Taking a birds-eye view of it all

Here’s what I’ll say about the performances from candidates at Tuesday’s Chronicle forum:

Few surprises.

Some rose to the occasion, but most played it safe. Expressing confidence, while also sticking to the script.

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I strolled through the Citrus County Fairgrounds Auditorium beforehand and saw citizens engaged with candidates. That just warms the cockles of this political geek’s heart.

The crowd of about 400 was rather subdued. We’re used to seeing backers hoot and holler for their candidate. Practically none of that. It was mostly very polite.

Some thoughts:

— As we pointed out today, District 2 Commissioner Diana Finegan took an interesting approach against Stacey Worthington.

In attacking the Chamber of Commerce, Diana has chosen an us-vs.-them approach, which is fine when “them” are faceless, greedy developers. When “them” are the folks who own mom-and-pop businesses in the community, that grays the line somewhat. How are these people our enemies? I don’t get it.

Her real fight is with Josh Wooten and the Chamber leadership. Had Diana stuck there, that would have brought nods even from Chamber types in the audience. But to throw the entire 900-member Chamber of Commerce under the bus as being somehow influential in a nefarious way, well, that’s quite an aggressive approach. It's bound to create blowback.

This is one view. I have no doubt Diana picks up support from others who share her position. Just how much, guess we'll see.

— Holli Herndon certainly sounded like a commissioner. She had the knowledge and offered concise answers to questions. Nothing too deep, but if folks wanted to see if she has the stability for the job, I think they found that.

Holli runs a mostly positive campaign, talking about the stuff we’re all talking about. Can she defeat a connected incumbent who has four times as much campaign cash? That’s quite a challenge, but not impossible.

I can’t help but notice that some people are teaming Herndon and Finegan together, as if they’re a package deal against Commissioner Rebecca Bays and Worthington, respectively.

One beauty of Holli’s campaign is that she ISN’T aligned with any special interest or organization other than the no-data center group. She's an independent thinker. I'd hate to see her campaign lose that focus.

That aside, the District 4 contest between Bays and Herndon is a good one. For all our complaining about lack of qualified candidates, that isn't the case here. Both have plenty to offer.

— Then there’s the third candidate in District 4, Jennifer Grogan. Well, what can I say? Nothing from Jennifer suggested she has much inkling of what we’re doing here.

Example: Candidates were asked if they’d consider a 1% sales tax referendum in 2028 if voters approve the property tax cut this November. And if so, what should it be used for?

Remember, this community discussed the sales tax idea in extreme detail the last 12 months. It's realistic to expect County Commission candidates to be on top of it.

Bays said she’d consider a tax referendum for roads. Makes sense. Herndon said the government needs to earn more public trust before it looks at another tax. Got it.

Grogan: “I think we should have the sheriff run the jail and use that 1% to help him do it."

Confused silence. After a 2-second beat, from a few rows behind me, I heard someone mutter quietly: “Ohhhh-kaaaay.”

Sums it up.

— Mike Mullen had the stage to himself for School Board because John Thrumston had a “prior engagement,” as the moderator stated. Let’s clear that up.

John scheduled something months ago, well before he considered being a candidate, which takes place this week only. Canceling it would make him the most unpopular person in his household, and nobody wants that. So, John had a prior engagement.

Hey, it happens. Had this event occurred last week, Thrumston would have been here, but not Mullen. For the same reason. A "prior engagement" kept Mullen out of town last week.

The world doesn’t stop because someone runs for office. In fact, it seems to spin faster.

It's going to rev up the next few weeks. No prior engagement for me.

​That’s where we stand this Thursday. Have a great one, friends.

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