While Peter Altman says he tends to focus on the larger issues, his opponent Jack Mariano says taking care of constituents should be a commissioner's primary mission.
By BRIDGET HALL GRUMET
Published October 29, 2004
BAYONET POINT - County Commissioner Peter Altman described himself Thursday as "a forest guy." Meaning, he's a big-picture person who looks at the forest instead of the trees.
The analogy, offered during a debate sponsored by the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce, hits on the key difference in the District 5 commission race. Altman, a Democrat seeking his second term, sees his commission role chiefly as a policymaker shaping the county's growth. His opponent, Republican Jack Mariano, says constituent service - taking care of those trees - should be No. 1.
Mariano criticized Altman for not returning constituents' calls or holding office hours at the government center. Altman, a tax accountant, said he returns calls and meets constituents at his business office, and that people have been "genuinely happy" to meet with him there.
"Yes, they are genuinely happy to talk to you," Mariano replied at the forum at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point. "They have a hard time getting you."
Altman called the criticism unfair: "My focus day and night is on ways in which I can make this county better and serve the people of this county."
The two clashed on a series of issues. Altman said he supported the Penny for Pasco sales tax hike and increased impact fees on new construction to pay for the needed roads, schools and other facilities. Mariano said the commissioner hasn't "met a tax he didn't like."
Altman touted the U.S. 19 concurrency ordinance, which he proposed, that requires developers along the highway to pay into a fund for U.S. 19 improvements. Mariano said it would take 470 years to raise enough money in that fund to fix the highway.
A handful of people attended the debate, which featured questions from the editorial writers from the Pasco Times and the Pasco Tribune . They also heard from candidates in two other races:
County Commission
District 3
Flooding problems and redevelopment topped the debate in District 3. Democratic challenger Keith Waldron said the county has focused on new developments while allowing roads to crumble and older neighborhoods to fall into disrepair.
"West Pasco has just kind of deteriorated away," Waldron said.
Write-in candidate Jon Kueny said the county needs to focus more on redevelopment, but it won't be easy.
"It's kind of hard to make a silk purse out of a pig's ear," Kueny said.
County Commissioner Ann Hildebrand, a Republican seeking her sixth term, said the county is working on redevelopment plans for older neighborhoods and the U.S. 19 corridor. As far as flooding, she said the county might consider creating local taxing districts to pay for the needed drainage projects.
"It's not going to be a cheap, easy fix," Hildebrand said.
State Senate
District 11
Don't get Steve Mattingly started on that Medicare bill. The measure covers prescription drugs, but bars the government from importing cheaper Canadian drugs or negotiating lower prices with the drug companies.
"I think it's stealing from the American people and that makes me mad," said Mattingly, the Democratic challenger facing state Sen. Mike Fasano.
"I don't like it ... I think every one of those legislators ought to go to prison, that voted for it."
Fasano, R-New Port Richey, was pleased to report that he didn't vote for it. It was Congress, not the state Legislature, that passed that measure, although Fasano said the bill will help many people.
Fasano said he has supported several state bills to make medications more affordable, including a bill that allowed more generic drugs to be available in Florida.
* * *
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 hall@sptimes.com
