Two Democrats vie for seat on county commission
Article published on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008 |
PINELLAS COUNTY – St. Petersburg residents Rene Flowers and Darden Rice are both hoping to see their names on the Nov. 4 ballot in the race for District 3 Pinellas County Commissioner.
The Aug. 26 primary election will decide which candidate goes on to compete against Republican Nancy Bostock in November.
The winner would replace incumbent Robert Stewart who is not running for another term.
Tampa Bay Newspapers asked the candidates to provide biographical information and answer three questions:
- What do you believe are the most serious challenges to be faced by members of the county commission?
- What, if anything, would you change about the way the county is governed?
- What do you believe makes you the best candidate for a seat on the county commission?
The candidates' answers follow.
Rene Flowers said she believes the most serious challenges facing the County Commission are budget shortfalls, the lack of affordable workforce housing, the decline of natural resources, and a need to focus on a countywide transportation system.
It is imperative for the county to look at ways of streamlining without overburdening the various departments due to a lack of manpower or a degradation of services offered and expected from the residents.
Until we experience a tremendous shift in the economy or full revenue streams from the Sadowski Trust or HUD are released for the purposes intended, we have to continue to provide a way to make home ownership and rental opportunities available to the working families. That is why I fully support the Community Land Trust, Land Banking, and the proposal to “Scrap the Cap” on Sadowski funds.
We must work on a more consistent means of transporting individuals in a manner conducive to their needs and we must continue to look at growth management when it comes to the need for additional water resources, before we ever consider taping into our natural preserve habitats such as Booker Creek.
Darden Rice said the biggest challenge right now is to make county government more open and transparent to the people it serves. The Jim Smith land scandal and similar secret deals have eroded public trust in our government, and we must work together to rebuild that trust and make Pinellas County a greater community.
We must also do more to protect the environment and promote clean and efficient energy. I will seek permanent protections for our unique natural areas including Brooker Creek Preserve, and I will work with other leaders to ensure that our beautiful – and lucrative – beaches are not put at risk by offshore oil drilling. There are better, more sustainable ways to solve our energy issues, and our county can be a leader in this area.
We can bring in jobs in high-tech industries and marine sciences, and we must have a smart plan for development that promotes livable communities, affordable housing and better countywide transportation.
Flowers said the one item she would like to change about the way the county is governed is to provide more access to the residents by hosting a few of the county commission meetings in various communities.
While serving on the St. Petersburg City Council, one if not the greatest complaint was accessibility. Some residents were not able to make our meetings as desired due to the starting times, or the inability to physically get to the meeting due to a lack of transportation. We have an extremely large county and the increase of gas prices has only added to this burden. I believe that hosting a commission meeting outside of the normal facility will allow for government to be brought to the people particularly in the unincorporated areas. I also believe this will allow the commission to truly interact with staff and the residents from other communities.
Rice said first and foremost, she would make the county government more transparent.
In the wake of the Jim Smith land scandal, we must work to rebuild the public trust and I would do that in many ways. I would hold commission meetings throughout the county, not just in Clearwater. I would also propose an “open government project” that informs voters more about what’s going on in their county government. With a Web site as well as in the newspaper, we would inform citizens about the issues before the commission, upcoming votes and their potential impact, status of other projects and more. We would also seek citizen input into the process, in effect creating a kind of “online town hall.”
Flowers believes what qualifies her as the best candidate for a seat on the county commission is her willingness to not only serve the community, but also her ability to see projects through to completion, work for and with the residents of this county, and operate as a part of a team.
None of the completed projects in my district, such as the Jordan Park Hope Six project; the renovation and new construction of our parks and recreation facilities; the construction of affordable home ownership and rental units, thanks to programs such as the Reverse Mortgage and Foreclosure Assistance Program; revamping of the permitting departments for efficiency; and assuring that overhead wires are placed underground for safety reasons as well as aesthetics, would have been possible without teamwork.
I also have extensive experience in working with large budgets, bonding issues and investment portfolios both as a member of city council and President of the Florida League of Cities.
Rice said no other candidate comes close to her background in good government and protecting the environment.
As vice president of the Council of Neighborhood Associations, I helped make sure that our communities’ voices were heard at St. Pete City Hall. As vice president of the League of Women Voters, I worked on good government issues and educating the public about complicated ballot initiatives and budget and taxation matters. And I am very proud to serve on the board of the YWCA, aiding their mission to empower women and eliminate racism.
I have also worked for years, with the Sierra Club and with Oceana, as a champion of conservation, sustainable development, and cost-saving energy efficiency. This background along with my experience in good government issues makes me especially suited to deal with the challenges presently before Pinellas County. New challenges need New Leadership, and I am the best candidate to move Pinellas forward.
For more election information, visit TBNweekly.com's Election Section.
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Article published on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008
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