The election season for local politicos is heating up, but many candidates are spouting platitudes & vague generalities as their campaign points, rather than specifics.
Here is a collection of the campaign promises and platitudes I collected about a month ago from the websites of just those candidates running for County Commissioner (District 4 and District 2). They are all running (including myself) to replace incumbents Linda Stewart & Elaine Renick.
When you hear these in speeches or read them on flyers, look for the LACK of specific local examples (like you see on this blog every week) or LACK of specific suggestions to FIX a specific problem defined by the platitude.
For instance, if a candidate says they will cut "waste, fraud & abuse", then ask what specific examples led them to think there is "waste, fraud & abuse" in the local government agency. There have been not reported instances of fraud in recent history within either the County government or School District that I am aware of (although there has been a lot of mismanagement in the County causing "waste"). Most could not even define "abuse" (which is to abuse the use of public resources, like using the Road department to pave your own driveway).
So, here are many of the current promises by local candidates on their websites:
Reduce wasteful Government spending (describe examples, how?)
Cut waste, fraud & abuse (without specifics)
Create jobs (How, what stats?)
Reduce regulations (Which ones, what would be new?)
Ease tax burdens (Which taxes, how, do you have
authority?)
Keep property taxes in check (How? Which ones?)
Bring new business to Lake County (How, what method?)
Economic incentives to relocate here
Increase resources through industry to spread tax burden
Assist small business to thrive
Controlled growth
Environmental preservation
Protect quality of life – schools?
Land planning
Governmental cooperation
Public Private partnerships
Comprehensive infrastructure planning
New business recruiting strategies
We must protect…
Tax base expansion
Mitigate against incompatibility (legal speak...)
Elimination of Waste, Duplication & Overspending
Promote small
business ownership (HOW?)
Attract Clean Industry (HOW)
Small town atmosphere (HOW?)
Recreational atmosphere (HOW?)
Use more coordinated approach (WHAT & HOW?)
Protect natural resources (HOW?)
Know Florida’s Growth Mgt laws
