Gaskin Touts Business Background

Charles Gaskin believes the people of Hernando County are fed up with politics as usual and he wants to start righting the government ship as a county commissioner representing District 3.

Although he's never served in political office before, Gaskin says he has the business experience to get the job done. He has owned Sunshine Heat & Air since 1977, the year he moved to Hernando County.

"I have seen the abuse of power and wasteful spending that is accruing," Gaskin said. "It is time to stop the waste and the same old bureaucracy that we have seen for too many years."

If elected, Gaskin, 55, plans to bring charter government to Hernando County and allow the citizens to have more say in the everyday affairs of their elected officials.

He also wants to install a nonemergency 3-1-1 telephone system so the public can more easily access municipal services. Currently, it is difficult for residents to get in touch with the appropriate department or county staffer, he said.

Gaskin's other campaign plans include no more tax increases, privatization of THE Bus and the consolidation of all county departments.

He also believes the county's comprehensive growth management plan is obsolete. County staffers use that plan as a guiding policy document for land use and development regulations.

"(The plan) is hurting the tax base and is restricting the growth of business in our county," Gaskin says. "It needs to be changed to stimulate the economy."

Gaskin wants to consolidate all fire and ambulance services in Hernando County because it would be more cost-effective. It would be easier to have one fire chief overseeing all countywide operations, he said.

Getting people back to work would be Gaskin's top priority. To do that, he would drop impact fees and streamline the building permit process.

Gaskin, a New Jersey native, touts himself as a businessman, not a politician, because he says a business sense is missing in county government.

Gaskin ran unsuccessfully for the same district seat in 2004.

This time around, the Republican is facing competition from Wayne Dukes and John Druzbick. The winner of the Aug. 26 primary will square off against incumbent Democrat Diane Rowden.

Gaskin said he banking on the grass roots support of the community to get him into office. Once in, he plans to work full-time for the people and be a good listener.

Charles Gaskin

Age: 55.

Married

Education: Graduate of Long Branch High school in New Jersey; degree in heating, air conditioning and refrigeration from Vocational Technical School in Long Branch, N.J.

Religion: Catholic.

Hobbies: boating, fishing, woodworking, welding and solving problems.

Last book read: "At First Sight," by Nicholas Sparks.

Most Admired: Abraham Lincoln.