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Activist Seeks Accountable Government

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By JULIA FERRANTE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 16, 2008

Homeowners insurance activist Wil Nickerson faces incumbent Ann Hildebrand and Matt Matey in the Aug. 26 primary for the Republican nomination.

The winner faces the prevailing Democrat in November's election.

The Tampa Tribune asked Nickerson why he thinks he is the best candidate and how he would handle major issues facing Pasco County.

Why Are You The Best Candidate?

Nickerson, who has been active in his community and in trying to reform homeowners insurance coverage, advocates government "for the people and by the people."

"Government has gotten away from that," he said.

Nickerson would be a watchdog for "frivolous and wasteful spending" and would work to educate the taxpayers about how their money is being spent.

"Part of it is education of the public, then perception of what we spend and who spends it," he said. "We need to make our government more accountable to itself."

The current commission is not responding well enough to issues such as drainage and flooding problems in Holiday, Nickerson said.

County officials have allowed uncontrolled growth and need to work to catch up with new roads, fire stations, water and sewer services and other infrastructure, Nickerson said.

"There's no reason we can't look to the future," Nickerson said. "The economy will turn around. We need to be prepared for it when it does. This gives us a good amount of time to look at things that will come up in the future."

Economic Development

The county commission needs more than residential growth to sustain it and stabilize the tax base, Nickerson said.

"We need to do it in a manner that we don't give away the county but that we entice businesses and have them stay here for a long time," Nickerson said. "In Massachusetts, former Gov. Michael Dukakis brought in industry around Route 128 but gave them all five-year tax breaks. And at the end of five years, they all left.

"We have land available around Interstate 75 and the Suncoast Parkway for industrial land, again if we stick to it," he said.

Nickerson suggested offering incentives after a company is in Pasco for five years, then another boost after a decade as a way of keeping business in the county.

"It's not a total giveaway but something they can book on down the road," he said. "We could give them incentives for water and sewer service as opposed to dollars off their taxes."

Construction Impact Fees

Nickerson does not support lowering construction impact fees as a way of stimulating the local economy.

"Impact fees have been very closely looked at," he said. "It would be a minimal drop in costs for builders, but it wouldn't be enough, and it would hurt us in these hard times with the budget."

The county has permitted too much development, Nickerson said, and allowed too many exceptions through rule variances.

Cost-Cutting

County officials need to concentrate on essential services, Nickerson said in trimming the budget.

"You're not going to cut off your electric so you can go to the movies," he said. "Let's not go to throwing out scare tactics. Nothing against parks, but we have to sacrifice some things. We may have to put parks on the back burner until we can turn around hard times."

Environmental Protection

Nickerson does not support efforts by Angelo's Aggregate Materials to build a landfill in east Pasco.

"A landfill to me is not the answer," he said. "It's a danger zone no matter how it was constructed. You have to check for leachate, and once it's determined there's a leak, it's too late."

A waste-to-energy incinerator in central Pasco is handling the county's trash, and it has the space for expansion, Nickerson noted. Excess solid waste is being shipped to Osceola County. He said ash byproduct from the incinerator could be used as road base rather than kept in a landfill.

"There are ways of utilizing that waste instead of landfilling it," Nickerson said.

Nickerson supports expansion of recycling and said county officials should consider scrapping the blue bag program in favor of hard-sided recycling bins and also expanding what haulers collect.

"Blue bags are out," he said. "They are passe. You can't make it difficult for people."

Nickerson said he would support mandatory recycling "depending on how it is instituted."

"I'd have to see all the facts and figures on the program," he said. "Recycling does work. Bins make it a little easier."

AT A GLANCE

NAME: Wil Nickerson

AGE: 62

FAMILY: Married, one grown child

EDUCATION: Graduated from high school in Kingston, Mass. Attended the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Has worked as a volunteer firefighter and canine-unit officer; in the service station business, construction and real estate.

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

WEB SITE: www.votewil

nickerson.com

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