start?
Also, we have a new "Straw Poll". Tell us how you think the election of Commissioner Fitos will change the effectiveness of the BCC.
Click on below, or at the Links section (Vote: Current "Straw Poll"), and give us your vote:
http://www.insitefulsurveys.com/Survey.asp?SI=347817212152
posted by Blog Master @ 10:05 PM
101 Comments:
Please, please, don't make the Library an issue! things are running very well now...just leave it alone.
Prepare for meetings as well as or better than Harris. Show the manners of a Larry Cretul in dealing with the public and other commissioners.
You are dealing with four good ol’ boys, not a bunch of like-minded females on a library board who were pretty tolerant of your periodic “preaching’ on issues during meetings. Remember that as you move forward. Voters just got rid of one preaching style politician and they don’t want another one packaged in a different way.
Ditto from me about the Library. Enough is enough. It's been quiet, leave it that way.
Barbara might want to consider establishing a bi-partisan Community Sounding Board (6-10 people) to meet with her periodically to “test” out her ideas, positions on issues, policy direction, etc. Probably will last only a year or so but might be a good starter approach. Typically, many politicians after about a year in office feel they know all they need to know and stop communicating with constituents.
Stan is on to something there. I think Barbara should go even further and hold town hall meetings throughout the county periodically - and not just at election times. This, of course, is in addition to having a general "Community Sounding Board."
Probably the biggest problem with today's politicians is that over time, they lose touch with their constituents and assume they simply know best for them. Ask the 109th Congress how that strategy works.
Hopefully, Ms. Fitos won't forget that included in her margin of victory was quite a bit of support from Republicans and Independents. The Dems may have brung her to the big dance, but she needs to save a few dances for others once she gets there.
My advice to B. Fitos: Don't trust the media...especially The Star-Banner. They are not your friends. Say as little as possible.
I can assure Liz and others that Fitos was focused on the importance of Republicans and Independents during the election in her communications strategy and otherwise. As one of the Independents, I would hope she wouldn't forget us. I don't think she will. I think she will be interested in serving all the citizens of the county, including those who did not vote for her.
My hope, she doesn't become the Nancy Pelosi of Marion County. We just went through 12 years of the other extreme.
My advice---Ms. Fitos better get used to being tuned out for the next four years. 4-1 usually wins in getting things done on the BCC. I have a funny feeling she is going to be odd woman out many times. Watch the Harris cronies start to bash her as a do-nothing from day one.
She said she would serve only one term. She should vote and take action on that basis. There is really no one she has to please, repay, or play up to during the next four years. As Brian Creekbaum said, just look at her campaign finances and you will see she has little political capital to pay back. What a refreshing change!
Fitos did state during the campaign that the county commission should be about public service, not about being a career politician. She said she would serve no more than EIGHT years if elected, which does leave open the possibility of a run for re-election.
I joked on election night that developers would be calling the next day claiming their contributions must have been caught in postal machinery. Frankly, the woman has a relentlessly positive outlook and not a vindictive bone in her body. I’m sure how she votes on developments and other county commission matters will be based on how she sees the merits, not on the long list of folks who ignored her when writing contributions to county commission candidates.
I recall Parnell Townley commenting while a county commissioner how he was always aware that Judy Johnson had a vote that he might need. I don’t expect the partisan, gender divide that some on the blog think will happen. I could point to comments from Republican county commissioners during and after that election that would support my view.
Don’t forget that Fitos has been involved with the local business community for quite some time and worked for a financial institution for 25 years. Such institutions are inherently conservative and cautious and not exactly bastions of radical thought. She’s Barbara Fitos, not Darlene Weesner.
My suggestion to Fitos. Go ahead and make the day for the four Rs on the Commission. At your first meeting, propose reinstating the Library Advisory Board. Please do this. I want to see if you have the gumption to take heat on an issue right from the start!
Ain't gonna happen. She's much too smart to do that right away.
I was told she was only going to serve one term. Guess I was misinformed by the Democrat who told me. So I will now moderate my enthusiasm a bit.
Serves you right for trusting a Democrat!!!
Behold the ascending of Change!
I am confident that Fitos understands the clear charge articulated by voters in the eagerness of wanting a less crotchety "leadership" style of our District 4 Commissioner.
I am confident that Fitos will attend to matters, and actually consider sentiments from her District 4 residents, prior to concluding her opinions.
Continuing, I am unsure how anyone had not noticed all the 3-2 Commissioners' votes on contentious County issues? If there was a clan or "circle of love" with the Commission that resulted in a misogynistic collaborative bellow, then the bull never manifested its synergistic bolls into the limelight or body politic.
