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Highlands Today

Carlson Challenges Jackson For Commission Seat

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By GARY PINNELL

Highlands Today

Published: August 18, 2008

Sebring voters will have four choices in the Aug. 26 primary: Former commissioner Jeri Canale is running against psychologist Bruce Borkosky for the Democratic nomination, and former city councilor Jeff Carlson is challenging incumbent Andrew Jackson in the Republican primary.

The Democrats were featured last week. This week, the Republicans have their say.
Impact fees aren't a popular tax, but as an attorney, Andrew Jackson has defended distasteful positions before.
Andrew Jackson
"It's a divided issue," said Jackson, 72, who has been elected three times to the county commission. The first time was back in 1970, then again in 2000, and lastly in 2004. "I think impact fees are necessary, if we're going to maintain the quality of life we have."
Impact fees are assessed on new construction, like homes and businesses. The point is that Highlands County residents have been paying all along for parks, schools and law enforcement, so the newest residents should contribute their fair share.

"We started at 25 percent," Jackson said. That was in 2007. The commissioners agreed fees would go up 10 percent every year until 2014, when 100 percent of the fee would be assessed.

But as soon as the fees were assessed, the economy nose-dived. So the commissioners approved a 5 percent raise this year. Jackson thinks that was the wrong decision.

"We're digging ourselves into a hole," he said. "Eventually, we're going to have to bite the bullet and go on up."

One problem: builders think they're being unfairly targeted. Jackson's solution: authorize another study, just in Highlands County, and measure the local effect on highways and law enforcement and libraries. Tindale-Oliver's study three years ago was more regional.

"If people had more confidence in the estimate, more people would buy into impact fees," said Jackson.

He lives on Lake Jackson with his wife, Ida, and is the father of four children, Nathan, Randy, Crystal and Amber. Pass by his house on Lakeview Drive, and you'll see the beginnings of a chainsaw carving of an eagle. "I don't know how that's going to turn out."

Unlike the other four commissioners, Jackson didn't vote to close Lake Denton. "It was a Band-Aid solution, but I think the divers going to the Baptist camp has resolved the situation temporarily.

"I don't think we should close our lakes," Jackson said. "They're a great natural resource. We're probably going to have to look at a setting rules for all public facilities, not just one lake. I'm not much for government regulations, but it's probably necessary."

One of the decisions he's proudest of is the softball complex. "It's a good example of good thinking down the road. I'm extremely excited about it. I think it's going to put heads in beds." That's a hotel industry term for tourists renting rooms in Highlands County.

He won't say he's proud of it, but he will claim the asphalt plant. "The jury is still out on it," he said. "I don't like getting into private business, but we were having problems with prices and delivery, so Idecided we should give it a try. It will produce asphalt in September. If not, we ought to turn over to private enterprise."

He is proud of the reorganization of county government.

"It was the No. 1 priority two years ago, and we're not through with it yet, but Mike (County Administrator Wright) has some ideas of combining departments in a more efficient way. He has tremendous experience and a new way of approaching things. He is going to make a difference."

Should the $11.1 million sheriff's office be built on George Boulevard? Jackson hesitates.

"It's a tough question, but the sheriff seems to think it's necessary. It's become a very controversial issue in this election. I probably could be persuaded to take another look at it, or scale it back, or wait until after the election, to see if it's something we still want. If we do build it, we're not going to be able to build much more. But law enforcement is a top priority."

Jackson likes how the current $170 million budget is structured, with $6 million to $7 million that was paying for personnel moved to capital projects.

"We have some rainy-day reserves, but we may have built them up too much. It's raining. Let's spend them."

As for the millage, Jackson would be for a symbolic reduction, but he reminds that every county revenue source has gone down in the past year.
Jeff Carlson
Look behind the county office building, says Jeff Carlson, and there's several parking lots full of white cars, pickup trucks and SUVs. Why, Carlson asks, can't employees simply share cars?

In this downtrodden economy, Carlson wouldn't have raised the impact fees on new houses and businesses.

"They're not collecting any anyway," he pointed out. "I just think our citizens can't bear the brunt of any additional tax burden."

Carlson would also cut the current $170 million budget. "The county is ignoring that people have told them they need to cut the budget... It has increased tremendously in past five years. They've also increased the level of services, but the voters have said they don't want those services. The millage needs to be cut."

Carlson is a triathlete, but he believes the softball complex next to Sebring High School was a mistake. It was too costly to begin with, and the budget was modified over the years which kept raising the price.

Although Carlson is only half the age of his opponent, he's nevertheless a political veteran. He spent nine years on the Sebring City Council, and served three terms as president.

What council decisions is he proudest of? "We did great job on the parks and pockets parks. Highlands Homes is one example of partnering with communities. Valencia is another. I grew up in Valencia.

"Sebring Parkway is another. I'm glad to say that Phase 1 is built," said Carlson. "We also did streetscapes on Ridgewood Drive, Commerce, Sebring Parkway and Washington Heights."

He's not so sure the sheriff's $11.1 million office building should be constructed. "It's got six phases, and it's really a $90-million project. They would pay $500,000 for off-site utility services."

Carlson has been a member of the Central Florida Regional Planning Council for nine years, and he is the current chairman.

"I should make a more concerted effort in planning together," he said.

The county should be meeting with the management staff of the cities.

As an example, Sheriff Susan Benton has not invited the City of Sebring to planning sessions on the proposed building on George Boulevard, even though it would be connected to City of Sebring services.

"Even after I asked to be involved, we have not been invited to a meeting," Carlson said.

Carlson and his opponent, Andrew Jackson, agree that the current access being offered to Lake Denton is working. But they disagree on this point:

Carlson said, "Limited access is a good thing. It's not a public bathing area, it's a boat ramp, and bathing shouldn't be allowed there. It lacks a bathroom, and there's not adequate parking. I tried to back my boat in there, and I couldn't even do that."

Andrew Jackson

Age: 72

Occupation: attorney

Originally from: Highlands County

Personal life: married, four children.

How he's giving back: "I love pro bono work. There are people who can't afford the expense of an attorney. They don't understand the law, and they need some guidance to work through the legal system."

On the Web: hcbcc.net/Dist3Jackson.html

Jeff Carlson

Age 38

Day Job: Certified Public Accountant

Originally from: Highlands County

Personal life: married, two children.

How he's giving back: Sebring Playground Builders chairman; member and past president of Kiwanis. "The Kiwanis helped start Horses for the Handicapped."

On the web: electjeffcarlson.com

Gary Pinnell can be reached at gpinnell@highlandstoday.com or 863 386-5828

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