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Candidate responses

The St. Petersburg Times offers candidates not recommended by its editorial board an opportunity to reply. Here are some of those replies.

-- Sophia Diaz-Fonseca, Candidate for Inverness City Council, Seat 4

Thank you for the opportunity to issue a rebuttal in response to your endorsement article.

First, I will restate my position. "I have not worked closely enough with the city manager to rate him," and that, my friends, is an honest answer. Perhaps the board members should have asked me what was really on their minds; that is, if my sole intention for being elected was to fire Frank DiGiovanni? The answer to that question is no.

It would be far more relevant for you to ask me about my opponent's performance in the eight years she has been in office. When you point to her accomplishments, you failed to mention that most of them were a group effort where she did not have a leadership role. In fact, you mention her being instrumental in the county seat issue. I also played a part in the curtailing of the county seat expansion. On Feb. 25, 1999, I received a letter from Mr. DiGiovanni thanking me for supporting Inverness in the county seat issue. Not only did I spend more than 30 hours researching laws the city could use to halt the extension, I even spoke on their behalf at the County Commission meetings.

Earlier, you stated that I missed the point on road improvements and the sewer. If this is true, then the Economic Development Council Summit and Florida League of Cities has also missed the point. They state that poor infrastructure is one of the major setbacks to a small city. Not only in being able to service their taxpayers, but also in preparing for new growth. The truth of the matter is that the city has earmarked money in the budget (more than $600,000) for improvements to Tompkins Street only. The road maintenance budget to cover every other road in the city is only $75,000. If we don't receive the grant for the sewer plant, more than $2-million will have to be raised to complete the construction. This is where my grant-writing experience could be an asset to the city and taxpayers.

The new City Hall and disbanded police department are no longer issues, because the council has decided on both of them. I made my feelings public about both items when I marched in the rain against the treatment of the Inverness police and when I wrote a letter to the council asking it to be cautious about the construction contract it committed the city to.

The City Council members are duly elected by the citizens of the city of Inverness to make informed and conscientious decisions on their behalf. I take that responsibility very seriously and I feel more than qualified to do the best job.

Imagine my surprise when I read that you had endorsed my opponent. Especially when I was unavailable for the meeting and was not interviewed by anyone at your paper. My opponent only had two issues of concern. One, wanting to put a mass transit system in Inverness and two, a satellite campus of CFCC. Isn't it convenient that his wife is the provost in Lecanto?

No. 1: Mass transit is a proven tax burden, even in the larger cities.

No. 2: A satellite campus of CFCC. Why would we want another campus when we have one 20 minutes away? Where would we put it? How would we pay for it? Talk about a parking problem! I know: He can use his mass transit system to transport students from one campus to the other of CFCC.

I was born and raised in Jacksonville and moved to Inverness almost 20 years ago. After graduation I worked as a teller in a local savings and loan, was promoted to head teller/assistant manager after one year. From there I worked at Proctor & Gamble, left as the executive secretary for Crush International, a division of P&G. I moved to Inverness and entered the medical field.

I have been the office manager at Citrus Anesthesia for almost 14 years. I have also been employed as the executive secretary for the Citrus County Medical Society for 13 years. I have been in a management position for most of my adult life. Starting out at the bottom and working my way up, for the most part working two jobs. I understand budgets, marketing, public relations and working to coordinate effectively to achieve goals and objectives.

I believe whole-heartedly that I am the best candidate for Council Seat 2. I have lived in the city, worked in the city and paid city taxes. Unlike my opponent, who moved here a little over a year ago, and neither he nor his wife works in the city.

I have watched the growth and development of our small city. I want to be part of the future growth and development. I have seen Inverness become a city that I am proud to call home. I might not be as polished as my opponent and this being my first try at running for a political office, I might not have come across as being as informed as I should have, but you can rest assured, when I am elected I will do the best job I can.

I have no hidden agendas. I will listen to the taxpayers. I will make decisions based on what I feel is best for the residents of Inverness, not just the elderly, young, rich, poor or even for myself. I will vote on what I think is best for all concerned.

The council meetings are held on Tuesday night. Last Tuesday night my opponent left the forum early to go to work. How many meetings will he miss because of work if he happens to be elected?

I feel you did a disservice to the residents of Inverness by endorsing my opponent. I ask them to look at my qualifications and my background. If they want someone sitting in Seat 2 that is approachable, a 20-year resident, has their best interest at heart. Is willing to stand up and fight for what she believes in. Has a strong sense of pride and integrity, is dedicated to the causes she supports and has the background and knowledge to represent them. Then I ask for their support. I need their votes on Feb. 8.

[Last modified February 4, 2005, 00:18:17]