Why Barbara is Running for Re-Election

AS I STARTED PAYING CLOSER ATTENTION TO HOW OUR CITY IS BEING MANAGED, I BECAME INCREASINGLY CONCERNED THAT WE ARE NOT ON A PATH TO FUTURE PROSPERITY. SO HERE ARE THE THINGS I AM GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON AS YOUR NEXT CITY COMMISSIONER FROM DISTRICT 2:

1. I WILL BE LASER FOCUSED ON ATTRACTING COMPANIES WITH GOOD PAYING JOBS TO LOCATE HERE IN NORTH PORT. NOT ONLY WILL THESE COMPANIES HELP SHARE THE TAX BURDEN, BUT BY KEEPING MORE WORKERS HERE IN NORTH PORT WE ALSO GIVE OUR SMALL BUSINESSES A LIFT. OUR WORKERS WILL BE EATING LUNCH AT NORTH PORT RESTAURANTS AND RUNNING ERRANDS AT LOCAL STORES INSTEAD OF SPENDING THAT MONEY IN SARASOTA OR FORT MYERS WHERE MOST ARE WORKING NOW. A HIGH TIDE LIFTS ALL BOATS!

2. I WILL ALSO WORK HARD FOR OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU CHOSE TO LOCATE YOUR BUSINESSES HERE AND I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO HELP YOU GROW AND CREATE EVEN MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR RESIDENTS. ASK ME ABOUT MY 5-POINT PLAN FOR GROWING LOCAL BUSINESSES.

3. BUT ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESSES AND GROWING LOCAL BUSINESSES WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT IF WE LACK THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THEM. TODAY, MOST OF OUR LIMITED PARCELS ZONED COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL ARE LACKING SEWER AND WATER. AND OUR CITY IS LACKING RELIABLE INTERNET SERVICE…IF WE WANT A WORLD CLASS HOSPITAL HERE IN NORTH PORT WE NEED 5G INTERNET. SO I WILL ALSO BE FOCUSED ON APPROVING THE KINDS OF INVESTMENTS THAT MAKE NORTH PORT AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE FOR CORPORATIONS, HEALTHCARE FACILITIES, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS TO LOCATE.

4. LET'S STOP WASTEFUL SPENDING ON NON-ESSENTIAL AMENITIES. I WILL BE FOCUSED ON CONTROLLING SPENDING, ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESSES AND HELPING LOCAL BUSINESSES TO CREATE JOBS. THIS WILL HELP EASE THE TAX BURDEN ON HOMEOWNERS, SOMETHING MOST FOLKS I’VE TALKED WITH ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT.

5. IN ADDITION, WE NEED TO BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF SARASOTA COUNTY’S PLANS AND I WILL ADVOCATE FOR NORTH PORT’S INVOLVEMENT IN THOSE PLANS. I WILL ACTIVELY COLLABORATE WITH COUNTY OFFICIALS SO THEY ARE A PART OF OUR FUTURE AND WE ARE A PART OF THEIRS.

6. FINALLY, I WILL DO ALL I CAN TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AS WE GROW. LIKE MANY OF YOU, TOM AND I WERE ATTRACTED TO NORTH PORT BECAUSE OF THE WONDERFUL TREES, NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, AND SLOWER PACE THE CITY OFFERS. I WANT TO PROTECT THAT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. HOWEVER, THAT PROTECTION NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN A BALANCED WAY THAT DOESN’T BANKRUPT THE CITY.