ortona political rally well attended

Ortona Political Rally Well Attended

ORTONA, FLORIDA -- Ortona�s �Meet The Candidates� Political Rally was

well attended, with opening remarks by Ortona Community Association

Vice President Larry Luckey reflecting that the first rural Glades

County community political rally was held in Ortona in 1980.

Travis Dowhen, affectionately known as �Mayor of Turkey Creek,

introduced the candidates which included the surprise appearance of

three 20th Judicial Circuit candidates, Stephen Kolody for Group 28,

Robert Geltner for Group 29, and Frank Mann Jr. for Group 30. All

three candidates spoke briefly of their qualifications and desire to

serve as Circuit Judge. Geltner had the broadest range of legal

experience, Kolody had the most Board Certifications specialties, and

Mann�s greatest experience was with domestic law.

District 77 Representative Denise Grimsley (R) reported on her

continued efforts and concern for education and health care issues for

Floridians, and on her accomplishments for her first term of office,

including $11,464,741 in appropriations for Glades County. The

Democrat opponent Zane Thomas reflected on his leadership role as a

military officer, having recently retired after 25 years in the US

Navy. He stressed the need for responsible leadership in government,

to serve the people and provide government by and for the people.

Three unopposed school board candidates, Janet Storey District 1, Mike

Pressley District 4, and Patti Pearce District 5, thanked the Ortona

voters for their support and urged them to participate in the school

system programs as volunteers.

Three candidates are vying for the District 2 Commission seat.

Incumbent Alvin Ward reflected on the dismal financial situation of

Glades County two years ago compared to the brightened present due to

increased property values producing more tax revenue; he noted that

the last two years have been the brightest because of the hiring of

two professionals, County Manager Wendell Traylor and Community

Development Director Larry Hilton which improved the services of the

County�s Development Department formerly known as

Building-Planning-Zoning. He noted this year his peers on the Board

chose him as Vice Chairman, and he asked for the chance to continue as

a Board member of the business of Glades County. He has elected in

1996 to complete an unexpired term, was unopposed in 1998, and was

reelected in 2002.

Republican contender Donna Storter Long, a native of Ortona, spoke of

accelerated growth bringing a broader tax base that should then call

for a reduced millage tax rate. She offered several suggestions for

improving the County government service to the people including

enhancing the fire department funding, instituting a viable profitable

recycling program, and holding county night meetings at Community

Associations at least once a year, and including explanations of codes

and application requests for public hearings; she cited a need for

the county to conclude projects that have lagged uncompleted for

years, including the landfill issue, redistricting, and resolution of

outstanding lawsuits. Mrs. Storter-Long served an interim term as

commissioner when appointed by Governor Bush in 2004. She will face

the winning Democrat contender in November.

Democrat opponent Fran Koebert, a retired paint chemist from Muse,

stated his reason for running was to give the people a choice. He

cited his experience of developing a company from a small start with

no money and being advised by his tax attorney to declare bankruptcy,

which he declined stating bankruptcy in not in his vocabulary. His

success culminated after 40 years, when he finally sold it to the

third offer of a large paint company. He said that Glades County is a

�diamond in the rough� and that a landfill would not economically

benefit Glades County by creating jobs because not many youngsters

aspire to be come sanitary engineers, or trash men. He said he is not

spending money campaigning, and needs the people to inform their

friends and neighbors that they have a choice.

Voters will have two referenda choices on the September 5 ballot, and

Tracy Whirls, Executive Director of Glades County Economic Development

Council explained the need for approval of the item that would allow

the County to grant tax abatements to new or expanding businesses

creating new jobs in Glades County. The tax abatement will not be

automatic, but by application to the Board of Commissioners who will

determine the merits and range of tax relief. This measure is to

restore the former tax abatement ordinance that had been allowed to

expire.

District 4 Commissioner Russell Echols, unopposed for his next term,

told the voters the purpose of the second referendum. Glades County

currently has a one-cent discretionary surtax which means all taxable

sales in Glades County produce 7 percent revenue-six to the state and

one to the County. The uses of the revenue are limited to capital

improvement projects and purchase of land for county use. This tax

has been in effect since 1992 but will expire in December unless

approved by the electorate. He cited that funds from that revenue

were used to purchase the property to site a new Ortona Community

Center, and $100,000 of the current balance is reserved for

construction when the state allocates funding for the rest.