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Hernando Today

County Reacts To Board Shake-up

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: November 6, 2008

Democrats fared well on the national scene Tuesday.

But don't tell that to incumbent Democratic county commissioners Chris Kingsley and Diane Rowden, who were voted out of office and replaced by two self-avowed fiscal conservative Republicans: James Adkins and John Druzbick.

The irony wasn't lost on civic activist Blaise Ingoglia who said Tuesday's vote shows the frustration of the local electorate.

"What we were able to accomplish (Tuesday) I think was incredible, given the fact that there was a Democratic tsunami going on," he said. "For us to unseat two long-standing Democratic tax-and-spenders was a great thing for this county."
Ingoglia said Rowden and Kingsley's "fatal flaw" was that they did not heed his messages of wasteful spending.

During the waning days of the local campaign, Ingoglia spent $28,000 to launch an advertisement blitz and promote an online video geared toward the defeat of Rowden and Kingsley.
Ingoglia anticipates better things from Adkins and Druzbick, who he hopes will push for economic progress, job creation and better quality of life for Hernando County.

"The taxpayers are angry and they're tired of the same old, same old - millions for the county government, crumbs to the taxpayer," said Linda Hayward, founder of the Hernando County Taxpayers Alliance.

Hayward said the twin ousters would have been more rewarding if the third incumbent, Republican Jeff Stabins, had also been voted out.

"Quite frankly, I thought Stabins was the worst one up there," she said.

Stabins has not followed through on his promises of property tax reform or commitment to charter government, Hayward said.

Hayward said she will be looking for Adkins and Druzbick to live up to their campaign vows to lower taxes, make government more transparent and to form a committee that will explore charter government for Hernando County.

County Commissioner David Russell who, with Commissioner Rose Rocco, is not up for re-election until 2010, said he intends to work cooperatively with his new colleagues when they are sworn in Nov. 18.

Russell said the addition of Adkins and Druzbick brings a "new dynamic" to the board.

"They share my values that less government is better, lower taxes and more personal freedoms and responsibilities," Russell said. "Coupled with the efforts and the direction of our new county administrator, I think it will make for a great team."

Russell said the new board will have to figure out how to deliver services to the public within the confines of a tighter budget.

"It's going to be quite a balancing act, and I feel confident our two new members will be up to it," he said.

Russell said he is not sure how to interpret the defeat of Rowden and Adkins.

"I won't say I was surprised," he said. "It's really difficult to get a sense of what people were thinking about this election. I didn't get a sense that it was an anti-incumbent thing. Perhaps people were just ready for a change."

Rocco said the county administrator is in the process of scheduling an orientation session with the two new board members to familiarize them with staff and issues. That meeting should take place before Nov. 18 and will be open to the public, she said.

Rocco said the members may change but the issues facing the board in the coming months are the same, including government accountability and department streamlining.

As for Rowden and Kingsley:

"There was a lot of anti-incumbent attitude out there," Rocco said. "It's always hard to lose. I'm sure they took it really hard. But it's an election. We've all been there. The people spoke and now we have to move on."

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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