All of the challenges facing Citrus County government today and in the future are rooted in the county's unprecedented population explosion.
Environmental protection, road building and traffic management, garbage disposal, taxes - everything comes back to growth.
It is vital, therefore, that those on the Board of County Commissioners whose decisions will shape the county's future have a clear understanding of how these issues affect one another plus a coherent vision for how Citrus County should grow.
In the District 1 race, the candidate best prepared to meet these challenges is someone who has dealt with all of them for many years in business and through community service: Republican Dennis Damato.
Damato, 51, of Crystal River faces Democrat Jimmy Carr in the race to succeed Commissioner Roger Batchelor, who lost his re-election bid in the August primary.
A general contractor for 33 years, Damato has been closely involved with the business side of the population expansion. He clearly understands the need to manage growth with common-sense rules.
As chairman since 1988 of the city of Crystal River's Community Redevelopment Agency and president of the Old Courthouse Museum board of trustees, Damato speaks of the value of preserving and enhancing the existing businesses and attracting visitors to the county's two municipalities. His experience on the county Code Enforcement Board is behind his call for strengthening county codes.
Not only does Damato call for community standards, especially for commercial buildings, as a way to improve the county's appearance, he can explain in detail how to achieve his goal by upgrading the Land Development Code. As a builder, he understands the realities of the business and knows that more can be done.
Carr, 60, of Crystal River is sincere in his desire to improve the county's waterways. He has become very active in recent years in a number of water-quality initiatives and understands how this resource fits into the overall health and future of Citrus County.
Carr's biggest detriment is his inability to articulate clear answers for the many issues facing Citrus County. He is aware of the various challenges, but he cannot say succinctly just what he as a county commissioner would do about any of them.
Damato, by contrast, offers specific ideas for dealing with a wide range of issues. More than that, Damato exudes a vibrant optimism about the future of Citrus County that is contagious. He believes that the county's best years are ahead.
While Carr deserves the community's thanks for his many volunteer hours spent on protecting the local waterways, Damato deserves the community's votes in the Nov. 2 general election. The Times recommends that voters elect Dennis Damato to the County Commission District 1 seat.
OPPORTUNITY TO REPLY
Candidates who are not recommended by the Times editorial board are invited to respond. Replies must be received no later than 5 p.m. Wednesday. Replies are limited to 250 words. Deliver to: Greg Hamilton, Editor of Editorials, Citrus Times, 301 W Main St., Inverness, FL 34450; e-mail to hamilton@sptimes.com or fax to 860-7320.