However, I understand there will be an inclining learning curve, as Fitos comprehensively acquaints with her Commissioner assignments.
Concluding, with the upmost levels of respect and faith for Fitos, I am alive to the maturity of her being able to work with others in reaching acclamations in the absolute interest of the County.
Thanks to the informed electorate!
Richard.
Anyone think Mr. Creekbaum is beginning to sound like Fitos' Campaign Manager? Better yet, her Chief of Staff?
If such a position existed for a County Commissioner, Mr. Creekbaum is qualified.
In addition to helping out Barbara throughout her campaign, his knowledge of county issues, understanding of the law (though not a lawyer), and his knowledge of the other 4 commissioners make him a perfect chief of staff candidate.
Campaign manager, maybe not, but chief of staff, yes.
the above post was written by the chief of staff himself, sir brian.
I’ve never posted anything to this blog in anything but my own full name.
Give me a break folks. Since when do county commissioners have chiefs of staff? The closest thing I’ve ever heard to this is an unconfirmed report that the county commission staff found John Lund in Harris’ office opening Harris’ mail and Lund told them he had permission from Harris. Harris was cleaning out his desk last Wednesday so I guess that means Commissioner Lund is moving out, too.
As far as I know, the name on the ballot was “Barbara Fitos” and I don’t know her to be looking for a ‘Chief of Staff” and I’m not offering. Most of the things in the county commission portfolio don’t hold great interest for me, I know no more about them than the average fairly well-informed citizen, and I have significant family obligations to tend to. Might not be a bad idea to have some young person intern with a county commissioner but I know of no such plans.
As for the campaign manager part, against my advice, Barbara, while working full-time at the bank, functioned as her own campaign manager. Hey, you’re not going to pin that anemic fundraising and lousy sign coverage on me!
I’m not going to post a kiss and tell to the internet, but I was involved in the Fitos v Harris race, especially in the final couple of weeks or so when Harris was supposedly going to mow her over with a fast close. I did detail my activities to a former Republican elected and party official the night Harris lost who expressed the view that it would kill Harris if he knew what I did. I’m not going out of my way to tell him, but if the opportunity presents itself I’d be happy to tell Harris to his face what I did and put to the test this theory about the possible effect of telling him.
lots of people seriously doubt you haven't posted anything except by ur full name
That's probably because they're the sort who lie about their own blog activities and so find it hard to believe there are actually people who have enough integrity to not do what they do.
People who know me know that if I say it's so, it's so. Others will think what they like. I have no control over them, and it's not my responsibility to convince them of anything.
You want to see a clever/creative post poking fun at Randy Harris?
Go to the end of the thread on Poll Results (two sections below this one) and check out what "Sex Change" or "Kiss Ass" Randy? said...
Comment from B. Creekbaum:
"People who know me know that if I say it's so, it's so."
Sounds just like Randy Harris. Many people say they are two of the same...as egos go!
NOW, NOW!!! NOT VERY NICE.
How I have posted to the blog is a straightforward matter of fact obviously known to me with certainty. It is not a matter of opinion, which should be a caution to any would-be defamers on the blog.
Poor Jim strains himself by trying to lift my statement out of context and juxtapose it with the career of a politician who, after 8 years on the county commission, wrote in response to questions from a columnist that he had not cast a single vote on the county commission that he regretted. Now, that’s arrogance.
I agree about that humorous post in the other thread. It was so good I e-mailed someone about it this afternoon who rarely looks at the blog. Maybe the blogmaster should start an advice thread for soon to be ex-commissioner Harris.
I'm not a politician, but have observed, as a neighbor, the antics and "career" of Mr. Creekbaum for many, many years. His hatred and jealousy of Harris is well known by those who know him and, is only surpassed by his arrogance and know it all attiude (as frequently exhibited on the blog and in the newspaper). As Mr. Payton once told him: "get a life". Perhaps he should hook up with Barbara. Enough said.
I don’t think Fitos will have any trouble whatsoever fitting in on the board. There are already two RINOs there who will probably vote with her on most issues. So we should, as someone already said, see quite a number of 3-2 votes. What’s all this concern about having political balance on the board? We now have 3 Democrats!
All this infatuation with Randy Harris seems unhealthy and unnatural to an old fellow like me. Don’t know how the rest of you feel about it.
There is help for the condition/infatuation you noted.
See my post on another section of the blog.
Funny how ur opinions are fact and any one who presents theirs are fiction. Payton was right -- get a life.
I think Barbara will have few problems. I'm very optimistic about the BCC starting to work better together. Randy Harris has always been a fly in the ointment to cooperation.
