 How I spent my summer vacation: Driving eight hours through Florida’s heartland to nowhere.
Actually, I had a single destination: Card Sound Road from Homestead to the Upper Keys simply because my favorite fiction authors, Carl Hiaasen, and the late Tim Dorsey, immerse it in so many of their adventures. Basically, though, my vacation was a long drive. Just the way I like it.  Let’s nip this in the bud.
See the guy in our photo? No way he should be a Citrus County commissioner. His name is Paul Grogan. You probably remember him as the County Commission District 2 NPA candidate from 2022 who closed the primary with his candidacy, assuring Diana Finegan a win.  Received a phone call Tuesday morning from a commissioner very excited about an announcement coming this week.
I took the call in my room at the Seafarer Resort in Key Largo. Don’t let the fancy name fool you. Apparently, everything down here with a room key and speck of sand is a “resort.” The Seafarer would be just another $50-a-night bungalow along the Pinellas beaches. I’ve spent the last two days on vacation, or what counts for vacation these days. It has an entirely different meaning the last three years than the prior 40.  One final loose end before we tie a bow on the 2024 Primary.
How were the three sheriff’s candidates opposing incumbent Mike Prendergast able to meet in secret before qualifying, come to a conclusion about respective campaigns, and keep all that under wraps until the last minute to avoid Prendergast tossing in a last-second challenger to muddy the waters? It was huge. That decision by Doug Alexander and Calvin Adams Jr. to drop out vaulted Dave Vincent’s public support, and he never looked back.  Today’s big question: How the heck did that happen?
Janet Barek. I’m referring to Janet Barek. How can Janet Barek, whose understanding of Citrus County government is fleeting, who shows up every two weeks to tell commissioners how wrong they are…how does THAT person capture the hearts of Citrus County voters?  Wow. Just wow.
How big was Dave Vincent’s landslide win over Sheriff Mike Prendergast? During the lively celebration taking place Tuesday night at the Train Station in Inverness, Dawn Faherty called it the best election night ever. Bigger than when your husband was elected to the School Board?  And it's...SHOWTIME!
Months of preparation and hard work lead to this day for candidates who are hoping their messages resonate with voters. I actually have some experience with this. In fifth grade I was nominated for class treasurer but lost to my friend Sandy, who was smarter and more popular than me. I was demoralized. My political career began and ended at age 11.  Wanna know why it’s so difficult for an incumbent sheriff to lose?
We’re seeing it right now. Mike Prendergast is gleefully using the power of the badge to win votes during the campaign’s final days.  Speaking with a friend recently, a person I’ve known for quite some time, and she made an interesting observation.
“More people know you now for your blog than from the Chronicle,” she told me. I was thinking about that the other day while wandering through the new Target totally on my own, taking photos of silly things (like today’s selfie with Bullseye, the Target mascot). Didn’t interview anyone, wasn’t looking for a press release, and left my reporter notepad at home.  It’s Thursday, so let’s talk about the politics of pickleball.
Never played. To the untrained eye, it looks like a cross between ping pong, badminton, and slow-moving tennis. I can see why people are ga-ga about it though. It’s inexpensive, easy, and a fun activity with friends. |
AuthorMike Wright has written about Citrus County government and politics for 36 years. 
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