In 2002 and reconfirmed in 2008 I have functioned as the Board of County Commissioners point person on public health, safety and welfare. During the past seven past years I have interacted with the various elements of medical community and non-profit organizations on a number of issues.

School Nurses or rather the lack of it was a public concern back in 2002 when our local public schools were not providing trained medical professionals to assist our student with the dispersing medications and medical emergencies. At that time the School Board was not interested it provided this service. By getting the Board of Commissioners to recognize that the lack of nurses in our School was a health safety and welfare issue. The Board of Commissioner offered a one time incentive of $100,000 to kick start the program and the School Board embraced the offer.

Mosquito control has always been a quality of life issue for me. Prior to serving on the commission in 1989 and again in 2000 I lead citizen groups that successfully petitioned the Collier Mosquito Control District to expand their district spaying bounties for Golden Gate Estates.  In 2003 as a Commissioner I organized a local citizen group in Immokalee concerned over the spread o the West Nile Virus. Together we successful petitioned the Collier Mosquito Control District to be included in the district.

The Horizons Primary Care Center located in Golden Gate was established in response to a county commission-appointed study on the accessibility of health care to Collier County residents. In 2000, the committee issued its report, painting a sad but accurate picture of unmet health care needs for large population segments. The report reflected an alarming number of individuals and families that were uninsured or underinsured with many existing at 100% - 200% of the federal poverty level. Horizons became the answer to these citizens. Horizons Primary Care Center offers adult, pediatric, and family health care services. My efforts on this endeavor were recognized by the Collier County Medical Society at their annual banquet.

Through the Physician Lead Access Network (PLAN) specialists and medical centers in Collier County donated $2,050,889 in donated health care last year. This involved 300 specialty physicians, numerous diagnostic centers and laboratories, and all four hospitals in Collier County. The nonprofit organization coordinates all the Physicians and Health Care Facilities who contribute services for free. PLAN has been one of most successful non-government ventures that I have ever had the privilege to work on. My contributions to this successful effort were also recognized by the Collier County Medical Society at their annual banquet.

Ongoing and New Objectives;

Currently I am working with a consortium of agencies to establish a Senior Center in Collier County. This future center will provide health care, lunches and various entertainments to our deserving seniors.

The Boys and Girls Club has a successful non-profit operation in East Naples serving all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to reach their full potential as caring, responsible and productive citizens by providing after school and summer youth development organization. I am working with representatives from the Naples Winter Wine Festival, Boys and Girls Club and the leadership of Immokalee to build a Boys and Girls Club in Immokalee.