News

Druzbick won't endorse anyone

By Michael D. Bates | Hernando Today
Published: October 26, 2012

BROOKSVILLE - When he lost his bid for re-election to the county commission in the August primary, Republican County Commissioner John Druzbick declined to throw his support to his same-party challenger Jason Sager.

He still refuses to do so.

Druzbick said Thursday there is too great a philosophical divide between himself and Sager and cannot in good conscience endorse him for the Nov. 6 election.

He also believes the Democrat in the District 3 race, Diane Rowden, is a bad alternative.

"I have no confidence in either Sager or Rowden that they will do what's right for Hernando County," Druzbick said.

It may be that no-party candidate Greg Sheldon, with his lack of experience in politics, may be what is best for Hernando County at this time, Druzbick said. Sheldon is owner and operator of GCLS Contracting Inc.

"I haven't had much of an opportunity to speak with (Sheldon)," Druzbick said.

On the surface, Sager says the right things when he talks of bringing more jobs to the county, Druzbick said. But Druzbick said he fails to elaborate how he would pay for job expansion, especially when he has said publicly he is against offering incentives to new businesses.

Without incentives, Hernando County would have been unsuccessful in getting Accuform Signs at the industrial park to build a new 304,000-square-foot building and employ more than 550 people, he said.

As for Rowden, Druzbick said she purports to be on the side of business but her track record when she was on the commission was anything but.

And her penchant for micro-managing on the board was detrimental to operations, he said.

Druzbick has attributed his loss to Sager in the August primary to a paltry 16 percent voter turnout and his support for a tax increase.

Sheldon said Thursday he has opted not to seek further monetary contributions and, instead, is spending the last days leading up to the election going door-to-door for a final campaign push.

Sheldon has denied rumors he was a Democrat "plant" to siphon off votes from Sager. Sheldon said be believes he is being targeted because of his no-party label and is the victim of a campaign to discredit his candidacy.

Sheldon said he is in this race to win and believes he has as much a chance as Sager or Rowden.