Bush to pay a visit to Spring Hill community

SPRING HILL -- Florida Gov. Jeb Bush this afternoon will make Timber Pines, one of Hernando County's largest and most politically active voting blocs, the latest stop on his re-election campaign.

Bush is scheduled to appear at the Timber Pines Performing Arts Center from 12:30 to 2 p.m. The event will be open only to Timber Pines residents and members of the media.

The governor will address the audience as a whole and then make time to visit with individuals, said Tom Barnette, the Hernando County chairman of the Bush/Brogan campaign.

"It's part of the final two weeks of the campaign trail and to continue to allow the people of Florida to have access to the governor and to maybe ask questions about issues important to them," Barnette said.

Local officials offered up three or four sites, but Bush campaign officials in Tallahassee chose Timber Pines, Barnette said.

"I think it tells us that (Hernando County) could be a key bloc and he wants to make sure that it's very clear to the population here, which has a large number that are retired, that he is in tune with their needs and what needs to happen for their future," Barnette said.

Bush is currently locked in a tight race with Democrat nominee Bill McBride .

Timber Pines general manager Lynn Setelius said Bush officials called Monday about a visit and on Tuesday afternoon confirmed the stop.

"They gave us no details," Setelius said. "I guess with the type of schedule he's running right now it's hard."

Bush campaign officials in Tallahassee were not available for comment.

Timber Pines is known for its heavy voter turnout on election day and for its efforts to help its residents see candidates firsthand in its election-related forums.

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