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Highlands Today

Maxcy: Fifth Term Would Be Last

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By JIM KONKOLY

Highlands Today

Published: September 11, 2008

SEBRING - The two candidates for the District 5 seat on the Highlands County Board of Commissioners spoke at this week's meeting of the Highlands County Homeowners Association.

Guy Maxcy, a Republican, seeking his fifth consecutive four-year term, said that if he wins another term it will be his last. Not surprisingly, he told the crowd of about 75 people he's running on "experience, and a track record."

"You know I'm going to be available, and you know I work hard," Maxcy said.

Zane Thomas, running as an independent, stressed his 25 years as a Navy officer, traveling around the world and serving in both diplomatic and combat roles. Not surprisingly for a challenger, he said the county needs "new leadership."

During his Navy career overseas, Thomas said, "all we were hearing from back home is, 'Government is broken, government is broken." But, he said, "our government is not broken, our leadership is broken."

Thomas said he is running because the county commission needs "new blood, fresh ideas and positive leadership."

Thomas said he was deeply offended by rumors circulating that he has been campaigning while he works for the county, as a planner in the planning department.

As a retired military officer, Thomas said, he still highly values "honor and integrity," and he would never campaign while he's being paid to do his county job. Thomas said he has done all of his campaigning on his own time, either after work or on his lunch hours or break time. He said he took a vacation day to appear at the homeowners meeting.

Maxcy said he's never made any accusation against Thomas, about his campaign time or anything else.

A member of the audience asked both candidates if they support raising the tax break for low-income, senior citizen homeowners. On a homestead house, they now get a $5,000 reduction in the taxable value of their property. State law allows the county commissioners to set that as high as $50,000.

John Drennan, a senior who attends most county commission meetings, asked if they would support raising the low-income senior tax exemption from $5,000 to $25,000.

Maxcy said he will support an increase in this tax break, but he hasn't yet decided on how high it should be raised.

Thomas answered the question by saying, "There are others in the county who need help as well." He also said the current state system for taxing property "is broken, and it needs to be fixed."

Another question came from the audience: Should the county use the E-Verify system on county contracts to make sure workers hired by contractors are not illegal aliens?

"Yes," Thomas answered. "That's just a common sense answer."

"If the county administrator would agree to that, I would agree to that," Maxcy answered.

Maxcy said there will be big changes in the county and county government over the next four years, and he wants to help with positive changes.

Thomas said his "No. 1 question" is, what has Maxcy done for the past 16 years?

"And No. 2," he added, "what is the chance that we'll get our money's worth in the next four years?"

Maxcy said he's happy to run on his record, and among the changes he wants to see is a senior citizens center and a citizens review committee for the county budget.

Jim Konkoly can be reached at 863-386-5855 or e-mail jkonkoly@highlandstoday.com

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