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Letter to the editor

Blair puts the pesky public on mute

By SUE CARLTON, Times Staff Writer
Published August 10, 2007

Even in these bleak budget times, Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair comes up with new ways to say "Let 'em eat cake."

First, concerned citizens show up to oppose axing local wetlands protection at a "public" meeting only to be swatted away like a pack of pesky gnats. Then, at last week's budget workshop, talk turned to commissioners tightening their own belts. The very idea.

Commissioner Al Higginbotham, newbie upstart that he is, suggested freezing for one year the raises on their $91,000-plus salary and cutting their $600 monthly mileage reimbursement. County employees were feeling the pain, "and if we don't look amongst ourselves and find ways to cut, as uncomfortable as it can be to discuss, then we're not doing the right thing," he said. Al is one funny guy.

I do not suggest anyone is obligated to take a pay hit for the team. Commissioners ran for a job with a given salary and reasonable expectations for raises. Less defensible is a fat car allowance that doesn't even require them to write down what county business they spent it on. (Ultimately, commissioners gave up $40.)

But about Blair's over-the-top reaction to the mere suggestion. He said his county travels could net him $800 - $900, even! - if he actually "did the math." While department heads earn more, he said, commissioners "sit up here and take all the bullets and work 50, 60 hours a week." Sounds tough.

Then he turned his verbal teeth-baring on Higginbotham. "You had ethics questions, so now all of a sudden you're bringing ethics questions up on this board," Blair said, referring to a news story on Higginbotham's wife's connection to someone with issues before the county. "And you know, I don't feel like being the scapegoat for problems that you've had."

Oh, yes, he did say that. But wait - it wasn't even his best line. "I do this job because I love it," he said, the strains of Glory, Glory, Hallelujah rising around him. (Okay, I made that part up.) "I wake up every day to try to make a difference in this community. But at the same time, I don't want to take food out of my -"

Yes, he did. He invoked his kids, intimating a cut could take food from their very mouths. He also mentioned charities to which he gives.

For the record, I am not the one who dragged Blair's offspring into this. And while I don't know if there's some kind of foie gras mac and cheese they nosh on over at the Blair house, dad should be able to handle it. A recent financial disclosure form lists Blair's net worth at $1.26-million, his single listed liability a car loan.

And so we hit a new low in self-serving rhetoric.

About that previous wetlands meeting, the one where the crowd got just 60 seconds per citizen to be heard. On suggestions for bigger space and guaranteed three minutes per speaker at the upcoming Aug. 16 meeting - also bound to be standing-room-only since the commission is expected to vote - Blair declined. In a letter, he said public talking time will depend on how many show up.

"Public comment is not the only medium by which the public is able to make their sentiments known, as evidenced by the numerous e-mails, letters and faxes," he noted, apparently unaware that sometimes voters want to look you in the eye before you go about the business of allegedly representing them.

[Last modified August 9, 2007, 23:34:45]