2008-10-19T22:36:00.003-07:00

There are dozens, if not hundreds of issues affecting Sarasota County. I have opinions or positions about many, some of which have appeared in local newspapers over the years. As this campaign progresses I’ll be presenting my position on more and more issues usually on my blog, which now has more than 70 entries, many on issues. For even more information about my stance on issues, please link to the Sarasota Herald Tribune's Ballot Guide.

And, to here candidates respond to questions in their own words, take the link to WUSF radio.

But I’m not coming into this campaign with my mind made up on every issue – I’m in it to learn as well as win. Consequently, I’m meeting with citizens every week and their views do affect my thinking. So don’t be surprised if you see some changes in my thoughts over the course of the campaign.

Top three priorities
Quick Take: As Commissioner, I believe there is a tie for the top two priorities: 1) supporting the recovery of the tax base/economy and 2) supporting the recovery of our neighborhoods, while 3) charting a course that does not drop us back into overdependence on any brittle, narrow economic sectors. Filling homes and the tax base will involve creating new (and re-creating lost) jobs, a challenging task that will require a mix of proven job generators and new initiatives. For more on my support of business, click on the highlighted text. For more on my top three priorities, do the same.

South County
Quick Take: I have more experience in South County and more answers for questions about South County. Click on highlighted text to read blog entries on this subject.

Economy and Jobs
Quick Take: We need to create a business friendly environment and support businesses that are environment-friendly. We can reenergize our economy by strengthening and reinvesting in existing neighborhoods. To attract and grow businesses, we should build on the foundation of our existing community assets in education, arts, public health, sustainability, and a quality environment. We need to support local stores, restaurants and businesses, which will in turn strengthen the local community and local families.

For thirty years I’ve been listening to the concerns of our county and I’ve seen the wake left by our recent economic downturn. There’s a lot to be done, but I have a plan to help the whole county recover by supporting our established businesses and creating new, good paying jobs.

Creating a business friendly environment
We need to create a business friendly environment. I’ve heard too many reports of endless permitting cyles and micromanagement. Sarasota County needs a business-friendly reputation and I’m committed to helping us get there. Sarasota County should be a place that has a good environment for business and business that is good for the environment.

Strengthening our neighborhoods
We need to strengthen existing neighborhoods, and use redevelopment combat sprawl, taking advantage of utilities and services that are already in place. We can put our trades people to work remodeling existing homes to be more energy efficient and hurricane resistant.

Building on our assets
We’re state leaders in the quality of our education, environment, sustainability, public health and support for the arts. We need to build on this solid base to attract businesses to the area that will draw on these strengths.

Support for local businesses
Shopping a local stores, eating in local restaurants, engaging services of local companies builds community and economy at the same time. When local business prospers, local families prosper.

Population Growth/New Development
Quick take: Forces outside of County control have brought growth nearly to a standstill. Now is the time to take advantage of Sarasota’s growing reputation for sustainability to broaden our economic base, reducing our prior dependence on new residences and sprawl to make sure new population growth is smart growth that improves our county.

On recent survey showed 20% of Floridians have been thinking about leaving the state, and locally we’ve experienced a drop from 14,000 residential units starts per year in Sarasota-Manatee at the peak to about 3,000 now.

As a result we've moved a long way in the slow growth direction. Slow growth advocates may be toasting their good fortune, but the county has come pretty close to going cold turkey and the withdrawal is leaving us with the economic equivalent of craving, D.Ts, anxiety, and depression. The fact is this relatively rapid turnabout has a distinct, debilitating negative side that affects us all.

Those unsold and vacant homes in your neighborhood are not signs of health. Some neighborhoods have abandoned and half-finished homes. The county is cutting services. You probably know people who have taken a big cut in income or experienced layoffs. Unemployment jumped 58% in the first ten months of last year. Demands on social service are rising just as revenue to address such needs declines. Divorces and domestic violence are increasing. Local social service agencies estimate they will need over $800,000 a month more to meet the demand.

Sarasota needs a vibrant economy in order to support our quality of life. Overdependence on homebuilding and new home sales resulted in significant economic contraction.

Now that we have added Supermajority provisions for comprehensive plan changes I would argue that instead spending time and energy in an effort to further hammer new residential homebuilding (already on the ropes), we should take a positive approach and focus on strengthening our local economy, which is also on the ropes. Let’s take this opportunity to explore more diversified and sustainable forms of growth (arts, education, small business entrepreneurs, etc.) that will leave us with a vibrant and more diversified economy.

Clean Energy
Quick Take: Oil drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico will not ease gas prices. Now is a critical moment to invest in and encourage solar and alternative energy technologies. For more on offshore oil and clean energy, click on the highlighted text.

County Budget
Quick Take:

The 2008-09 adopted net total budget per capita is lower than FY 2005, 2006 and 2007. In addition, the number of employees per citizen continues to drop.
The County budget for 2008-09 includes $500,000 for grants-in-aid to be distributed the various Human Services agencies in the county. There is a demonstrated increased need for these services due to the economic downturn, even though most of these agencies submitted flat (no increase) budget requests.
The county added $1.6 million to cover anticipated increases in the cost of energy next year. For more on the county budget, click on the highlighted text.

Jono Miller