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Hernando Today

Former Firefighters Vie For County Seat

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: October 19, 2008

James Adkins says if he doesn't win a county commission seat this time, he's hanging up his political aspirations for good.

But the former Brooksville fire chief, who lost in his bid for the District 5 commission seat in 2004, says he has no intention of losing this time around.

"My campaign platform is based on my beliefs that Hernando County is best served by a commissioner (who) believes in lower taxes, less government (and) common business sense, which includes responsible spending and accountability," says the 59-year-old Republican.

But Adkins faces stiff competition from incumbent Democrat Chris Kingsley, who is banking on his experience to put him back in office.

Kingsley said Adkins does not have the experience or "proven leadership" and has essentially stayed out of the political scene since retiring as Brooksville fire chief.

Kingsley, 56, said stability of leadership is vital now that the county is moving forward on department streamlining and economic development initiatives.

"It is my goal to preserve, maintain and improve the quality of life for everyone in Hernando County," Kingsley says.

Kingsley said he is working to increase diversity in the tax base by attracting higher-paying jobs.

To do that, he says he has consistently voted to make sure the necessary roads, sewer and other infrastructure improvements are already in place - especially on the county's eastside.

An east-west alterative to State Road 50 is also sorely needed to help businesses and residents better access Interstate 75, he said.

Kingsley said he is also willing to refine the county's compensated absence policy, which allows employees to build up a financial nest-egg they can cash in annually or upon retirement. But he believes there still should be some cushion for employees who face extended sicknesses.

Under his watch, Kingsley said he has never supported or voted for a tax rate increase and there has been $1.2 billion in new commercial, retail and industrial development since 2004.

Kingsley has more than nine years of classroom teaching and is a retired firefighter from the city of Clearwater.

Kingsley received some heat earlier this year when he was forced to return more than $3,700 of tuition reimbursement money to the county clerk after being told by that office he did not fit the definition of "employee" and was not entitled to the money.

Kingsley said he had the necessary sign-off approvals from former county administrators and others who saw no problem with the tuition reimbursement, he said.

But to avoid perceptions of impropriety, he said he turned it back.

Kingsley had been taking classes at St. Leo University in east Pasco County to pursue a master's degree in business administration. He received his MBA in business administration in September.

Adkins, who retired as fire chief in 1998, says he will do all he can to reduce what he sees as frivolous spending by county commissioners.

He cites THE Bus, Hernando County's mass transit system, as an example of wasted money.

Over the years, commissioners have not been accountable for their spending habits and, as a result, spent it only because the coffers were full, he said.

The board, he said, did not come down hard enough on department manager budgets and there was little oversight on their spending habits.

"The word 'no' was very seldom used," Adkins said.

To stimulate the economy, he believes the county must do more to attract large, clean industry to the industrial parks and promote more financial incentives to get them here.

Government, he says, must get out of this 9 to 5 mindset and be accessible to the public at all hours.

"I'll be a voice for the taxpayer," he said. "That's what I ran on the last time, and that's what I'm going to run on again."

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

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