Peter Candland got a good ole fashioned verbal a$$ whuppin’ on Tuesday!
I have to admit, I was pleasently surprised by the turn of events during the budget discussion on Tuesday. As we all by now, the “main event” was centered around Peter Candland and his incoherent suggestion that we gut the government spending with absolutely NO vision on how to get it done.
He set himself up as the victim being circled by “sharks”. Really? Who were the sharks? His “in the majority republican” fellow supervisors? He came unprepared with only his silly soundbites. Mike May, in his usual measured way, had tough questions for Candland.
“Forgive me if I sound like a circling shark,” he began. “It sounds like you talk about reasonable proposals but you haven’t come here today with any of your own.”
On one hand Candland says “I support the 3% raise” for county employees but offers no feasible way to follow through if his tax rate is adopted. He looked like a deer caught in head lights when fellow Board members asked him for specifics on how to run government while keeping the tax rate so low.
Staff and Supervisors have been working on a county budget for months and Candland, last minute, has the gall to suggest everyone start from scratch? How RUDE!
As we all know, I am not usually prone to compliments for Corey, but whatever his reasons, whether it be his run for Lt. Govenor or whatever, he was terrific and deserves kudos for squashing the ridiculousness of $1.175 tax rate.
The Gainesville Times reporter, Tara Donaldson, wrote a fabulous article.
Corey gave the final blow to Candland, when, with a raised voice, he said:
“It’s not responsible” and said supervisors need to act responsibly, “not just sit here and make political points.
We are the 9th richest county in the United States, our schools, our roads, our general infrastructure needs to reflect our financial status.
Maureen Caddigan probably made the most sane comment during the entire debate though. She said she use to believe that housing paid for itself, but clearly, only new housing in the 650 grand range actually was net positive. She said that 500 house here, or new housing over there, was putting an incredible burden on the budget, i.e. taxpayers. Supervisor Caddigan then followed up with the common sense statement that we need more commercial and less housing!
I hope that sentiment holds strong during the debate surrounding the Rural Crescent and its fiscal importance to the County
