Finding heroes among candidates

It’s a long-standing tradition passed down through generations of the Just Wright Citrus family.

As each election year concludes, I humbly issue two awards:

My favorite candidate.

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My least favorite.

We’ll dispense with the last first. I don’t have one this year, and that’s saying something. There’s usually at least one candidate for office who really gets my goat.

It’s usually the candidate who’s a constant whiner, or meticulous in picking apart stories for hidden meaning. The candidate who can’t let up in his/her criticism. The candidate whose financial reports are always just a little shy of making sense. 

The candidate who often says, “I’ll never lie to you!” That’s great, but is it necessary to say that? Or the candidate who insists he DIDN’T say a dumb thing — when he did.

The candidate who blames others for his/her mistakes. This one really burns me up. 

Or, worst of the worst, the candidate who lies and manipulates to get votes. Yes, we have one or two like that in our midst. We’ll know Tuesday night whether their tactics are successful.

So, let’s not go to our least favorite.

My 2024 favorite candidate: Stacey Worthington.

(Um, Mike, Stacey’s from 2022. That’s probably why your blogs are out of whack…)

Let me explain.

I view life much differently at Just Wright Citrus than I did as a Chronicle reporter. I can see things from a broader standpoint, and that includes what I expect in candidates.

For years, my most important aspect of a candidate was his/her opinion. What do you think about this? What’s your solution to that? 

No longer. I now care very little about a candidate’s opinion. I care a great deal about his/her character, standing in the community, and history of personal success. We elect good people, and guess what? Good things will come from it.

Stacey, who owns a heating and air company with her husband Mike, entered the 2022 County Commission District 2 race a few days after I wrote that candidate Diana Finegan needed competition. We had never met before that.

Stacey ran a decent campaign, but the chips were stacked against her. Without rehashing that whole thing, Stacey lost a race she could have won with some better campaign strategies and fewer hijinks from her opponents.

What happens when candidates lose? In many cases, they disappear. Very discouraging when that happens. It’s like winning was the only purpose.

I had a Cattle Dog chat a few weeks ago with a candidate who is likely to taste defeat. I told her, “Your public service doesn’t end Tuesday night. Win or lose, it continues Wednesday morning.”

Stacey didn’t disappear. If anything, the Worthingtons have doubled down on their Homosassa community. More involved in important causes, more helpful to neighbors after recent hurricanes, more heavy lifting behind the scenes.

Instead of shirking after a stinging political disappointment, Stacey dug in deeper.

We had a very nice chat Monday morning. I didn’t ask whether she’s running again in two years. I just wanted to let Stacy know I appreciate all she’s done for the community, and I especially wanted her to hear it this week from me.

Now, a story that most people don’t know.

Stacey was Doug Alexander’s campaign manager.

You know how I feel about Doug. I’m convinced Dave Vincent is sheriff-elect because Doug entered the sheriff’s race, pushing Dave to become a bolder candidate.

It wasn’t easy for Stacey when Doug decided to give up that fight on the community’s behalf. She saw great hope in Doug, and she knew he touched the lives of thousands in Citrus County.

When the three candidates decided on a plan, Stacey had to keep that under wraps to ensure the incumbent wouldn’t try a last-minute ballot sleight of hand.

Few people outside Doug’s campaign knew of Stacey’s involvement. She’s not one to brag on herself.

Stacey Worthington is the ideal defeated candidate. That doesn’t sound too positive, but it actually is. She places community above self. My kind of hero.

— A few quick Election Day notes:

• Polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• We’re already at 61% voter turnout. Over 73,000 Citrus Countians voted early or by mail.
• I’ll have the results ASAP Tuesday night on the JWC Facebook page.

It’s Election Day. Enjoy it with a smile, friends.

Join the discussion on our Facebook page.
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