Press Release on Federal Budget / Rep. Nugent

REP NUGENT PRESS RELEASE:  
“We spent the day cutting our own budget… that’s a day well spent.”

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Following a marathon, budget-cutting meeting of the House Administration Committee, Rep. Rich Nugent (FL-05) issued the following statement:

“Americans are looking at the federal government, they are looking at their taxes, they’re looking at the debt being run up in their names and they are saying, ‘you all have got to do more with less’.

“Congress isn’t exempt from the belt-tightening.  In fact, we’ve got to be the first to do more with less.  Leaders don’t ask others to do things that they aren’t willing to do themselves.

“Cutting the House budget is one thing we can do on our own.  We don’t have to fight the Senate for every penny and we don’t have to fight the White House.  This is what Washington could look like without all of the obstructionism - we can sit down, work it through, and deliver some results.

“We spent the day cutting our own budget for next year and that’s a day well spent.” 

Jamming on the sidewalks

Brooksville, Fla. - Skater-girl is jamming her way into the political arena so Hernando gladiators need to watch out.

A local promotion artist threw her skate key into the ring to compete for District 3,  Hernando County Commission seat - the seat currently held by John Druzbick.  Her shtick is jamming on roller skates as she promotes local businesses at busy intersections in Hernando County.

Tanya Lee Marsh, 50,  is a newbie to the political arena.  As  a NPF candidate, she will move directly to the general election. She plans on using the petition method to get her name placed on the ballot.

Marsh is the owner of Tanya L. Marsh Promotions.  She gained the name of Skater-girl, jamming on sidewalks to promote local businesses.  She is a self-made woman who was once homeless, living in a tent in Hernando County.  She  attributes her good fortune in her religious beliefs. "Jesus brought me everything," Marsh says.

As a student at Hillsborough Community College in 1994, she studied criminology.  She attended HCC a second time to pursue a career in radio and television.  She labels herself  a crusader who eventually wants to host her own radio show.   She is quick to point out she doesn't want to make a career of politics.  She just wants to help everyday people, like herself, in the position of public servant.

"It's my time to support the people," Marsh says.  "It's my turn to help the people because I can see the stress in their eyes."

Increasing bus service is priority for Marsh.  She wants to see more mobility so residents can travel by bus to Pasco and Citrus Counties with ease.   She also wants to help people whom she has met in homeless camps to create jobs for them.

So, candidates, strap on your skates.  It's time to start this roller derby.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving to me is a time to reflect on family and friends who have impacted my life over the past year.  This year is no different.  Although my family has had a few bumps in the road, we have weathered the storm and have much to be thankful for.  Thanksgiving at our house will be filled with gratitude and laughter as we sit down as a family to enjoy our dinner.

I hope your day and life is as enriched as mine. 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! 
Anna Liisa

Not planning on final goodbyes or not just yet.

Brooksville, Fla.- No plans have been made for retirement for the supervisor of elections even though she is on a short-timer's calendar.

When asked is she planned on running again in 2012, Hernando County Supervisor of Elections Annie Williams  says she isn't ready to say her final goodbyes or not just yet.  Williams, 55, has served her entire adult life in the supervisor of elections office.  She served as a clerk to former supervisor Ann Mau.  Williams was elected after Mau retired in 2000.

"I haven't made up my mind yet about retirement," Williams said.  "I still have some thinking to do about my future."

Williams entered the Florida "Deferred Retirement Drop Program" (DROP) which sets up future benefits while employees continue to work.  Once employees enter DROP all future retirement benefits stop and a 5-year deadline for retirement is imposed on the employee.  Williams did not say where she was in terms of remaining years in her DROP schedule.

Williams says she hasn't given much thought to retirement.  Her time has been spent fighting for more money for her budget.  She also says the increased cost of redistricting will add additional impact to her department.

"An announcement about my future will come soon," Williams said.  "It will probably come before the end of the year."

Changing political boundaries will cost taxpayers

Brooksville, Fla.-Redistricting plans for political boundary changes may cost Hernando County taxpayers more with different boundaries.


After heated debate on redistricting, Hernando County Commissioners directed county planning director, Ron Pianta, to reconfigure county commissioner districts for a new presentation at their December 3rd meeting.  Last minute changes were made to the redistricting maps after  candidate, Jason Sager objected to plans approved earlier at a joint-session workshop of county commissioners and school board members.


According to Hernando County Supervisor of Elections Annie Williams using different districts for school board and commissioners will require additional mailings from her office.  Williams indicated new voter identification cards must be sent to every voter who experiences a change in their voting districts after redistricting plans are made final.


"It will cost my office for additional mailings," Williams said. "My budget has already been slashed by former county administrator."


The NAACP also presented a plan to commissioners for consideration. Their plan was based civil rights legislation of "one person, one vote" under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965.  Local NAACP maps were drawn without political consideration.  Their plan came within one percent population difference in all five districts using demographics based solely on population.


County legal staff explained the practice of gerrymandering at the joint-session workshop to brief the respective boards on their obligations.  Gerrymandering by definition is a practice in redistricting to create partisan or incumbent-protected districts to give political advantage to one group or person.


