Just Wright Citrus kicks off

This is the original Just Wright Citrus post that kicked off our Facebook page on Sept. 19, 2021:
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It was the day of my retirement from the Chronicle and I was sitting with my friend, Justin Strickland, who asked me a simple question:

What’s the one thing from the Chronicle that, if I wanted to keep doing it, I would keep doing?

That’s easy, I said. I like to tell people stuff they should know and wouldn’t know if I didn’t tell them.

And from that, Just Wright Citrus was born.

This is a very exciting day. What started off as a simple idea a few weeks ago has continued to blossom with encouragement from all corners of Citrus County. Shout outs in particular to Meredith Linley, Josh Wooten and, of course, my wife Deborah Kamlot-Wright.

The concept is a fairly simple one: Keep doing what I did for 34 years at the Citrus County Chronicle: Provide depth and insight to Citrus County government and politics, hopefully with some good natured fun and without the mean-spirited sarcastic edge that seems to accompany opinion writing these days. My aim is to build up, not tear down -- knowing there are times when it’s necessary to tear down in order to build up.

In a few weeks we’ll be introducing justwrightcitrus.com, a website of Citrus County political and government writing by yours truly. Here’s the sort of things you can expect:

-- Depth writing based on research, institutional knowledge, interviews, coverage of events and, of course, news tips.
-- All about email. I regularly review county commission emails and, boy, there’s a load of info in those things. 
--Encouragement for great ideas and exposing the flaws of other ideas. This may come as a shock, but sometimes the government doesn’t do well communicating with the public. I can help cut through the clutter
-- My best effort. I’m not here to look for trouble. This community means everything to me and I know it does to you. It deserves our best.

I know others have done websites, newsletters, emails, purportedly on Citrus County politics and government. Well, good for them. It’s not enough to have opinions and observations. 

Without the research, experience and knowledge of the county, it’s nothing more than a Soundoff opinion. I mean, I love Soundoff, but it’s basically Citrus County’s crank call. 

Talking with someone the other day about this venture, the first thing he said was, “Just make sure you’re not another…” and he mentioned a one-time blogger whose name I won’t repeat. This blogger’s reputation was to smear people who weren’t his friends.

That’s not what Just Wright Citrus is. I’m serious about this. I’m not pushing a political agenda or group. It’s just me.

So here’s what I ask of you:

-- Like this page and ask your friends to like this page so we can get some momentum heading into the website.

-- Read what’s written here and respond to it. I don’t need to be right, but I do encourage the discussion. And, of course, be nice. 

-- Participate in the process. The whole idea is to empower the public with facts and observation so that citizens may interact with county commissioners, school board members, city council persons, and their staff. And it’s through that interaction, based on fact, history, perspective that will help usher Citrus County into this new era we’re entering.

It’s going to be fun. Please drop a line at j[email protected] to let me know what you think (and news tips!).