It's time to restore civility and good communication to government at all levels. I promise to always do my best to listen, and incorporate dissent into every motion I put forth as County Commissioner.
There are six incorporated cities within the geographic boundary of Manatee County. Often, governmental responses to problems can be fragmented. I will work to create a ballot referendum, for voters to have the option to approve a measure which would formally-join Manatee County’s six incorporated cities and county government into a single unit, in what is called a city-county consolidation.
I will advocate for reforms in state law that would give citizens of Manatee County--through the county board-- better control over how and when our wild and rural land is converted into new housing developments. Since I do not court or accept financial support from any business or PAC, I will never be beholden to any special business interest over the welfare of Manatee County’s environment.
Manatee County residents deserve a stormwater programme that is effective and fair. I will work to see they have one.
I will call for the board to impose the full impact fee, instead of 90%, and insist that developers pay every penny the land development code requires.
In addition to placing incentives, I will work to change our county’s comprehensive plan to require large builders to build a percentage of their new houses as affordable houses, tied-to the wage-structure of our community. We need more affordable housing in District 5, and in Manatee County.
The environment is not only a place where humans live and play, it is the home of animals and plants that often have no place else to go, and where human activity (construction and development) threaten the natural carrying capacity of natural systems we depend on. We often forget that humans are ultimately dependent on the same clean air, clean water, and habitat that animals and plants depend on to survive. I will work to set aside conservation land, to preserve our county’s natural beauty and sustain habitat plants and animals depend on.
Manatee County’s economy is too dependent on the construction industry and government transfer payments. In addition to the historical economic stress that comes with living in an expensive ‘boom town’, COVID19 public health crisis has shuttered many small businesses, and displaced many workers. To address these problems, I will advocate for our county budget to increase funding for worker retraining. I will also work to diversify our economy.
I will advocate and work for changes in county public safety funding, to support the programs that have been proven to reduce crime before it begins.
I will work to increase participation in our local government by People of Color at every level.