It would have been really tough for the phone vendor to call Ferguson’s house at 6:22 PM and 6:26 PM EST time, as “agent” implies happened, given that the Monday night phone list he used with Ferguson’s phone number was e-mailed to the phone vendor well after both those times.
As indicated in my original post, the time date/time stamps I posted are Mountain Time. That’s because the calls to Ferguson’s home originated from servers located in Colorado running on 24 hour clocks on local time in Colorado. To get local time for Marion County, you have to add two hours. That’s two, “agent,” an integer one more than one and one less than three. Got it? It’s not amazing; it’s just basic arithmetic.
Ferguson falsely claimed to have received three calls from the Fitos campaign Monday night. He also falsely claimed to have received one the night before. I didn’t call him a “liar” as “Agent” claims, I merely stated the obvious based on the facts: That Ferguson cannot be relied on for accurate information on this subject. He shows he’s a guy with an agenda when he complains about his din-din getting interrupted after 8:00 at night when reasonable people would not expect a candidate to assume people were eating their dinner.
Another off-topic blogger shooting blanks at me. Try posting on a subject you know something about, “agent.”
Jim said:
“His hatred and jealousy of Harris is well known…”
Judging from the lack of subject-verb agreement, I’m betting “Jim” encounters many arrogant know-it alls in his life. They are the people who remained awake during elementary school lectures on grammar.
The only “Jim” in my neighborhood moved in only last year. He certainly hasn’t been watching me as a neighbor for years, and I’ve never discussed Harris with him. Apparently, my personal pest isn’t telling the truth about his name or some aspect of his story. Maybe living near me is some sort of cyberstalker fantasy. Certainly, “Jim” exhibits delusional thinking in his belief that he represents the views of all who know me.
I’m not surprised to see Payton’s EDC-style outburst at me from a couple of months ago misquoted on the blog. After Payton’s remarks, I met with Charlie Stone, who told me Payton was speaking only for himself. Fitos called Payton’s behavior “uncalled for” and several library people thanked me for ignoring it. It was not Payton’s finest moment. I’ve spoken to him a couple of times since. We may have moved on, but apparently a couple of bloggers with an axe to grind haven’t.
Now, back to the subject of the thread.
Weesner, the Star-Banner, and some bloggers tried to pair Weesner and Fitos during the campaign, but you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere that Fitos did this. Weesner is surely already at work lobbying Fitos intensively on land use changes, but I’m sure Fitos will look to diverse sources of information, including county staff, on this and other matters.
PFD seems not to be the diagnosis of choice. Read the posts and you will see that some "anger management" might be in order.
I’d suggest that if you really want to know what commissioner elect, Barbara Fitos, thinks about any issues you call her direct. I’m sure not accepting anything told me by her “chief of staff” on this blog. B. Creekbaum DOES NOT speak for or even expressly represent the views of Fitos. Anything he says about what or how she will handle her responsibilities is pure speculation and not FACT. She will do very well without his help or personal media support---thank you very much!
My advice to her, listen to and seek out the guidance of Darlene Weesner. She is an intelligent and excellent source of knowledge. Much better than most people you will have offering advice to you.
I'll agree with half of what you said. Let you determine which half.
if this is an IQ test, I'll bet on creekbaum. . .
This should probably be going under the Election Analysis thread, but I think it will find more readers here.
I love Barbara Fitos. She's a terrific human being who is incredibly intelligent and will be a badly-needed addition to the County Commission.
With that said, I think Barbara was elected due to two things: (1) a county-wide tax revolt, and (2) (what put her over the top) her deep social networks.
Barbara had a campaign, but it wasn't very much. She barely raised any money and had very poor sign coverage. She relied heavily on candidate's forums to get her name out. Press coverage on the race was minimal.
The point I'm trying to make here is not to make Barbara look bad - certainly not. I just don't want people to think Barbara won because of some huge precinct level grassroots network, vast sums of money raised, etc...
Barbara won this race because, as I said earlier, Barbara (unintentionally, I assure you) sent her main mailer out the same week George Albright sent out tax bills, and she was able to ride the tax revolt to around 49% of the vote. Also, and future candidates should take note, Barbara put herself over the top through her deep social networks. Barbara has been on probably every commission, committee, or task force put together in Marion County. She has made lasting friendships with key members of the community, Democrats and Republicans. She was friendly enough to allow Kesselring and Townley backers to quietly vote their protest with Mr. Harris. The same might not have happened with a Weesner-like candidate.
4 years from now, should Barbara decide to seek reelection, she will have a record to run on (good or bad.) She will need to build a real campaign in order to get reelected.
QUESTION FOR STAN: WOULD YOU SEE DARLENE WEESNER GOING ON THE COMMUNITY SOUNDING BOARD YOU SUGGESTED FOR MS. FITOS?
