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District 3 Democratic Contenders Headed To Primary Election Borkosky's Vision: Planned Communities

By GARY PINNELL

Highlands Today

Published: August 11, 2008

Bruce Borkosky and Jeri Canale are running as Democrats for County Commissioner District 3.

The seat is currently held by Andrew Jackson, who is running as a Republican against Jeff Carlson. Jackson's and Carlson's stories will be featured next week.

Borkosky: Need Smaller Budgets

Asked to name three things the Highlands County Commission should have done, Bruce Borkosky has difficulty stopping.

"I'm running because I believe we need better planning than some of the decisions that made. For example, the budget increases over the last three years. They should have realized it was a real estate bubble. Housing prices were flat for 20 years, then a big boom. Prices skyrocketed. That was bound to fall flat. Now they're having to draw out of the rainy day funds. They should have been reducing the millage rates."

Over the past decade, the county budget has risen from $89 million to $170 million. What should the annual budget be?

"That's difficult to say," Borkosky said. "Closer to $89 million than $170 million. If they were going to increase the budget, they should have been investing in the community, not buying computers and giving large raises to employees."

Should the commissioners spend $11.1 million to build a new sheriff's department on George Boulevard?

Borkosky agrees that better facilities are needed for the sheriff, the state's attorneys and the public defenders offices, but suggests that by the time the new building is constructed and equipped, the jail is expanded, and the old building is remodeled for other county offices, the final bill will be more like $90 million.

By now, Borkosky said, the commissioners should have solved the problem with Lake Denton.

"It doesn't require shutting down the entire lake," Borkosky said. "It's a basic rights issue. If the citizens own property, they should be able to take advantage of it unless there was an immediate danger. It could have solved with extra patrols, a few nights of police enforcement."

The county should have reduced the gas taxes, as well as investing money in public transportation.

That would have reduced the cost of transportation for people who need it the most, the disabled and the elderly.

The cornerstone of his campaign, Borkosky said, is building walkable communities.

Years ago, neighborhoods had restaurants, drug stores and doctor's offices within a few blocks of residences.

"Now we have to go five miles," Borkosky said. Through the design of all-residence communities, the government has encouraged more roads, more traffic and more pollution. if those policies continue, he predicts massive gridlock and sprawl.

"There will be no community, just housing developments and strip malls," Borkosky said.

Like Oregon, the commission should say, "There shall be no development past this line."

Finally, the commissioners should have dealt with Sun'N Lake.

"It's a horrible situation for the people who live there," Borkosky said. While it was being built, it was OK for the builder to be in charge of the housing association. But the county, Borkosky said, allowed the housing association to become the government.

Now, instead of one-man, one-vote, it's one developer who is able to appoint three members of the board.

"Its government is being run for the financial benefit of those landowners," Borkosky said.

Canale: Privatize The Softball Fields

Ask Jeri Canale for a list of accomplishments, and she'll provide a list: During her term in office, the county commissioners built the Children's Advocacy Center, the Lake Placid Library, the Highlands County Administration Complex, the new county jail, the new sheriff"s office, phase one of Sebring Parkway, the DeSoto City Fire Department, and the EMS Operations Building.

The commissioners helped fund the Sebring Airport terminal, the women's abuse shelter, and part of the playground for Max Long Field.

They also expanded the Sebring Library.

All without raising taxes, said Canale, who views herself as a tax cutter. She favors taking a second look at county gasoline tax.

Until three years ago, foreclosures averaged 300 a year. This year, she predicts there will be 1,800.

"If we let people choose between filling a pothole or losing your home, I think they're going to say, 'Please allow me to keep my home,'" Canale said.

Gasoline bills are going up, and so is the unemployment rate, she noted. "We have to be responsible and cut back on the budget. We need to cut taxes instead of raising them. People are making decisions on whether to buy a prescription or buy gas."

Three hundred real estate agents have quit since the recession started in 2006, and hundreds of builders and subcontractors.

When Canale was in office, the commissioner met twice a year with the three mayors and the school board.

"They don't do that any more," Canale said. "I was the one who pushed that."

And during that term, Canale was in the first graduating class of certified county commissioners, in 1998.

If she is elected, Canale said she would privatize the Highlands County softball fields.

"Rent the entire complex," she said. "They do it every day in other communities." The leasee could work his own deals with local hotels, restaurants and others who would benefit.

She's also working on countywide health insurance that anyone could buy for under $50 a month. "Prescriptions, glasses, medical, hospitalization, dental. I've got it all worked out."

Jeri Canale (can AL ee)

Age: 54

Originally from: Hammond, Ind.

Day Job: Real Estate Agent

Personal life: Married to Steve Marabel, the owner of Exit Realty, where Jeri also works. One daughter, Elizabeth, two dogs and two birds.

Education: Stephens College in Columbia, Mo. AA in child psychology.

Came to Florida: to Naples in 1975 as the local director of the March of Dimes Foundation, to Highlands County in 1989.

Her vow: "I'll be a full-time county commissioner. I won't be working at my business. I will be at the county building a lot."

On the Web: www.jericanale.com

Bruce Borkosky (Bor KAW sky)

Age: 53

Originally from: Cincinnati