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Hernando Today

Covell Should Resign As Chairwoman Of P&Z

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 24, 2008

As an 11-year Hernando County homeowner in Spring Hill and 50-year Florida resident, I hasten to address the arrogant and disrespectful comments voiced by Anna Lisa Covell, another Hernando County resident in Nobleton, in today's edition of Hernando Today's Feedback column.

At 77 next month (albeit going on 57,) I have been fortunate to have "been there done that." In my opinion, however, during all those years I have never read such unadulterated, self-serving, tired nonsense. Anna Lisa Covell is the current Hernando County Commission appointed chairwoman of the obsolete five-member volunteer Planning and Zoning Commission.

In the interests of the economy crunch, the P&Z should be eliminated, reminding that we taxpayers have in motion 24/7 an effective Board of County Commissioners Planning Department under the aegis of the experienced Director Ronald F. Pianta, salaried and perked at more than $90,000 per annum plus paid staff.

It seems to me that as a county resident, Ms. Covell, not unlike me, has every right to speak out regarding her political persuasion and assorted community issues.

However, is it not an inexcusable glaring conflict of interests when Ms. Covell's P&Z superiors are our five Hernando County commissioners, three of whom are incumbents running for upcoming reelection and to whom Ms. Covell is accountable? Ms. Covell in the Feedback column clearly and viciously attacks the qualifications of two candidates for county commission who are running against two of the referenced incumbent commissioners.

Indeed, the argument that Ms. Covell is entitled to "wear two hats" is baseless. She is not so entitled, whereas a county resident she is so closely identified with local politics by virtue of consistent rants in local print media! In effect the chairwoman has presumptuously and vocally chosen to identify herself with her very own outdated axiom i.e.; "It's time to end the era of 'good-old-boy politics as usual' in Hernando County by overwhelmingly rejecting these two negative candidates at the polls next Tuesday."

Is that not a case of "the pot calling the kettle black?"

My suggestion? Ms. Covell should and must resign as chairwoman and/or member of the Planning and Zoning Commission in the best interests of Hernando County.

Chuck Schlakman

Spring Hill

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