Good points about the Fitos election. I'm one of those who voted for her because of what Harris and his wrecking crew did to Parnell Townley. I've never even met her, but she has to be better than Harris.
I agree BFitos did very well, and would have done so without any help from BCreekbaum. Someone several weeks ago predicted the tax bills would play a major role; add to it the number of people who Harris has pissed off with his treatment of Townley and Kesselring two yrs ago, and the number who he, Glass and Lund have pissed off thru the yrs, and you see the victory. He and taxes almost brought Payton down with him. But the "campaign mgr" was a twit in making a difference.
Someone posted:
“QUESTION FOR STAN: WOULD YOU SEE DARLENE WEESNER GOING ON THE COMMUNITY SOUNDING BOARD YOU SUGGESTED FOR MS. FITOS?”
I would not include Darlene. Guy Marwick would be my choice as a better resource on the issues Darlene covers. Just my humble opinion, for the little it’s worth.
When an update on the straw vote?
No golfing today.
I'm feeling pretty good about Barbara Fitos becoming a County Commissioner. My only hope is that she will not fall into the trap of forgetting who put her in office. It wasn't just Democrats. Please remember that.
According to a Mason-Dixon poll, taken for Leadership Florida and Kaplan University, as reported by the Tallahassee Democrat, 52% of Floridians believe that their local governments aren't managing growth properly. Go figure.
More interesting numbers here:
"Poll Shows Floridians Question Leadership"
http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061115/CAPITOLNEWS/611150313
I don't know if it was the same study, but I saw one that showed people have much more confidence in their local govt. than they do in state or federal. Confidence level improves as you go further down the govt. chain of command.
agent said:
“This morning, as I showered, it dawned on me; I have found someone who knows every thing, is a mind reader, as well as being a brilliant political strategist.”
No. I’ll just take credit for being someone with first hand knowledge of the matter who can tell time. Thank you for your service, but it did not enable the Fitos phone vendor to call at 6:22 PM EST someone on a call list sent to him at 7:36 PM EST.
Here is the date/time stamp from the e-mail that contained the Monday call list with the Ferguson phone number:
Mon 11/6/2006 7:36 PM
The e-mail originated on a computer set to Eastern Standard Time.
Duh.
Someone said:
“I’d suggest that if you really want to know what commissioner elect, Barbara Fitos, thinks about any issues you call her direct.”
Good idea. That’s what I did before I posted my comments. If Fitos tells anyone that Darlene will be her sole source of information on land use changes and that she will vote down every land use change opposed by Darlene, please let us know. I’m not holding my breath for that post.
Not sure where all this discussion about telephone calls from Barbara Fitos started. However, we did have a message on our answering machine left around 5:30-6:30 PM right before election day. Not sure of the exact day. We were out to dinner and picked up the message when we returned. If the issue is getting these calls during the dinner time hours, then we would have gotten one if we had been eating at home that night. Best solution, just don’t answer the phone during dinner.
The fact is we did get three calls for Barbara in the time frame that we eat dinner -- not that we were sitting down eating. It matters not to me hat the expert says his call master records say. Two of them were recorded calls by Barbara herself and came from the professional calling machine. They were on the answering machine because we were out of the house at that time. The third call was while we were eating, and it was a local operson making the calls on Barbara's behalf. Some people cvall their friends in behalf of a candidate you know. We did get other calls those two days at dinner for Charlie Crist. Another was a local person calling friends in behalf of Davis. One afternoon call was a friend calling for Jim Paytton. The whole point is when people call during dinner, I don't like it any more than when Time Magazine called us before the law establishing a dont call list. --pwf
Not answering the phone would be the course of action for most of us, but if you’re a prima donna upset that a candidate didn’t personally call to deliver the ego massage you craved during the campaign, then you also go on the internet after the campaign to whine about robocalls to your house.
Poor Paulie got only the same telephone calls as regular folks. The reality must be devastating.
If Fitos runs for re-election, she should again ignore Commissioner Ferguson. He has lots of self-serving fables to tell but little real influence.
BC:
Suggest you spend more time protesting "And Tango Makes Three", and less on arguing PWF’s influence. Now there is a book that might get you the publicity you seem to love! Good way to “test” our new Commissioner.
Oh, no! Don't encourage him.
you are calling ferguson a prima donna. for gawd's sake, look in the mirror if you can stand it.
second thot, why are you obcessed with ferguson? maybe cause he has more influence than you?
Mr. Creekbaum,
Ms. Fitos claims she has not had conversations with you about her postions on some of the issues you quote. Do you have a date and time stamp of the telephone calls you made to her?
