2022 Board of County Commissioners Candidate Questionnaire
In your opinion, what is the County's role in economic development?
The county’s role is to create an environment that allows businesses to open, thrive and be successful. Every organization is unique and needs to be treated that way.
Generally, while economic times are tough, and inflation is at a 40 year high common sense will help the small business owner do better. Keeping the price of fuel in check as best we can locally, keeping property taxes low on businesses and residents and supporting businesses through economic incentives – when appropriate – will go a long way.
The county’s role is to create an environment that allows businesses to open, thrive and be successful. Every organization is unique and needs to be treated that way.
Generally, while economic times are tough, and inflation is at a 40 year high common sense will help the small business owner do better. Keeping the price of fuel in check as best we can locally, keeping property taxes low on businesses and residents and supporting businesses through economic incentives – when appropriate – will go a long way.
Do you believe incentives are necessary for economic development and why or why not?
Every company and business in unique. Generally, I don’t want everyone to come to Nassau County with their hand out for an incentive. However, individual cases where big employers will come and create a large number of jobs could be considered. Also, if they bring a unique type of industry to Florida or Nassau County.
Every company and business in unique. Generally, I don’t want everyone to come to Nassau County with their hand out for an incentive. However, individual cases where big employers will come and create a large number of jobs could be considered. Also, if they bring a unique type of industry to Florida or Nassau County.
Discuss your opinion on conducting a comprehensive and continuous review of all regulatory processes that impact businesses and provide solutions that address these barriers.
This should happen every year. As technology makes the world easier to navigate, we need to use it where possible to save taxpayers money and create more streamlined processes for business owners.
Regulations often hinder economic development. I’m a fan of fewer regulations.
This should happen every year. As technology makes the world easier to navigate, we need to use it where possible to save taxpayers money and create more streamlined processes for business owners.
Regulations often hinder economic development. I’m a fan of fewer regulations.
How can Nassau County improve the climate and competitiveness of our existing businesses? And do you support the creation of a local purchasing program?
Nassau County needs to make sure that we are listening to the challenges that business owners face. Nassau County is a bedroom community. Most of the people who live here travel outside of the county for work. One of the best things we can do to support local businesses is to use every option we have to keep people from being priced out of Nassau County.
I’m not opposed to a local purchasing program if it would help people do that. Once it becomes too expensive to live in Nassau County, and once it becomes to expensive to operate your business in Nassau County, then we will all start to suffer.
Imagine if all these concrete storefronts they built ended up empty? It would affect tourism, property values and the tax base. We need to manage what we have more responsibly.
Nassau County needs to make sure that we are listening to the challenges that business owners face. Nassau County is a bedroom community. Most of the people who live here travel outside of the county for work. One of the best things we can do to support local businesses is to use every option we have to keep people from being priced out of Nassau County.
I’m not opposed to a local purchasing program if it would help people do that. Once it becomes too expensive to live in Nassau County, and once it becomes to expensive to operate your business in Nassau County, then we will all start to suffer.
Imagine if all these concrete storefronts they built ended up empty? It would affect tourism, property values and the tax base. We need to manage what we have more responsibly.
How can Nassau County better support our entrepreneurial ecosystem?
As a county we could seek grant funding to offer new startups assistance. We could also cross-train a county employee to help small business owners have access to resources they need to get off the ground, and let them know about funding opportunities in the county.
As a county we could seek grant funding to offer new startups assistance. We could also cross-train a county employee to help small business owners have access to resources they need to get off the ground, and let them know about funding opportunities in the county.
How can Nassau County engage in the creation of partnerships and funding programs related to current and relevant data, research as well as talent recruitment and start-up opportunities?
For starters, we could partner with skilled labor unions that offer apprenticeship opportunities for individuals who want to be engaged in manufacturing. We also need to train logistics employees in Nassau County to support operations at the railroads and the Port in Fernandina.
The county should also partner with the Chamber of Commerce to help fund studies on areas where the county could improve, and assist the chamber in their efforts by examining what areas of the county best need infrastructure and housing.
To be clear – the county does something of this on their own. I’m specifically noting the difference of the county doing it on their own. They need to be partnering with the business community to do it.
For starters, we could partner with skilled labor unions that offer apprenticeship opportunities for individuals who want to be engaged in manufacturing. We also need to train logistics employees in Nassau County to support operations at the railroads and the Port in Fernandina.
The county should also partner with the Chamber of Commerce to help fund studies on areas where the county could improve, and assist the chamber in their efforts by examining what areas of the county best need infrastructure and housing.
To be clear – the county does something of this on their own. I’m specifically noting the difference of the county doing it on their own. They need to be partnering with the business community to do it.
What, in your opinion, are the three biggest challenges facing Nassau County?
Expensive litigation. The county has made major missteps in transparency and involved taxpayers in expensive lawsuits. We need to get back to basics and focus on providing for the needs of our citizens.
At this point we can’t just throw in the towel and indebt Nassau County taxpayers to massive parks spending, but we also are stuck because the attorney bills keep going up.
Living beyond our means: The county has become top heavy. We have positions for arborists, assistant to the assistant county managers, assistant county attorneys and more, but road and bridge workers are still among some of the lowest paid employees in Nassau County.
We need to get out priorities straight and stop massive management spending, and instead send taxpayers money where its needed.
Inflation and Possible Recession: Inflation is through the roof. To get it under control, the federal reserve is going to increase interest rates, and they say this is going to cause a recession. Poor folks in Nassau County are already living like they’re in recession! Gas and rent is through the roof, and taxes are just too high.
