The Spring Hill district wants to shake a good-old-boys image, its chief says.
By WILL VAN SANT
Published October 13, 2004
BROOKSVILLE - The County Commission on Tuesday chose Margaret Perreira, a 46-year-old health care professional, to fill a vacant seat on the Spring Hill Fire Rescue District board.
The appointment makes Perreira the first woman to serve on the five-member volunteer body, which was created in 1975.
"I'm a trailblazer," said a surprised Perreira when told of the distinction.
Now chief operating officer of University Community Hospital in Carrollwood, Perreira managed the emergency room at Spring Hill Regional Hospital from 1991 until 2001. Before that, she was a nurse and emergency room supervisor at Bayonet Point Hospital.
Perreira has a master's degree in business administration and a bachelor's degree in health care administration from Saint Leo University. She received her nursing degree at Suffolk County Community College on Long Island, N.Y., where she grew up.
A Spring Hill resident for 20 years, Perreira is married and has six children, four of whom are still at home.
Perreira was selected from 13 applicants for the post after three board incumbents decided against running for election this year. Two men, George Biro and Charles D. Raborn, will take two of the seats in November because they made a June candidate qualification deadline.
Because nobody qualified for the remaining seat, the County Commission was forced to make an appointment.
County Commissioner Diane Rowden nominated Perreira, saying a woman with such vast medical experience would bring balance to the fire commission. County Commissioner Tom Mylander seconded the nomination, and Perreira was chosen.
Fire district Chief J.J. Morrison said he remembers working with Perreira when she managed the Spring Hill Regional emergency room and that she had a reputation as an outstanding professional.
In recent years, Morrison said, the fire district has been trying to shake its reputation as a good-old-boys organization, and he praised her selection as a progressive step.
"I think they made a wise choice," he said.
Perreira said she sought the post because of a desire to be involved in local politics and that she looks forward to immersing herself in the details of district policy and finance.
"I'm anxious to understand what the issues are," she said.
