Mom would love the Citrus women

It’s Friday, so let’s talk about women.

I love women. Don’t you? They’re the best.

My mom’s birthday was Wednesday, and it got me thinking about how women have impacted my life. Mom passed many years ago, but she instilled in me a sense of treating others with kindness.

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Especially women.

I have four sisters and one brother. Wanna guess who rules our bunch? Growing up in that environment, I naturally leaned more toward the females than the males.

Still that way today. While I have close guy friends, I seem to connect well with women.

I always wished Mom had met Deb. Mom would be thrilled knowing a woman of Deb's character loved me.

Women really make their mark in this community.

Interesting statistic: Females compose about half the Citrus County population. Makes sense, right? But in leadership, women rule. Of our 16 countywide elected offices, 10 are currently held by women — 62%. 

Even more telling: 72% of Just Wright Citrus’ 6,600 Facebook followers are women.

Citrus County women rule.

I think of all the women then and now with a “get out of my way, I have things to do” attitude. Women who oversee nonprofits or the animal shelter don’t take no for an answer. They have a place in their hearts for those who can’t speak for themselves. And good luck giving a bunch of excuses that something can’t be done, because they won’t hear of it.

Citrus County women are also extraordinarily caring. I mentioned a few weeks ago about Renee Kinnard, Commissioner Jeff Kinnard’s wife, who took a deep interest in my Buddy adventures. After Buddy’s passing, Renee reached out to me — repeatedly — to make sure I was OK. She’s brought me dinners and chocolate cake.

When I brought up my Buddy bandana idea the other day, Renee wanted to know how she could help. I am deeply touched by her kindness.

Another close friend is anonymous at her request. She is a sounding board for my, um, challenging blogs often just hours before they're published. The blogs that I’m sure will get me in trouble with someone.

Well, you know how this works. I’m out there on my own. I need someone I trust who understands the JWC mission to speak bluntly and truthfully to me about these subjects. That’s not always fun. My friend and I were on the phone a month ago arguing about one sentence in the blog. She insisted my point missed the mark. I insisted she was wrong.

(I relented. Of course.)

And the women I’ve met in politics, my goodness. Off the top of my head: Sam Himmel, the late Helen Spivey, Nancy Argenziano, Vicki Phillips, Pat Deutschman, the late Patience Nave, and Joyce Valentino. I’m just now looking at that list. Yikes. True firepower and compassion for their community.

We now have four women on the County Commission, and barring an election upset of mythical proportions, we’ll still have four women commissioners after November. I’m not going to say I’ve spotted the political difference between men and women commissioners. They’re all commissioners in my eyes.

However, the image of a dominant female-majority seat in local government is huge. Once again, Citrus sets the standard. Our true leaders don’t make lofty promises or brag about accomplishments. We follow their example.

I’ll end with a favorite story.

Former Supervisor of Elections Susan Gill and I for years conducted candidate forums at Citrus High School. The idea was for government students from county high schools and the college to ask questions of candidates in a forum setting. I moderated.

The candidates were polite, but this wasn’t their favorite gig. For one thing, there were few people in the room old enough to vote. So, why bother?

Rebecca Bays was in her first run for County Commission. She had a fundraiser that night at a Sugarmill Woods home, but I begged her to come to the student forum.

“Think of all the girls who will see a woman on stage running for county commission,” I told her. “Think how that will look to them.”

Rebecca showed up and participated.

Several teenage girls flocked to Rebecca afterward. Who knows what impact just her being there had on them that night? Now she's a county commissioner for the second time. Leading by example.

Mom would be pleased to know her son has surrounded himself with women like her — kind, considerate, strong, faithful, funny, fierce to defend, and smart as hell. Can’t pull anything over on the women of this community. They are locked in.

That's Citrus County women. If they’re friends, you’re set for life. If not, look out.

Mom would fit in really well here. 

P.S. Renee…if you’re reading…I finished the cake. Hint, hint.

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