SEBRING — Ever since a citizens advisory committee on impact fees was proposed, one rumor has swirled around it – that some members would recommend suspending impact fees as a financial incentive to kick start the sluggish building industry. That rumor never was verified, but it doesn't matter now. Suspending impact fees, and suspending building permit fees, too, will be discussed openly at the top level of county government as a means to lift up the local economy. County Commissioner Guy Maxcy guaranteed that will happen Tuesday when he brought the idea up at the county commission meeting. ...more

February 19, 2008

Remember the hanging chad and the butterfly ballot from the 2000 presidential season? These infamous terms still leap into the mind when thinking of that race, not to mention the lingering conviction of a few that Al Gore, who had more popular support, was cheated out of the White House. This year, it's the superdelegates' turn to make voters shake their heads and wonder why the democratic process in the United States has so many caveats. ...more

February 18, 2008

On several occasions, while volunteering at the church service centers in Avon Park, I would ask some seemingly able bodied aid recipients the reason why they were not working. Quite often, the answer given was a lack of transportation to get to and from work on a regular and dependable basis. At first I questioned that response but, upon reflection, I concluded that the lack of public transportation in the Avon Park-Sebring area is more than just an inconvenience; it is definitely a real hardship for many of our constituents. In fact last month, while traveling along Memorial Drive I stopped to pick up a walker and asked him where he was heading. He said "Homer's Restaurant." He informed me that earlier that morning he had been called to come in to work on his day off, and to start working by 8 a.m. Unfortunately, due to a lack of transportation, he had started walking the six mile distance to Homer's and had managed to reach that point at approximately 8:45 a.m. After dropping him off at the restaurant, he proceeded to thank me and rushed off to his job. ...more

February 16, 2008

Using Tax Dollars To Fund Re-election Today, I received for the second time in the past 30 days a full color 11-by-17-inch mailer from District 5 U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite. It has been my observation that Ginny prefers to save her "franking" for election years, having received perhaps one or two throughout all of 2007. Ah... but 2008 is an election year, is it not? ...more

February 11, 2008

Amy Tiemann was a neuroscientist, then a high school teacher, next a mother. ...more

January 29, 2008

Some people in Highlands County don't like hearing that to attract a top-level county administrator that the wages must be drastically higher than what's currently being paid. The truth, though, is that you get what you pay for. Highlands County and our cities have gotten off light on what they pay administrators. Elsewhere across the United States, these are well compensated positions and for good reason. City and county administrators must juggle so many constituents, and try to make the most people happy while looking out for the well being of whatever entity they serve. Sometimes making people happy and doing what's best are impossible to balance. ...more

January 16, 2008

A local political spokesperson said the reason there are so many people listed as independent voters these days is due to motor vehicle registrations, when people don't know what to put down for party affiliation. That's partially true, but there's something much bigger going on that neither major party seems to grasp. People are tired of the candidates they elect being so out of touch with their needs. During campaigns, these politicians seem all ears on the issues of the day. They talk about the problems, offer multiple-point plans on how to address then. Then, once elected, nothing is improved and special interests always hold much more sway than constituents. It's no wonder so many people are dropping party affiliations and becoming independents. ...more

January 10, 2008

A lot of people claim members of Congress get rich while serving their constituents. That's not true at all. ...more

November 28, 2007

A recent letter to the editor made an excellent point about politicians constantly raising money for their next election. The writer stated that if these politicians focused instead on representing their constituents, and being real leaders, they wouldn't need nearly as much money to be re-elected. That's the point that almost no one gets anymore. It's also what's ruining our country. It's a lot easier to win a race by holding fundraisers and kissing the rings of special interests than it is to be a real leader. The money buys smoke and mirrors, sound bites and enough attack ads to win an election. To be a strong leader, well, that requires work, backbone, integrity and brains. It seems like few of our leaders at the state and national levels have enough – or any – of these attributes. Try to name a few leaders over the last 50 years who let their records win the election for them. Come on, be honest. How many members of Congress or presidents can you name who truly were great – or even good – leaders? The list is painfully short. ...more

November 25, 2007

I am writing in response to two letters to the editor in the Highlands Today of Nov. 17. I agreed with both letters wholeheartedly. First, the letter from Don Streeter. Sir, I, too, think it is a good idea to vote all incumbents out of office. When our elected officials refuse to listen or acknowledge what is in the best interest of their constituents, we use our most powerful tool available. We "un-elect" them. Yes, this may be a situation of throwing the baby out with the bath water, in that the very few good elected officials will lose their positions of trust, but we, the voters, desperately need to clean house. ...more

November 21, 2007