Jack Mariano criticizes his opponent, District 5 Commissioner Peter Altman, for not being responsive enough to constituents. But Altman says he returns their calls each day.
By BRIDGET HALL GRUMET
Published October 17, 2004
NEW PORT RICHEY - It has been four years of firsts for Peter Altman: His first term as a county commissioner, his first votes on issues ranging from taxes to redevelopment, and now his first bid for re-election.
The lone Democratic commissioner faces Jack Mariano, a Republican making his first run for the commission District 5 in the Nov. 2 election.
The race is as much about the issues as the candidates themselves. Mariano, a 44-year-old car salesman, has criticized Altman for not being responsive enough to constituents.
"I'll be a commissioner that will be at the government center to meet with people and return all phone calls," Mariano said. "My opponent - if you try to get him during his tax time, good luck."
But Altman, a self-employed accountant who's leading a riverfront redevelopment effort in New Port Richey, says he spends "a good bit of every day" returning constituents' calls.
"No one has been denied an opportunity to sit down and make an appointment with me," said Altman, 47.
Here's how the candidates compare on the issues:
Economic development
Mariano has focused his campaign on growing the business sector. Businesses pay more in taxes than they use in services, he said, and having more local employers would reduce the flow of commuters on Pasco roads.
Mariano wants to allow smaller businesses to qualify for economic incentives to relocate or expand in Pasco County. New businesses must have at least 15 employees to qualify for impact fee reimbursements; Mariano wants to drop the number to 10.
That might not sound like much, he said, "But if you have enough businesses doing it (expanding or relocating to Pasco), it makes a big effect."
Altman said he has supported more funding for the Economic Development Council, the group charged with recruiting businesses and helping them expand. He also suggests the county help pay the relocation costs for companies that want to move to Pasco County.
Penny for Pasco
Altman supported the 1-cent sales tax hike, which voters approved in March to improve roads, expand schools and buy conservation land.
He said that funding, along with the 1-cent gas tax increase he supported in 2002, will address much of the county's "deficits" in roads and other infrastructure.
"We're getting a handle on a plan to eliminate the deficits the county has accrued since before the county invited people here on the cheap," he said.
Mariano voted against the Penny for Pasco: "I had mixed feelings all the way through," he said. He said he wanted more information and was concerned about the number of out-of-county contributors to the pro-Penny campaign. He said schools needed the extra sales tax revenue, but he wasn't sure the county's roads needed the money as well.
Now that he knows more about the county's plan to buy conservation tracts with some of the Penny, Mariano said, "I'm actually glad it's through."
Growing pains
Mariano said the county can't halt growth.
"Housing growth is going to keep on coming," Mariano said. "The landowners have a right to develop their properties."
The key, he said, is to encourage developers to create industrial parks instead of subdivisions. In addition to making incentives available to more businesses, Mariano wants to designate more land for industrial use.
As Pasco grows, Altman said, the county needs to keep up with the infrastructure needs and make sure older neighborhoods aren't left behind.
Altman has voted to increase the impact fees, one-time taxes on new construction that pay for expanding roads, schools and other facilities for the growing population. He also proposed the U.S. 19 concurrency ordinance, approved this year, which requires developers along U.S. 19 to pay a special fee toward highway improvements.
He led the push for redeveloping East Brown Acres with a plan that includes repaving the roads, adding streetlights and fixing up homes in the blighted Port Richey neighborhood. He also supported forced paving assessments in a couple of older neighborhoods where only a minority of homeowners had voted to repave their crumbling roads.
If re-elected, Altman said he wants to expand sewer lines into older neighborhoods, particularly in coastal communities where leaking septic systems can contribute to beach pollution.
"That benefits us all in the long run," he said.
Ridge Road extension
Altman has pushed for the proposed 8.5-mile extension that would link Moon Lake Road to the Suncoast Parkway and U.S. 41. He said the road would provide an evacuation route for coastal residents and relieve traffic congestion on state roads 52 and 54.
Mariano also supports the project.
"I know they're trying to minimize the (environmental) impact," as the extension would cut through the Serenova Nature Preserve, Mariano said. "I'm comfortable with what they're doing."
Bridget Hall Grumet covers Pasco County government. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6244 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6244. Her e-mail address is bhall@sptimes.com
