Love for Citrus fuels our passion

Happy Monday! So much on my mind.

If you haven’t caught onto the #loveforlahera movement by golly, what are you waiting for?

I was out Saturday afternoon at Crump’s Landing for the big fundraiser, and there was an unmistakable spirit about the place.

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It’d probably be crowded anyway…Saturday festival, fireworks at night, gorgeous summer day on the Homosassa River.

But then I see Sam Himmel and her twin Linda Van Allen selling “Love for Lahera” T-shirts, and I notice the staff wearing these shirts, and that’s when it dawns on me.

Once again, I have nearly let the point pass by.

This isn’t about Andy Lahera’s medical benefits. Or whether Sheriff Mike Prendergast should keep him on the payroll.

It’s above love.

Love for family. Love for a critically injured officer. Love for community. Service above self.

Several people in recent weeks, mainly supporters of the sheriff, have tried to explain to me the nuances of workers’ compensation laws and long-term disability. I’m guessing their point is Andy’s not getting the raw deal that his wife claims.

To which I reply: That is between Michelle Lahera and the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. I haven’t a clue how any of that works. 

But I know what community spirit feels like. And I can easily see the difference between people who care and those who do not.

You may notice that Michelle Lahera is steering clear of the sheriff’s race. I don’t know whether the Dave Vincent campaign has reached out to her, but I hope she stays on the sidelines. The timing of her Chronicle column was purely coincidental to politics — it was the one-year anniversary of Andy’s accident.

To hear the pro-sheriff people talk, you’d think the Laheras sat around at Andy’s bedside and brainstormed ways to embarrass Prendergast politically. Do you know who dreams up those crazy ideas? The people who dream up those crazy ideas.

“Hey, I bet they’re out to get me!” says people who are out to get others.

The thing is, and this is where Prendergast is just so, oh I don’t know, blind to reality. All he’d need to do is show he cares. That’s it.

The sheriff volunteering at any one of these Andy fundraisers would pay huge dividends all around. I doubt he’ll do that, though. Humility doesn’t seem to be a Prendergast trait.

— Speaking of the sheriff, how do you feel about him campaigning in uniform?

It’s not illegal, though it definitely toes the ethical border. Some say it’s intimidating for the sheriff in full uniform to be asking for votes or campaign contributions, and I certainly see merit in that.

It doesn’t bother me. That’s a tactical call on the sheriff’s part. It could help, but it could also hurt. 

— Several readers called me out last week for complaining that County Commission opponents are lacking in the experience department. Readers noted that none of the incumbents had experience before their first election.

Well said. Let me be a little clearer. It’s not government experience I'm seeking in a challenger, it’s buy-in to the community. Someone who understands what makes this place tick so he/she can formulate a vision for tomorrow.

Frankly, we’re all a little short of that right now. None of the three incumbents are talking about vision. None of the challengers have any to speak of. 

Maybe it’s because things are moving so quickly that catching a breath for vision right now seems unrealistic. Or, maybe the vision just isn’t there. I’m having a little trouble seeing past my own sneakers.

— I’ll be breaking down campaign contributions this week. One thing I always like to point out: Challengers who crow about never taking special-interest campaign contributions are RARELY on the receiving end of one. It is so easy for a challenger to poke at the incumbent for taking money from developers as if the challenger was actively working with a different set of morals.

The truth is usually something much simpler. Developers aren’t lining up to give money to challengers of County Commission incumbents unless that incumbent is a known tree-hugger.

So, next time a challenger brags about not taking developer donations for his campaign ask him to provide the names of those he refused.

That’s it for today. Have a wonderful Monday, friends.

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