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Hernando Today

Activist Insulted By County Boss' Sign

Hernando Today photo by BOB EAST

Tax activist Linda Hayward calls the sign "immature" and designed to suppress dissent.

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: November 19, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Linda Hayward, a tax reform activist, made no secret she wanted the three incumbent county commissioners voted off the board in the November election.

She got two of her wishes with the ouster of Democrats Diane Rowden and Chris Kingsley. Republican Jeff Stabins won re-election.

Hayward recently received a "thank-you" note from Stabins, in the form of a large white poster that she believes implies she is a witch. That, she said, is going too far.

She called the act an insult and displays a lack of professionalism elected officials should exhibit.

"This is a gentleman who represents the residents of Hernando County," Hayward said. "I just thought it was very immature."

She also believes the sign was a message that is meant to discourage public dissent, and that's a dangerous thing, she said.

Hayward said she received the sign through a mutual friend who works for county government.

The sign read: "Thanks Linda Hayward and the broom you rode in on!" and it was signed "Your favorite commissioner, Jeff Stabins."

When asked what he meant by the message, Stabins told a Hernando Today reporter at Tuesday's commission meeting, "You can infer anything you want."

He said it was his way of thanking Hayward. Then, as he has done before, Stabins called Hernando Today a "rag."

This latest incident comes after Stabins was spotted in downtown Brooksville after the recent election carrying a sign disparaging WWJB talk show host Bob Haa.

Ana Trinque, chairwoman of the Hernando County Republican Party, said Stabins' actions against Hayward and his continued disparaging of the newspaper are inappropriate.

Trinque said Stabins should have contacted Hayward and tried to make amends and work out differences rather than send her such a sign.

"I think that's wrong of him to do that," she said. "If he has a beef, name-calling is not going to serve anybody anything."

Trinque said Stabins also needs to adjust his attitude with the press.

"I think Jeff needs to use the media to his advantage," she said.

Trinque said there is a new county commission board in place and it is time to put these "petty things aside and get our work done."

Some time back, Hayward brought a handleless broom to commission meetings signifying a hoped-for "sweep" of Rowden, Kingsley and Stabins from the board.

As founder of the Hernando County Taxpayers Alliance, Hayward also urged her group to throw their support behind Democrat Ramon Gutierrez, Stabins' opponent in the last election.

Gutierrez lost.

Rather than scare her off from her civic activism, Hayward said this prank has inspired her to become even bolder in her actions to seek tax reform for citizens.

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

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