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YourObserver.com
VOTERGUIDE2012
Observer-PELICAN PRESS VOTER GUIDE THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012
Manatee County Commission, District 5 James Golden, Democrat
vanessa baugh, Republican
Manatee County has committed $5.1 size-fits-all” philosophy. million through 2018 to subsidize ex pected new-job creation among ManaWhat is your philosophy on taxatee businesses. What is your position tion? on spending tax dollars to subsidize Government must only collect private business? enough taxes to meet the collective My position would be dependent needs of the governed as determined upon the proposed size of the subsidy, by listening to all the governed to gain the projected number of new jobs an informed understanding of what expected from investing those collective needs are. the subsidy and the time If the collective needs are required to realize a return more than the collected to the taxpayer from the taxes, then a decision must new tax revenues generbe made by government to ated from the subsidy prioritize those collective investment. needs or alternatively to seek additional revenues to Explain how giving some meet them. businesses tax breaks and money in exchange for job Are you willing to take the creation is morally justipledge of the Americans for fied when many longtime, Tax Reform not to increase taxpaying Manatee County taxes if you are elected? businesses have never No. BIRTHPLACE: received any government Jacksonville funding? What is your view of popuAGE: 64 In these challenging lation growth and its effects FAMILY: Married, times when we are expeon the county’s economy and Mildred; six children, riencing unemployment quality of life? ages 28 to 41; 14 levels never seen before I would use the same grandchildren. locally, statewide and analytical process I described nationally, in my opinion it EDUCATION: above re: improving the ecoBachelor of Business nomic and business climate would be morally unjustiAdministration, fied not to consider any in the county, to develop an reasonable effort to reduce Stetson University; answer to this question. J.D., University of unemployment solely on Florida; Master of the grounds that we have Where do you think county Divinity, Atlanta never tried a particular government could become University. solution before now. more efficient and save tax PROFESSIONAL dollars? CAREER What steps would you An answer to this quesrecommend to improve the HIGHLIGHTS: U.S. tion would require the same economic and business cli- Army veteran. Florida analytical process I described Bar member since mate in Manatee County? above re: improving the eco1975. Ordained Before I would propose nomic and business climate Methodist minister recommendations for imin the county. since 1980. Served provement, I would want to have objective proof that two four-year terms What is your position on on Bradenton City improvement is necessary the Tara Bridge? Council. Former and agreement that imI am opposed to the present Tampa Bay Regional provement is possible plans for construction of the through recommendations Planning Council Tara Bridge. secretary/treasurer. from the county commis Board member of sion. If elected, what do you see Manatee Glens Second, I would want to as your top three priorities? Hospital. Former have a full understanding 1) Promoting economic Board member of what has been done by development; of Just For Girls the county commission so and Meals On 2) improving the quality far to cause improveand quantity of our work force Wheels. First Africanment and what level of suc- American Democratic both public and private; and cess has been achieved. 3) infrastructure revitalizaParty nominee in Third, I would want to tion. 2010 for 13th be aware of what has been Congressional District rejected by the county What is your vision for race. commission as proposed Manatee County? FUN FACT: Entered solutions for improvement 1) To be a strong voice on college at the age of and whether the ratiothe county commission by 14 after completing nale adopted then is still representing the vision for the 10th grade. applicable. Manatee County as expressed and articulated collectively What is your philosoby the constituents of the phy on the role of the Manatee County district; Commission and Manatee County 2) To be a seasoned voice on the government? county commission as we cooperativeAny philosophy on the “role of govly seek to meet our county’s challenges; ernment” must encompass an appreand ciation of the uniqueness of the issue 3) To be a part of civil and collegial under consideration. For example, discussions on the county commission solving a human resources challenge, about how we can continue to improve accepting a capital improvement recthe quality of life for all of our citizens. ommendation, approving an eminent domain taking, adopting a budget, setting the millage rate, approving a plan Watch Mr. Golden’s for growth management, handling an candidate video at yourobserver.com/ unfunded mandate from the state, advoterguide2012 vancing intergovernmental relations all require approaches that defy a “one-