Gosh Brian it must be painful to know about your REAL influence on Barbara! Pretty much zilch. She wouldn't let you work on her campaign because other than your monetary contribution you would have done more harm than good and she was smart enough to recognize that.
Randy Harris is gone now and along with your vote and a couple thousand others the deed was done.
You probably can take the credit for three or four of those votes but most people you talk to can't stand your demeanor and would probably tell you whatever you want to hear just to get rid of you.
Now you want to pick a fight with pwf? Why he's missed more political action, on purpose, than you could ever hope to be involved in.
Barbara will not be taking any advice from you or Darlene because as my mother always said, "you are the company you keep" and I don't think she wants to be known as a fringe flake! Time to move on to another blogsite Brian. Supper's ready and you really should be running along now!
Talk about monementory contributions: if PWF knew what a city council member said about him, he would be appalled. I actually heard the coucil member state that he had to go by PWF's home to pick up his $500 donation; and what he said after that, was downright cruel and would be deleted anyway on this site if I wrote it. I was appalled that first, this council member would be having this discussion with his treasurer, in front of someone else, and secondly that he knew darn well that I would hear exactly what he was saying. Not only did it re-enforce my views of the "good ole boy system", but it told me that character does not matter to voters of Marion County.
To Anonymous re: "You are the company that you keep" Hmmm....let's see, you were all so "hot" on Mosley for school board, makes me wonder...do you actually know what "company she is keeping?" More like a stepping stone to City Council or County Commissioner? Watch and see.
Yes, many of us do know the company she keeps. That "company" feels she would make an excellent City Council member or a County Commissioner. Funny how women in this County (especially attractive women) can't move along without someone making rude and incorrect inferences about them. Sick, sick......
What's the TANGO book about?
Blogmaster; probably time for a new topic. Minds are wandering.
It has been a few days since I had posted the warning.
No more fear, my friends, as the list, and the men who kept his blood flowing, are no more!
All done, with the help of my "guardian."
It's a new day, and we move forward with positive energy.
Accordingly, I update you below on the new beginning or the ol' end, depending how you look at it.
Behold this glorious day!!!
Richard Valley
Lost Our Way: You have it pegged well my friend.
Dear Anonymous . . .
You wrote:
"Talk about monementory contributions: if PWF knew what a city council member said about him, he would be appalled. I actually heard the coucil member state that he had to go by PWF's home to pick up his $500 donation; and what he said after that, was downright cruel and would be deleted anyway on this site if I wrote it."
You sir, are a liar. No city councilman ever made a statement that he came by my house to pick up $500, and for three very good reasons:
First, No city council candidate has ever been to my house.
Second, I have never contributed $500 or $5 to a city council candidate. In addition, frakly, I don't have $500 to give to anyone for anything I do not need.
Third, thre conversation you speak of never happened.
You have my permission to take this message back to the councilman and tell him I said that if he said this he too is a liar.
Fourth. I do not contribute money to any candidate. I charge a competitive rate my printing and believe as a citizen I should help good people get elected. Proof I am competitive is that when another shop can beat my price, I advise the candidate to go there or take the work there myself.
So the next time you want to tell a lie, pick someone who is not as transparent as I am in all of my dealings. If you don't like my views, that is one thing. But you can not attack me with such a stupid statement.
Good thing church is Sunday, You can go and ask forgiveness for your lie. --pwf
STRAW POLL UPDATE (As of this AM;
55 Participants):
“How will the change to Barbara Fitos from Randy Harris influence the effectiveness of the Board of County Commissioners (BCC)?”
53%---“Improve BCC Performance”
27%---“No Change in BCC Performance”
20%---“Worsen BCC Performance”
(Final Results on November 21)
It is disappointing that a post on Fitos' start, has degenerated to mostly anonymous attacks against males BC or PWF, or the one against the other.
I was going to recommend a pissing "distance" contest, but it is hard to include those who hide behind their words, and whose only goal is to push BC or PWF into always having to defend themselves.
Accordingly, I was wondering if it would be more productive if a new post would be started for anonymous attacks against bloggers, and the remaining topics could focus more on topics relevant to political discussion.
These attacks could possibly be more creative?
In closing, I wonder how much this has to do with our only real change in local politics, ¡una victoria para Fitos!
If so, then some of you are going to have a tough four, or more years.
Finally, it should be a requirement that a candidate has the community at "heart," in order to run for any position.
Los adiós y tienen un día agradable,
Richard Valley.
The “Tango” book is a for-children book about two male penguins adopting an egg and raising the resulting baby penguin. A true story from some zoo. Really great stuff!
