To the Editor:
Written: Ray Judah
It’s been said that the times makes the person and 2016 is calling out for Dick Anderson, candidate for Lee County Commission District 3.
Dick is devoted to his loving family and is motivated to work as a public servant to leave a legacy for our children and grandchildren that protects our unique natural environment and provides high quality educational and employment opportunities.
Having worked in the public and private sector, Dick brings a balanced perspective in operating local government as a business but with the vision to ensure responsible stewardship of our land and water resources. Dick worked as a land planner for Lee County Government and WCI Communities, as well as for the Little Pine Island Wetland Restoration and Mitigation Bank. Strongly immersed in our community, Dick has served as an adjunct instructor at Florida Gulf Coast University teaching courses on economics and the environment and has volunteered on numerous organizations including American Red Cross, Lee County Chapter, Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium and Edison Learning Center Board.
Given that his opponent, incumbent Larry Kiker is strongly supported by U.S. Sugar and developers relentlessly pushing to increase the density and intensity in Lee County, Dick offers an exceptional opportunity for voters to challenge the status quo and elect a representative of the people, not special interests.
While Kiker has been noticeably absent and ineffective in the effort to address our dirty water crises, Dick understands that it is the state that has jurisdiction over water quality and the overriding need to hold the state legislature and South Florida Water Management District accountable by buying land south of Lake Okeechobee to store, treat and convey water to the Everglades to alleviate the excessive release of polluted water that continues to destroy the Caloosahachee and our coastal estuaries.
Kiker and the majority of the Lee County Commission supported an 85 percent reduction in impact fees costing the county and school board approximately $50 million over three years for necessary infrastructure. Dick well understands the need to balance the budget with equitable revenues that reduce the reliance on property taxes. Impact fees are an important source of revenue to ensure that new development, not the existing taxpayers, pay for the infrastructure to accommodate growth. Furthermore impact fees equals’ jobs as the funds are used to pay the labor workforce to build roads, parks and schools.
Kiker’s recent support of the Grand Resorts on Fort Myers Beach not only led to an state ethics investigation but would have given away Crescent Beach Park and jeopardized beach front homeowners with a half-mile sea wall that would have exacerbated coastal beach erosion. Dick’s primary reason for running for the Lee County Commission seat is to restore integrity and honesty to local government and serve as a commissioner that is accountable to everyone and beholden to no one.
In his campaign literature, Kiker states that preserving our pristine environment is a top goal yet, his actions are contrary to what he says. In violation of the public trust, Kiker and the majority of the Board of County Commissioners voted to raid the Conservation 20/20 Trust Fund in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 fiscal years, in excess of $40 million dollars, to balance the budget. In the 2015-16 fiscal year, the BOCC shifted the 0.50 mils, designated for Conservation 20/20, to the General Fund, effectively undermining a uniquely successful program.
Dick Anderson was on the original grass roots organization that worked with our community to support Conservation 20/20 and he well understands the importance of revitalizing the program to conserve our precious land and water resources, enhance property values, and provide open space for public enjoyment and quality of life.
Shame on Kiker in receiving significant financial support from Big Sugar when he was elected in 2012 but, shame on us if he is re-elected.
Make the right choice. Vote for Dick Anderson.