Manatee County has committed $5.1 Raising taxes is not something that you million through 2018 to subsidize exshould ever want to do. I have already pected new-job creation among Manataken the pledge of Americans for Tax tee businesses. What is your position on Reform. I can tell you from my experispending tax dollars to subsidize private ence as a private citizen and business business? owner that I don’t want to see taxes I do not believe in government being increased. It would be wonderful if there involved in business decisions. Governwas another way to pay for services in ment should get out of the way and this county. However, I know the comlet entrepreneurs do their mission is looking at ways to thing. pay for items that we don’t That being said, with so have the money for with the many people out of work, budget we now have. We are and business owners trying going to have to go line by to hold on and keep their line and prioritize items by business open, if we can importance and make those assist business to expand or tough decisions. come to Manatee and create jobs, it is a win-win for What is your view of popueveryone. lation growth and its effects One of the most imporon the county’s economy and tant issues right now is quality of life? getting people back to work, I am in District 5 where but we must get a return on Born: Norfolk, Va. we know we are going to our investment. continue to grow. If we plan Age: 58 growth intelligently, as we Family: Spouse: Don, Explain how giving some have in East Manatee, growth more than 20 years; businesses tax breaks and can be a wonderful thing that four children, ages 38, money in exchange for job will help keep our taxes down, 37, 25 and 23; 10 creation is morally justified and we will have wonderful grandchildren when many longtime, taxamenities for our residents paying Manatee County busi- Education: and enjoy a wonderful quality Attended Tidewater nesses have never received of life. We also need to work Community College any government funding? on the inner core of ManaProfessional This incentive is available tee and make sure that all of career highto qualified applicants in Manatee is all it can be. lights: Opened Manatee that are creating new high-wage jobs ($39,750 Vanessa Fine Jewelry Where do you think county or higher) and capital invest- in 1999 and testigovernment could become fied before Congress ments, either by expandmore efficient and save tax in 2008 on behalf of ing an existing business in dollars? small business. Manatee or by bringing a For the financial times new business to the county. Fun fact: I love to that we are in I believe we Again, this is available to go fishing. need to look at all programs existing companies already and ask ourselves which in Manatee or new business. programs do we have to By increasing jobs in the county you have right now. We need to make sure help all business. These new employees we are financing programs that are will have money to spend. They buy necessary today. We must have long homes, groceries, newspapers, etc., so it term plans however, what can we wait is good for all. We must realize that times another three to five years for. These are different than when many older are very hard decisions because either businesses opened. way, some people are not going to be happy and hence the politics are at What steps would you recommend play. We also need to have every deto improve the economic and business partment in county government make climate in Manatee County? sure there is no duplication. We can improve the economic and business climate in Manatee County What is your position on the Tara by getting people back to work. As the Bridge? unemployment rate decreases, we will I am against the Tara bridge for several start to see people spending money reasons: again. This will help business owners to A. Tara Boulevard was not built has a expand in all areas. collector road. It is too curving and narAlso, we need to make sure that we row to handle the increase of traffic that do not hinder this by having unnecesmight use it. sary regulations and expenses. In other B. The intersection of S.R. 70 and Tara words, let’s have local government help to Boulevard is already one of the most get us back on our feet and then get out dangerous intersections in Manatee. of the way. This country has been built C. The county DOES NOT have the on blood, sweat and tears. Most entremoney. preneurs don’t want a handout. We have experienced the most difficult financial If elected, what do you see as your top times of our lifetime and we should all three priorities? work together to get through this. My top three priorities are: job creation, economic development and fiscal What is your philosophy on the role of responsibility. the Manatee County Commission and Manatee County government? What is your vision for Manatee I believe the Manatee County ComCounty? mission is a very important governing I see Manatee as a beautiful place body. It basically is responsible for any and to live, with many different types of all policies involving the health, welfare, communities, and different types of safety and quality of life for our citizens. amenities. We will have many different It is important to find that medium advanced educational institutions and where you govern but still allow people a flourishing business community that will help to keep young people here to make decisions on their own. when they graduate and ready to start I don’t think that politics should be their adult lives. We will have the best involved in the commission. To me it medical facilities available and will truly should be a non partisan commission be a county that we can be proud of. where politics never play a role. What is your philosophy on taxation? Are you willing to take the pledge of the Americans for Tax Reform not to increase taxes if you are elected? My philosophy on taxes is simple, keep them as low as you possibly can.
Watch Mrs. Baugh’s candidate video at yourobserver.com/ voterguide2012