A last challange to Anonymous if you care to accept it. (a) Produce the city councilman and his treasurer you quoted as having come to my house to get his $500 contribution, or (b) produce the campaign records of any councilman ever in 48 years or any other candidate in the last election showing I have $500, or $100 or $5 and I will (a) buy you and them lunch, or (b) make a $500 contribution to the CFCC foundation for a scholarship. You wont for two reasons: it is easy to slime someone anonymously, and second, it didn't ever happen, and you are caught in your lie.
Thanks for Agent's defense. You are right: when you enter the arena, you open yourself up for arrows, and I have plenty of them slung at me, but usually people have enough courage to do it to my face.
Now, hopefully, we can get to real issues, such as the one I shall post below. Hopefully, the Blogmaster may see fit to make it a new topic.
--pwf
A Railroad through East Ocala's residential areas . . .
I see by the Star Banner than this idea is back up for another run through the wringer.
FIRST -- if it was approved it would be about 1,000 feet from my house. I am obviously biased.
Second. It is a terrible idea in 2006. In 1906, it would have been a good idea for the people of Ocala to have had the foresight to have run the railroad straght north and south through what today is East Ocala but then was the winderness between Ocala and Silver Springs.
The plan would be to start at the near right angle turn of the tracks near Joy Avenue (NE 35th Street) and run due south, meeting the current alignment south of port City where another near 90 degree turn is made by the tracks -- just straighten them out.
It is proposed by my dear friend Ed Anderson, and another man in whom I have a great deal of confidence and respect, Mike Sizemore, an old railroad man. Their point is straightening the tracks out would keep the 27-28 current trains a day from coming through north Ocala and then west to Ocala, and eliminate all of the traffic tieups at crossings along the way.
In 1906, it may have been feasible, but the business community wanted the training coming through Ocala. And, in 1906, there were no residential areas in East Ocala.
Today, the tracks if moved, would have to start about Joy Avenue and climb to go over Silver Springs Blvd. then across the high terrain of Silver Springs Forest, then down, then up, then down to compensate for the terrain and to cross over NE 7th Street, Ft. King, Eight St. and on across many other streets with another major overpass at Maricamp Road.
Could it be done. Certainly. Anything can be engineered. But you would eliminate many residential areas and be forced to pay damages to those property owners. I saw a wild estimate of coat at $100,000,000. I truly believe it would cost between $100,000,000 and $200,000,000 far, far more than building a half dozen overpasses on major roads along its current alighnment.
It pains me to disagree with my friend Ed and with Mike, but this today is just simply a dumb idea and needs to be dropped. But then I admit I am biased to start with.
Who would have to approve the idea?
Wonder what Ms. Fitos' position is, since it's supported by two of her Democrat supporters?
Just asking.
To PWF: You totally misunderstood what I was saying. I never stated that the council member had a check or got one from you. He was however, stating he was going to go by your house to try to "smooze" a donation from you. I am not a liar and heard what I heard. I only brought it to your attention as I was disgusted by this persons words; and it was very unprofessional of him to be having this conversation in front of a perfect stranger. I am tired, however, of you complaining because people use anonymous on this blog. 90% of the posts are from anonymous bloggers. I would never post something that I did not hear with my own two ears, that is called "gossip" however, you and many others have no problem spreading slime about people you have never even met or talked to personally. Enough said.
You wrote and I quote:
"I actually heard the coucil member state that he had to go by PWF's home to pick up his $500 donation"
Now to put the emphasis where you intended it:
"... he had to GO BY PWF's home to pick up HIS $500 DONATION"
Words have meaning, and I mean what I say. You did not say "smooze", you said "pick up".
You never heard any councilman say it because there was no election for city council this year, period. When councilmen were running, last year, none of those running would have come by my house -- they would have come by my office because the three that I talked with during that campaign all contacted me at my office, and NONE asked for money. One did pay me for a small job I did for him. (I did not ask any of them for printing work.)
Dont try to weasle out of what you intended to post. Your words were that he had to go by my house and pick up his donation, and that sir is a lie. . . . by the way, the proper word would be contribution, not donation. People do not donate to politicians, they make a contribuition.
I do not slime people. I make accurate statements based on my knowledge of them and their actions. Calling you a liar is not sliming you, it is stating a fact. So do not try to label me with that one. --pwf
Anonymous wrote :
"Who would have to approve the idea?
Wonder what Ms. Fitos' position is, since it's supported by two of her Democrat supporters?