"I will request additional money for my budget from Hernando County Commissioners for the cost of mailing voter identification cards," Williams said.

Internet Blacklist

Just in case you missed the "Stop Censorship" note on Google search engine:


Spread the word
Will you take a moment to urge your friends to take a stand against this dangerous and short-sighted law? It’s as easy as posting this message on your social networking sites: 


Fight for free speech online - reject the Internet #Blacklist Legislation. https://eff.org/r.C8A  via @eff

And please copy this message to your friends (or just forward this email!):

Dear friend,

I just emailed Congress to urge them to oppose the Internet Blacklist Legislation, known as the PROTECT-IP Act in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House. This legislation seeks to give the executive branch power to conduct slash-and-burn campaigns against websites that allegedly host – or even link to – content that infringes on intellectual property rights. That would “disappear” whole domain names, fundamentally undermining Internet security, and/or choke off their financial support. The Internet Blacklist Legislation puts more sites than ever at risk, effectively upending the DMCA safe harbors that have been crucial to the growth of Internet innovation and creativity.

Sadly, these short-sighted and dangerous bills won’t do much to stop online infringement – but they will jeopardize our ability to speak and read online with the kind of freedom we cherish in the offline world. Deep-pocketed Hollywood lobbyists are aggressively pushing to control and censor the open Internet, willing to sacrifice free speech and our Internet culture in hopes of controlling how people view their movies and products.

We need to stop this bill before it goes any further. Will you contact your representatives in Congress and urge them to oppose the Internet Blacklist Legislation? Visit: https://eff.org/r.C8A

No new ideas at economic development workshop

Brooksville, Fla.- The economic development workshop illustrated an urgent need for county officials to be pro-active to attract new business to Hernando County.

For years economic experts warned Hernando County would become a bedroom community without a manufacturing and industrial job base.   The construction trades and home-based real estate business are struggling in the sluggish economy.  The discussion of panel members from business organizations and local government centered on programs already in place, not new ideas to improve economic conditions.

Pat Crowley, CEO of Hernando County Chamber of Commerce reviewed the Small Business Development Center with Valerie Pianta of Hernando County Office of Business and Development.  The program is offered free for start-up business advice with Jerry Karp, a certified business analyst from University of South Florida.

"Pat,what programs are in place to help existing businesses in our county, " Commissioner David Russell asked.

"Existing business usually wait until they are in dire straits before coming in for help," Crowley said.

Len Tria of Hernando Progress presented a short video from Hernando Summit.  In order to make Hernando County more competitive, it needs a more qualified workforce and market ready jobs,  according to Gregory Burkhart who was a guest speaker at the Summit.

According to Burkhart, Hernando County was not market ready.  In his opinion, it lacks a qualified workforce and infrastructure to be more competitive.  An electrical substation was noted by Burkhart as a immediate need to attracting industrial business to the Ridge Manor area.

Expansion of  electrical service with local power companies will  require agreements with new or expanding business service to cover associated costs.

Local business owner, Jesse Simms, of Composite Motors lamented on the lack of qualified workers.  He served on the original task force with Dr. Sanders to implement the curriculum for Nature Coast High School ten years ago.

"In hindsight, the county needs mechanical and electrical engineering classes for future job growth," Simms said, as he referred to his prior influence on Sanders' task force.

Tax collector undecided

Brooksville, Fla. - Hernando County Tax Collector is considering her options as several of her fellow constitutional officers plan their respective retirements as their terms expire. 


As Hernando County Property Appraiser Alvin Mazourek and Clerk of Court Karen Nicolai announce their retirements, Juanita Sikes is taking time to reflect on her future options as tax collector.  New changes to state law has increased the work load for her employees which requires her office to conduct driver's license exams. But Sikes has taken the role in stride. 


Sikes was quick to act on the US98 driver's license office as the state vacated the building in October.  She was able to move her personnel into a ready-made facility.   After changes to state law, an additional 2,000 customers needing drivers licenses used Tax Collector's office in Spring Hill in August causing some confusion.  With the opening of  US98 facility, Sikes says the customers are now being better served with their appointments for driver's license renewals. 


The tax collector's office work load has an anticipated annual increase of 25,000 additional customers  with the implementation of drivers license examinations. But Sikes said her decision to run again in 2012 will be based on her personal decision - a decision to based on what's best for her and her family.


"I don't know what I'll  do this time," Sikes said.  I have considered retiring, but have not made up my mind yet." 


Sikes' husband would like to see her retire after the completion of her term.  He retired in 2005, but Sikes says they have considerations just like anyone else.  Her primary concern is the enormous cost of health insurance because she won't be eligible for Medicare for a few more years. 


"I'm not even  60-years old and don't know if I'm ready to retire," Sikes said.

Hello Hernando County!

Welcome to the inaugural post to my new blog.  Hernando Journal is forum for local news, feature stories and just plain, opinion columns.  All comments will be welcomed except those that contain foul language.  Everyone should be able to get their point across without having a potty mouth.

So sit back, strap on your seat belt, and let's get cracking. ...