Cool To Announce Election Plans Tuesday

AVON PARK - Will Carl Cool, recently retired as Highlands County's administrator, join his wife Maureen as a Realtor at RE/MAX Realty Plus in Sebring?

Or will Cool, who just passed his real estate exam on his first try, run for county commissioner, trying to unseat incumbent Commissioner Barbara Stewart?

Everybody will know on Wednesday.

In fact, many people will know on Tuesday, when Cool meets with reporters to announce whether he will or will not run for county commissioner.

Cool announced his plans to publicly say whether he will or will not run for county commissioner on Tuesday in a brief phone interview Friday morning.

"I'm going to announce my decision on Tuesday," he said.

Why Tuesday?

"So that both newspapers can have it for Wednesday, so everybody is treated the same," he answered.

If Cool does win election as a commissioner, he'll earn just under $50,000, plus top-shelf health insurance, while he continues to draw his county pension.

Cool worked for the county for 33 years, starting as an assistant engineer in the county engineer's office. He worked his way up to county engineer and, 17 years ago, was chosen from more than 80 applicants to be county administrator.

The rumor mill about Cool's plans to run for elected office kept spinning this week.

The latest rumor is that Carl Cool will not run for county commissioner because he would be the campaign manager for his wife, Maureen Cool, who will run for county commissioner against Stewart.

Carl Cool laughed when he was told that rumor.

One reason he will announce on Tuesday is that by ending speculation he also will put an end to rumors.

It was mentioned during the Avon Park Chamber of Commerce awards banquet Thursday night that Carl Cool had passed the real estate exam. He received a plaque in recognition of his 33 years of service to Highlands County.

Carl Cool actually has three options. He doesn't have to chose between either being a county commissioner or selling real estate. The two jobs are not mutually exclusive and he could have a third option.

Getting elected as a county commissioner is a part -time job and so, if he does run and does win, he could work part-time as a commissioner and work part-time selling real estate.

Commissioner Guy Maxcy, running for a fifth consecutive four-year term, works as both a commissioner and sells insurance.