A Promise Kept?

It was at the end of a long, drawn out day in April when the surprise decision of a 4 to 1 vote on the Hickory Hill subdivision that I committed myself to do a bit of campaigning for the odd-Commissioner out-of-line with the rest. Each of our mouths dropped at the end of the hearing. A bit of anger and a swelling of the eyes and a promise was made.

There’s no secret who this Hernando County Commissioner is. So much so that I really don’t have to spell out the name or the gender.

So, when the time came a couple of months ago to act upon that my commitment, The Commissioner verified that I was “the guy who writes blogs” and the inquiry as to what I was willing to do for the re-election. What else could I say but “Write”. Not exactly what The Commissioner had anticipated. I got the impression my point was mute. I silently agreed with The Commissioner’s tone that I was being shamefully shy in acting on my commitment.

But… since that conversation, I have followed The Commissioner’s very own style of promoting a victory next month on Election Day 2008. A very important day indeed on every level of voter decision-making. You gotta check the right box on the ballot or forever hold your foolish mark on the future.

So, what have I been up to over the past weeks? As has been reported, The Commissioner’s tactics are simple. Talk friend-to-friend, neighbor-to-neighbor and acquaintance-to- acquaintance about the wise choice(s) that I have made for voting on the three up-for-grabs Commissioner seatings. Who of the candidates will place their butts on the Board for the next four year? We shall see how the voting goes… with anticipation.

Each of my conversations leads to the decisions that have been made at the Hernando County Government Center over the past two, too long years. Not just Hickory Hill, but the other approved subdivisions of Lake Hideaway and Sunrise. Build, build, build for as far as the future can be seen. Not one of the people I’ve talked to were aware that amid this period of known reduction in property taxes and what I view as giving away of infrastructure moneys (impact fees) to accommodate the proliferation of daunting home building.

Not one of these voters can understand what the rush has been to pass, pass, pass the land use hearings that will lead to Hernando County through another phase of employment opportunities dependent on construction jobs, lawn maintenance careers and incomes that will assure the success of retail stores for at least the next two decades - mediocre salaries. It's no secret to me that the developers were well aware of changes that would be more costly to their enterprises at the expence and suprise to taxpayers - hidden costs.

I should hope The Commissioner views my efforts as positive re-enforcements for the re-election bid against the “droozly” opponent.

Here’s an exercise at solving an anagram. Re-arrange the letters ADDEEINNORW. Clue: it's a synonym of MAVERICK. Not the Republican kind, though.