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Hernando Today

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 3, 2008

McCain The Lesser

Of Two Evils

At the risk of causing letter writer Barbara Rice to have a stroke, John McCain will probably be our next president, "Bushie clone" and all.

And it's not because we're all stupid or racist or xenophobic or any other phobic, it is simply because the Democrats have picked the most liberal member of the Senate as their candidate.

Considering all of McCain's character flaws, he is still the lesser of two evils. Two different men, two different ideologies; and which version of the next four to eight years scares you less? Isn't that essentially the decision we all make?

Sorry Barbara.

Bob Disser

Spring Hill

Property Tax Dilemma

During the course of the past several years, it appears that the elected county tax appraiser, Alvin Mazourek, has been criticized by numerous property owners, including myself, concerning his applied methods and concepts to formulate property values throughout Hernando County.

It should also be noted, and I speak from personal experience, that each time I called to speak to Mazourek, he was never available and, upon inquiry by one of his associated cronies as to why I desired to speak to him, I received what I considered a negative and threatening response that I should be satisfied with my taxing notice, as it could be much greater in the event I challenge the decision.

Also, based upon a recent article published in the feedback section of the editorial page, it appears and is alleged that Mazourek might be "cherry-picking" specific properties to present inflated comparable values. It is also apparent that not one of our county commissioners has taken any interest in conducting an inquiry of his allegedly inflated figures, as long as the county coffers continue to be filled to capacity at our expense.

Upon being advised through state government channels, in order to initiate an official inquiry and/or investigation of alleged improprieties concerning Mazourek's taxing methods and hearing dispositions, individual complaints should be directed to James McAdams, Property Tax Administration, Department of Revenue, Tallahassee, Fla., 850-488-3338. McAdams is responsible to oversee the legality of operations of tax appraisers throughout the state.

Ron Dixon

Weeki Wachee

Hamilton Deserves Thanks

I am writing this letter to Hernando County Administrator David Hamilton and the residents of Hernando County, thanking him for recognizing what has been going on in this county for years.

I have written several letters in the past years to different departments, asking them why different things were happening and why aren't they getting done. The answers from these departments had nothing but excuses and not-so-truthful answers to reasonable questions.

Mr. Hamilton, now that you addressed the problems in the DPW in the letter of Aug. 30, how about some other departments and issues that need to be clarified?

I read in paper a few weeks back that the head of the code enforcement department was leaving and since then the same old, some old is still going on in this county in that department. I also read about a man standing in the middle of a yard full of weeds and there was a rebuttal stating he should cut the lawn.

It is bad enough you have to look at it, never mind cutting it too. Who owns these homes, surely not the neighbors? They have to be removed by the financial institution, so they are the ones responsible. How come the code enforcement department has not made these institutions clean up their properties instead of the taxpayers of this county?

One last thing, the sheriff's department has a lot of deputies endangering the lives of the residents and people who travel through Hernando County by their speeding and following too close.

I am a victim of such acts over the years I have lived in the county, and it doesn't look like the sheriff cares about the residents that put him in office.

Mr. Hamilton, if you're cleaning up the county departments and singling out things that need to be addressed by the county department heads, I hope you're informed about this letter to the editor and get this cleaned up, too.

Gary Mercer

Spring Hill

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