Just asking. "
The idea would have to be approved by the Transportation Planning Organization, composed of members of the City Councils and County Commission. It likely would also have to be approved by the state because a major share of the funding would come from the state. Locally, it would produce probably the biggest citizen outrage of any issue during my tenure here, as all East Ocala developments east of 36th avenue would be impacted by noise and destruction of property values. And overpasses and/or tunnels would have to be constructed for major east-west streets, so where is the savings?
I have no idea what her position would eb. I do not think it would be strongly impacted by the feelings of my friends Ed Anderson and Mike Sizemore, both of whom live in Ocklawaha and ahve no stake in the fight at all other thna as goodf citizens trying to solve a problem. My view is they create far more problems. --pwf
Night Owl asks, "Richard and PWF, would like to hear from you on what Barbara Fitos needs to do in her new job."
I would offer her the same advise I have always offered:
Keep your mouth shut for several months, absorb everything you can find out from every source, and then make up your own mind and vote your conscience.
I do not believe any office holder owes anyone anything except to always listen to all views and then make up your own mind. At the end of your term, I and others will evaluate how your judgement was used, and will then vote to retain or remove you.
Any office holder who does this will never get any grief from me.
I have never asked anyone to vote for my positions, only to hear them and study the information provided and then vote.
Give me a specific issue and I will tell you how I would avise all of the commissioners to vote from my standpoint. --pwf
Geez PWf: You can spin my words all you want Mr. Newspaperman, but I know exactly what I heard and I NEVER said it was this year! If you are so blind that you refuse to believe that not every politician is your best friend, then there is nothing I can do or want to do to change your mind. What is said behind your back is still appalling in my mind, and that was the whole point of my post; they will say what they have to in order to get whatever they want (or don't get). Whether it is a check (donation) or whatever you want to call it. Sorry that the truth hurts, but I heard it and was standing right next to the man. Maybe he's the one you should be having the argument with. Oh, that's right; no elected official would ever make such rude comments about someone they may need to "use" in the future. Call me what you want, but a liar I am not.
My best friend is my wife, and then my son. Politicians are acquaintances and/or customers. Some, like Parnell Townley, become very good friends, almost like a brother.
The spin is on your side, trying to weasel out of your time frame, what was said, contribution, etc. The challange is still on, and you can not produce.
No, the truth never hurts me, be it critical or not. And the lines don't bother me either, because I know the truth, and it is not in you. Enough of this stupid dispute. This blog is about issues not personalities, so let's talk issues. --pwf
STRAW POLL--"FINAL RESULTS" (75 Participants):
“How will the change to Barbara Fitos from Randy Harris influence the effectiveness of the Board of County Commissioners (BCC)?”
54%---“Improve BCC Performance”
28%---“No Change in BCC Performance”
18%---“Worsen BCC Performance”
Looks like many folks are seeing the change from Harris to Fitos as “positive” and definitely “not a worse situation”. Thanks for your participation!
I like the results. Now let's give thanks on this Thanksgiving Day that we don't have Randy Harris around any longer as a poor example of a County Commissioner. That's one turkey we won't miss!!
GOBBLE, GOBBLE, GOBBLE......
If anyone read the article about Barbara Fitos in today’s paper, you would have to question what were voters thinking in keeping Randy Harris for so long! When you compare his uneducated, arrogant, self-serving, unprincipled, oppose everything, do nothing and borderline corrupt background with that of Fitos, it is a no brainer in seeing the differences between Harris and Fitos. Voters did the right thing in selecting her and ridding us of the plague of the Harris regime.
Guess you don't like Harris, ay?
Harris got himself involved in too many social issues, as I've said before. However, I'm not going to get too worked up about Fitos based on a PR article from one of the worst reporters at the Star Banner. I'll wait and see and give her the benefit of a one year probation. Then I expect to see her leading the charge for lower taxes, consolidation of government services, and some big cuts in expenditures for operating the county government (especially numbers of employees). Well, I can dream can't I?
My opinion of Carr’s reporting is embodied in the fact that I didn’t return her phone calls the last time she left messages seeking comment from me. However, she does take shorthand, and I have found her quotes in the past to be accurate.
The positive comments in the article from Kesselring, Payton, and Stone must be a big disappointment for the Harris fanatics rooting for deep division on the county commission and for the county government without Harris to fail. I doubt Harris carried a majority of the votes of the other four Republicans on the county commission in his re-election bid. How many other commissioners wanted to serve next to a guy who would stick a knife between the ribs of a fellow Republican if he thought it would net him five additional votes in his next election?
Fitos is just one commissioner, but her replacement of Harris will result in a more collegial atmosphere and a county commission on which other commissioners feel freer to speak their minds. I think this will be more conducive to problem solving even when her ideas don’t carry the day.
Sue Carr accurate. Hardly!