Now, if we have a possible recession, we will see a string of foreclosures when people lose their jobs and can’t afford their mortgage and the much higher taxes that caused their mortgage to be so high. Where does that leave our county? Struggling all over again.
Expensive litigation. The county has made major missteps in transparency and involved taxpayers in expensive lawsuits. We need to get back to basics and focus on providing for the needs of our citizens.
At this point we can’t just throw in the towel and indebt Nassau County taxpayers to massive parks spending, but we also are stuck because the attorney bills keep going up.
Living beyond our means: The county has become top heavy. We have positions for arborists, assistant to the assistant county managers, assistant county attorneys and more, but road and bridge workers are still among some of the lowest paid employees in Nassau County.
We need to get out priorities straight and stop massive management spending, and instead send taxpayers money where its needed.
Inflation and Possible Recession: Inflation is through the roof. To get it under control, the federal reserve is going to increase interest rates, and they say this is going to cause a recession. Poor folks in Nassau County are already living like they’re in recession! Gas and rent is through the roof, and taxes are just too high.
Now, if we have a possible recession, we will see a string of foreclosures when people lose their jobs and can’t afford their mortgage and the much higher taxes that caused their mortgage to be so high. Where does that leave our county? Struggling all over again.
Any time decisions are contemplated that affect a particular segment of the community, representatives of that affected sector, such as the business community, should be invited to the table for dialogue and input. How important is community/partner organization input as a meaningful direction in developing sound policy and how will you implement?
Very important. As your county commissioner, I want to see the Chamber and the business community at the table.
Very important. As your county commissioner, I want to see the Chamber and the business community at the table.
Do you believe Nassau County has an adequate amount of funding from property taxes or do you expect to require additional resources from Nassau County property owners? Please explain.
As I said above, taxes are too high. It is good to have a 5 year plan and a Capital Improvement Plan. At the end of the day though, that is a wish-list. We can’t just keep charging more and more from commercial property owners and residential homeowners to cover the cost of the wishlist.
During this time do I not only NOT support raising taxes, I want to see the gas tax repealed. Our county needs to advocate to supplement a gas tax repeal with some of the billions of dollars Florida has received from the federal government this coming year for infrastructure improvements.
As I said above, taxes are too high. It is good to have a 5 year plan and a Capital Improvement Plan. At the end of the day though, that is a wish-list. We can’t just keep charging more and more from commercial property owners and residential homeowners to cover the cost of the wishlist.
During this time do I not only NOT support raising taxes, I want to see the gas tax repealed. Our county needs to advocate to supplement a gas tax repeal with some of the billions of dollars Florida has received from the federal government this coming year for infrastructure improvements.
How can Nassau County balance and pursue both natural environment protection and sustainable economic development?
This has always been tough for Nassau County, especially Amelia Island. I think it is important to recognize the differences in each part of the county, and the needs and desires of the people who live there. We need to protect what makes us unique, and support economic development. However, a balance needs to be made. You can’t always sacrifice environmental protection for economic development. There is room for both in Nassau County.
This has always been tough for Nassau County, especially Amelia Island. I think it is important to recognize the differences in each part of the county, and the needs and desires of the people who live there. We need to protect what makes us unique, and support economic development. However, a balance needs to be made. You can’t always sacrifice environmental protection for economic development. There is room for both in Nassau County.
Lead by the Chamber of Commerce beginning in 2015, the now completed Public Transportation study and recommendations concluded in 2017. What are your specific recommendations to increase the options and availability for public transit?
While I like the idea of public transportation, and someday I would like the see the entire county offer that, I don’t think publicly funded transportation is in the cards for Nassau County, unless JTA was willing to continue to partner with Nassau County to provide stops.
Other than that, I am thankful we have the stop in Yulee, and the Council on Aging transit services.
While I like the idea of public transportation, and someday I would like the see the entire county offer that, I don’t think publicly funded transportation is in the cards for Nassau County, unless JTA was willing to continue to partner with Nassau County to provide stops.
Other than that, I am thankful we have the stop in Yulee, and the Council on Aging transit services.
The future innovation economy and efficiency of government is dependent on technology infrastructure. How will you ensure Nassau County continuously improves faster, more stable, and more secure connectivity?
The county should have a technology policy in place, to help the commission understand the needs for this. I would also support the creation of technology advisory board to make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners.
The county should have a technology policy in place, to help the commission understand the needs for this. I would also support the creation of technology advisory board to make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners.
Land development codes and incentives for workforce housing have not produced the needed inventory for our community. What are your recommendations for access to housing?
Nassau County needs to form and participate in a community land trust that the Chamber is proposing. We need to find land to make this happen. Teachers, police, fire and food-service workers all need places to stay if they are going to serve our county.
Nassau County needs to form and participate in a community land trust that the Chamber is proposing. We need to find land to make this happen. Teachers, police, fire and food-service workers all need places to stay if they are going to serve our county.
Community-based development organizations are vital to Nassau County. How will you strengthen the role of these organizations?
Nassau County needs to remain a strong partner to these organizations. There is always the funding, but it is important for the leaders of these organizations to know that the county supports their mission. We could help by hosting events, discussions and helping them promote their efforts to the community.
Nassau County needs to remain a strong partner to these organizations. There is always the funding, but it is important for the leaders of these organizations to know that the county supports their mission. We could help by hosting events, discussions and helping them promote their efforts to the community.
What is the role of the County for underserved communities and their development?
Nassau County government has a role to preserve and promote the health, safety and welfare of all our citizens. It is the role of government to help folks create opportunities to be successful.
Nassau County government has a role to preserve and promote the health, safety and welfare of all our citizens. It is the role of government to help folks create opportunities to be successful.
