Local politics is the best way to go

Happy Monday! Welcome to America’s Birthday week.

If ever you wonder why I chose a writing career in county politics, without moving up the ladder to the state capital or Washington, D.C., Thursday night’s display of awfulness explains it.

I don’t recall ever being so disappointed in a political debate. I mean…ever. Local, state, or national.

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There I was, all set to take notes while munching buttered popcorn. Instead, ugh.

Democrats have a president who, let’s be honest, if he was getting behind the wheel of a car Thursday night, someone would have called a Silver Alert.

Republicans, meanwhile, see their savior in a psychotic, lying windbag who is promising retribution against his enemies if he wins and violence if he loses.

And that’s why I write about the Citrus County Commission.

There’s a saying, “All politics is local.” That’s true only when the subject matter is something folks can identify with on a personal level.

Much of what these two “debated” Thursday night has very little actual relevance in our lives. God knows we debate national politics fiercely, but is it really that much different than arguing Ohio State vs. Michigan? 

Unless you’re really in the trenches of politics, and most people are not, voting preferences are based more on tradition, behavior, and beliefs. It’s like choosing Keebler over Chips Ahoy!

It feels like the national stage is an entirely different existence, someplace I can't see, feel, or touch. 

And that’s why I enjoy Citrus County politics. Everyone is personally affected. Most everyone pays attention.

I’m coming up on three years retirement from the Chronicle. I had no idea — NONE! — what to do post-Chronicle. I had to decide fairly quickly, like within days, whether I would still be writing about local politics, and if so, how exactly would I do that?

I made a list of people I needed to speak with to get their suggestions, advice and counsel. First on the list: Commissioner Ruthie Davis Schlabach.

I can’t say for sure why Ruthie was the first. I had gotten to know Ruthie during her two prior runs for County Commission, and we also enjoy our talks even though we argue nearly every single time.

Other local politicians made the list. Commissioners and School Board members. I reached out to leaders of both Citrus County political parties. Their encouragement was invaluable.

By the time Just Wright Citrus kicked off its website in January 2022, I felt confident knowing what I was doing made a contribution to the community. That’s still my daily goal.

Disagree with the local politicians all you want, but most of these people really care about the community. Most didn’t run to get a fancy title or help their well-connected buddies. They were leaders before being elected to anything.

I had a Cattle Dog chat the other day with a candidate whom I really had high hopes for. He has time to turn it around, and I made some suggestions. One was to show up when the community shows up.

Saturday afternoon, who do I see helping direct cars for the Andy Lahera BBQ fundraiser at Lecanto High School? That candidate, along with dozens of community leaders in the sweltering heat. It doesn’t dawn on them to do anything but help when the call goes out.

It’s America’s Birthday week. I will not be celebrating Biden or Trump. I will be celebrating my little community, in Citrus County, located in Florida, in the United States of America.

Let’s party.

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