Candidate says innovative thinking needed

Brooksville, Fla. -  Retired marketing representative hopes to change climate in Hernando County politics to be more positive.

The new county commission candidate for Hernando County, district 5  is upbeat as he talks about his professional life as a sales and marketing representative. He is quick to point out he secured 17 of 19 Fortune 500 companies during his working career in the Tampa Bay area as a business owner.

Now retired at the age of 70, James "Jimmy" Lodato sees Hernando County as an economic opportunity.

According to Lodato, the current commissioners have been dealing with the county budget on a percentage basis.  He said when he is elected he will evaluate the budget on a per-item basis. One of his suggestions is for more outsourcing to save money.

In his opinion, Lodato says Hernando County is sitting still on Ad Valorem when it comes to new business.  He says no new major accounts have been brought into the county to raise revenue.

"What the county needs is innovative thinking to kick start the economy," Lodato says.  "We need to logistically go out and find companies that need to be here."

Lodato says current Commissioner James Adkins is a fine man, but he wants to take the county to the next level.  He says Adkins wants to educate workers for jobs that don't exist.

"I don't think Adkins understands how to create jobs," Lodato says. "I do."