1. County budget and taxes
Question: Gadsden County has faced difficult budget decisions, including proposed spending reductions and rising personnel costs. What specific changes would you make to county spending, and how would you balance maintaining essential services with keeping taxes affordable for residents?
Answer: I believe county government has a responsibility to spend taxpayer dollars wisely. The hardworking people of Gadsden County get up every morning, go to work, raise their families, and pay their taxes. They deserve a government that respects their sacrifices. Before supporting major expenditures, I believe we must ask important questions: Is this necessary? Is the cost reasonable? How will it benefit our citizens? We must learn to distinguish between our needs and our wants. My goal is to support essential services, protect taxpayers, and ensure county spending reflects the priorities of the people we serve.
2. Public safety
Question: Recent disagreements between the County Commission and Sheriff’s Office over funding have raised concerns about public safety and financial oversight. How would you ensure law enforcement and emergency services receive adequate funding while holding those agencies accountable for taxpayer dollars?
Answer: Public safety should always be a priority. Our law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency responders need the proper resources to protect our citizens. However, providing those resources must go hand in hand with accountability and responsible financial management. I am particularly concerned about the safety of our seniors, children, and citizens with disabilities. Safe roads, adequate lighting, and properly maintained infrastructure are also important parts of public safety. I believe every citizen deserves to feel safe, regardless of where they live in Gadsden County.
3. Roads and infrastructure
Question: Road conditions, drainage and infrastructure remain concerns throughout Gadsden County. Which improvements would you prioritize in District 4, and how would you secure funding to complete them?
Answer: For too long, some of our communities have waited for basic infrastructure improvements. We have residents living on unpaved roads, dealing with drainage problems, and walking along streets without adequate lighting or safe sidewalks. These are not luxuries. They are quality-of-life and public safety concerns. As a fifth-generation farmer, I understand the importance of maintaining our roads, protecting our natural resources, and planning for the future. I believe infrastructure funding should be based on need, safety, and fairness. No community should feel forgotten or overlooked. We cannot correct every problem overnight, but we can establish priorities, develop realistic plans, and begin making measurable progress.
4. Jobs and economic development
Question: What specific steps would you take to attract businesses, create higher-paying jobs and support existing small businesses in Gadsden County? How would you ensure economic development efforts benefit local residents?
Answer: District 4 is home to hardworking people who get up every day, go to work, provide for their families, and contribute to their communities. These are people who take pride in where they live. They are not asking for special treatment. They want opportunities, fairness, and a government that recognizes their needs. I believe we must support our existing businesses, strengthen agriculture, encourage responsible development, and work to attract new businesses that provide dependable jobs and competitive wages. We must also create opportunities that encourage our young people to build their futures here instead of feeling they must leave to succeed. Gadsden County has tremendous potential, but economic development must benefit our citizens and strengthen our communities.
5. Government accountability
Question: What changes would you support to improve transparency, accountability and public confidence in county government? What measurable goals would you commit to accomplishing during your first year in office?
Answer: I believe public service is a responsibility, not a privilege. For approximately eight years, I have served the citizens of Gadsden County through the Soil and Water Conservation District without receiving a salary. That experience has strengthened my belief that leadership is about service, commitment, and doing what is right. My first priorities will be listening to our citizens, reviewing county spending, evaluating infrastructure needs, and working with my fellow commissioners to develop practical solutions. I believe taxpayers deserve clear answers about how their money is being spent and what results they can expect. I will not promise to solve every problem overnight, nor will I pretend to have every answer. But I will do my homework, ask difficult questions, listen respectfully, and work toward solutions. I want the people of District 4 to know that I see them, I hear them, and I understand the importance of the work they do every day.
