What is the most important issue facing District 5 today, how will you address this if elected ?

     The most important issue would be the general economic well being of our residents.  Due to a nation wide economic downturn, many of our residents have suffered.  Directly related to this is the underlying issue of taxes and government services rendered.  The Board of County Commissioners has voted to cut the budget for the past two years resulting in a reduction of funds by $67,000,000. 
      This year’s budget we are looking to cut an additional $20,000,000.  While these tax cuts have resulted in a 24 % decrease in the number of county employees, it is the intent of the Board of County Commissioners to retain within reason the levels of personal services that our residents have come to expect.  Of course emergency services will always receive special considerations. 
       This direction was demonstrated recently when the Commission refused to consider cutting funding for Emergency Medical Services and secured future funding through 2009.

What should be the county’s role in health care, and if it should be expanded, how would it be paid for?

      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 the medical community and non-profit organizations on a number of issues.


      School Nurses or rather the lack thereof was a public concern back in 2002 when our local public schools were not providing trained medical professionals to assist our students with dispensing medications and medical emergencies.  At that time the School Board was not interested in providing this service.  By getting the Board of Commissioners to recognize that the lack of nurses in our schools was a health, safety and welfare issue, the Board of Commissioners 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 spraying boundaries for Golden Gate Estates.  In 2003 as a Commissioner I organized a local citizen group in Immokalee concerned over the spread of the West Nile Virus. Together we successfully 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 health care last year.  This involved 300 specialty physicians, numerous diagnostic centers and laboratories, and all four hospitals in Collier County .  The non-profit 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.

With an eye to the future, the Board of County Commissioners needs only to provide the incentives for non-profit or private health care providers to flourish.  Funding for the most part would continue to come from federal, state and private funding/grants. I will continue to work on having the Board of Commissioners re-institute meaningful impact fee deferrals for new health care construction.  This along with recognizing medical services as a necessary public service and provide for accelerated permitting for new facilities.  Of course I will continue to work with all elements of the medical community as the designated point person of the Board of Commissioners.

What should be the county’s role in economic development and job creation?

I have been a successful businessman with over thirty years of business experience.  My past experience includes serving on the board and as the president of a business association and a chamber of commerce.  I have taken an active role in the economic development of Eastern Collier County for over twenty years.  I have been involved with EDC for over 12 years.  During that time I took part in many different economic initiatives and as a commissioner served on the EDC’s Bio-Tec group.

 Economic actions that I intend to pursue in the coming years:

   1. To continue my long time personal involvement with the Economic Development
        Counsel and the Naples Chamber of Commerce.
   2. To find ways to further reduce ad valorem taxes with enhanced controls on
        spending.
   3. Continue to support economic incentives to retain old businesses and bring new
        ones to our area.
   4. To continue arguing for the reduction of impact fees to help stimulate construction
        and search for alternative methods of funding for future growth.
   5. To continue to support additional changes to the county’s purchasing policy to
        sustain the local business preference.
   6. To support new efforts to keep people in their homes and to use SHIP and HUD
        funds to place in-need families in abandoned or foreclosed homes.