Tavares, FL - Sun. Jan 13, 2013
by Vance Jochim - FiscalRangers.com
About two weeks ago, Orlando Sentinel columnist Lauren Ritchie (see picture, left - hard to find) published a two part Ritchie Rant attacking the motives of the Chair of the Lake County Commission, Leslie Campione.
(Note: Send this to all your friends who care about Lake County's economic progress and want to understand the improvements being made by the current County Board vs Rants by Ritchie)
So, now is the time to discuss it, since the Sentinel published Campione's short response today in the Sunday Lake Sentinel (link is further below). Leslie took the high road and didn't use personal attacks.
Here are the links to two parts of Ritchie's Rant. Each of them has
And, here is today's response opinion piece by Campione (her picture is at left - easy to find):
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/os-lk-my-word-leslie-campione-20130111,0,342709.story
And, here is Campione's full length list of goals that Campione gave Ritchie. It IS kinda long and some goals lack clear metrics, but you never saw this from prior chairs Hill or Cadwell.
Download Campione-2013-goals-5
AND, just to show how long Campione has been working on IMPROVING Lake County Economic Development, here are the notes from a Feb., 2011 PUBLIC Visioning meeting she organized just after her election to the Commission to develop ideas for improving the Lake County Economy. A number of them have been implemented.
Download 2011-02-01 BCC Visioning Notes -draft2.docx
And, here is the Board's recemnt annual 2012 "State of the County" video narrated by Campione that was one of the best I have seen in my 6 years watching them - it actually had facts and details vs vague generalities about "green programs".
http://www.lakecountyfl.gov/government/sotc_2012/
AND, here is a 2010 campaign talk by Campione in 2010 about her vision to develop the economy in Lake County - the Board has moved ahead on each area she discusses since she was elected.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPltbBtFh28
AND, here is the Lake County page on Campione, just so you know:
http://www.lakecountyfl.gov/departments/commissioners/district_4.aspx
Our Comments:
Basically, Ritchie had a bee in her bonnet (or dalmations or bats?) in what seemed to be a personal attack on Campione. I have attended almost every Board meeting and saw the actual discussions. Ritchie Rongly ranted and argued that:
- Campione was NOT a successful Chair during the past year before being elected by the other Commissioners for a second year as Chair. I disagree - we previously recommended that Campione be re-elected to continue many projects.
- Campione had caused problems with EMS. However, you have to realize that Ritchie is friends with some of them, and there apparently was a court case filed that clearly indicated a need for changes. None of the press has written about that yet (that I have seen).
- Campione was cutting the budget of Ritchie favored groups (like parks, EMS, etc). In actuality, my observation is that rather than doing cuts behind "green doors", the Board agreed to have public hearings, which include the current series of budget workshops for the NEXT fiscal year starting Oct. 1.
- Ritchie earlier published columns that appeared to say different programs would be cut this quarter, but in my opinion, that wasn't true, and is not true. The Board used reserves to cover shortfalls, but the next fiscal year WILL be short of funds, and cuts might be needed. Just by the Board bringing up budget discussions, Ritchie fires off volleys to get all the liberal groups to show up to prevent programs from being cut. By initiating detailed budget workshops for the public, Campione and the Board are actually allowing more public discourse than in the past. In the prior budget year, staff prepared budget recommendations but did not have budget workshops anywhere at the detail level being held this year.
- Ritchie said "Her (Campione's) lack of understanding of government and the culture of people who work in it burst forth twice in a single meeting in September when she said the county "had to" consider privatization of EMS and wondered aloud whether Lake could save money by taking over the jail, setting in motion unionization efforts." My response is, again, that Campione was right to ask the question, especially when they had a proposal from an outsourcer who promised savings of $4-million. Campione was just asking how that firm could save so much, and asking EMS to explain. That is proper stewardship of taxpayer funds. Due to Florida Sunshine laws, County Commissioners cannot discuss issues like these in non-public hearings, so we always encourage any Commissioner to start asking tough questions about spending and programs to create a dialog to solve or act on issues.
I am running out of steam. There are so many things rong with Ritchie's Rants. Read the articles and our links on Campione and you decide. Is Campione an asset, or are Ritchie's Rants on target.
I think you know which way we vote.
Final tidbit: Do you know if you search in "Google Images" for Leslie Campione, you will find several pictures her, and also pictures of Sean Parks and other Lake County leaders. If you search for images of Lauren Ritchie, you will find only two of her (not the one we posted), but two pictures of Leslie Campione AND many pictures of hot women named Lauren Ritchie?
Vance Jochim
FiscalRangers AT comcast DOT net
Post comments here in the blog, please. If you have friends concerned about the direction of the Lake County economy, send this to them so they get another perspective.