I can give you a laundry list of people who have been misquoted by her “shorthand”. Ask former Ocala Mayor, E.L. Foster about her accuracy.
Even though she has written relatively few articles on the subject, I think the Star-Banner has run more corrections on Carr’s library censorship articles than they have on all articles they published on the subject before she took over the county beat. I have requested and received these corrections. Carr’s reporting on the subject is so bad that I quit sending Star-Banner articles on the subject to people after she took over the county beat because her articles confused them so much.
If you look at some of the Banner editorials, you can see the editorial board having to, in effect, do news reporting to compensate for Carr botching the news article that preceded the editorial.
I have never, however, had to request a correction because of a misquote by Carr. I find her quotes very accurate.
People dissatisfied with news articles often claim they were “misquoted” when their complaint actually relates to some other aspect of the article or when they don’t like the reaction to what they said and regret saying it.
On all aspects of accuracy, insider information confirms a much worse situation than conveyed via your rather limited experience.
Including both the news and editorial sides at the Banner, there are about five editors who would find it amusing that anybody thinks her reporting could be worse than I’ve portrayed. I’ve always made my comments to them by name as I do here. Using an anonymous Internet identity to publicly blast her work is cowardly. I find her work lacking, but at least she has the courage to put her name on what she writes so she is accountable for it, which is more than we can say for one of her other critics.
My wife and my attorney said they would kill me if I got involved in anymore debates about the quality of the Star-Banner or some of its reporters. However, I can’t resist making a general comment about newspapers/reporters that sums up my current feeling about the press. My favorite President, Ronald Reagan, once said:
"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant: It's just that they know so much that isn't so."
Substitute “newspapers/reporters” for liberal friends in the above quote and you’ve got it. Perhaps you don’t even need to substitute the words; many are one in the same!
“And that’s the truth”---- from Edith Ann, one of my way-back favorite TV personalities.
And an Amen to this one too.
I guess sooner or later I’m going to have to reveal my identity or Creekbaum will go crazy trying to track me down. However, I’m going to remain nameless for a bit longer. A hint, I was just one of the cubs at The Banner. My Mama and Papa Banner-Bear are no longer there either.
why? bc has his jollies beating up on old ferg and harris. his ideas are about as new as castor oil.
I know it is a bit early for New Year’s resolutions. But I have one I wish would be adopted by certain of the blog contributors:
---For my New Year's resolution I have already decided to resolve not to be critical of PWF. I realize now that my negative attitude toward PWF is based on my own shortcomings and I project this on PWF rather than deal with it as my own responsibility...which it is. Ergo, I have decided to grow up, to mature and be a productive citizen, help the less fortunate, donate more time to civic activities and respect people from all political parties.---
I like your resolution. Will others?
Although I've never been critical of pwf, I'll certainly adopt the last half of your resolution - we should all adopt it.
Here is another idea for Commissioner Fitos. Athletes and athletic teams aim for perfection and spend considerable time reviewing tapes of their individual and team performances.
I would suggest that Barbara use the technology now available on the Marion County website and review the video tape available of each BCC Meeting. You can start/stop/reverse/forward/pause the tape to really get into what you might have done (or said) differently. Better yet, what you might not say or do again.
It is amazing what can be learned from seeing yourself and others on a video. When I was still able to play golf, I had great results in improving my game just from watching my swing on tape.
So why not use it to improve playing the political game? Like it or not, it is a highly competitive game!
Did this at J&J when I worked in sales to perfect my sales presentation skills. Seeing yourself on tape can be very good to correct some of those quirky interpersonal situations we all have. Can't see why it won't work for a politician. Of course, most of them already know everything so they already have great skills!
Fitos is doing a good job. She seems to be following PWF's wise advice, listening and not doing a lot of talking until she knows what's going on.
Commissioner Fitos,
I am so glad you replaced Randy Harris. I read on the news that Randy Harris had hung a public sign naming a "Child Rapist" living at a particular address in Ocala, Florida. The young man who lived there had been labelled a 'sex offender' by our justice system. However, he was developmentally still a young kid mentally due to a childhood disease. He had never actually raped anyone. He was also in a wheelchair.
I cannot believe a politician such as Randy Harris, would take it upon himself to inflict such cruelty on a young man, who committed suicide after seeing that public sign. Are we living in the Dark Ages, where people were stoned publicly because they did something the State or Church disagreed with?
We have carried this too far. While it is necessary to protect children, we do not have to hound those who are equally handicapped, developmentally retarded, and completely harmless.
I am disgusted with Randy Harris's actions. How dare he cause the death of this poor disabled man who had his whole life ahead of him. Shame on him! I am so glad you have replaced him!!!
Mercure
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