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Rancorous Past In Dade City Tints Campaign

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By JEFF SCULLIN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 26, 2008

DADE CITY - For a city facing serious issues - shrinking property tax revenue, aging infrastructure, increased vacancies downtown and key turnovers in city government - the lead-up to April's municipal election has done little to help voters figure out who's best suited to lead Dade City in the coming years.

The same political rancor ushered in with Commissioner Camille Hernandez's election in 2006 has flavored this campaign, which pits newcomer Robert Avila against incumbent Steve Van Gorden; bar owner Mike Agnello against longtime Commissioner Eunice Penix; and Jimmy Shive, Hernandez's campaign manager, against Curtis Beebe, who led the effort to recall Hernandez last year.

Campaign signs have disappeared. Anonymous fliers smearing the candidates have been passed around town, and the chatter among political wags has been less about the candidates' ideas and experience than what could happen if a majority more in line with Hernandez's views comes to power.

"It has divided our city," Van Gorden said at Monday night's candidate forum, referring to a letter Hernandez sent last year to Gov. Charlie Crist. The letter alleged that Mayor Hutch Brock, who is not seeking re-election, and former City Manager Harold Sample were corrupt and needed to be investigated.

The commission later voted to disavow itself of the letter.

"I'm glad we're through that, and we're moving forward to heal this city," Van Gorden said.

Maybe not. Although Hernandez wasn't among those fielding questions on the Pasco Middle School stage Monday, she loomed over much of the conversation.

Candidates were asked about how the commission could work together harmoniously, and Penix, who is the closest to Hernandez on the commission, was asked if she was prepared to be "part of the solution" in resolving the clash of personalities that has pitted her colleagues against one another.

"I vote the way I think I should vote," replied Penix, the former teacher who is facing first-time opposition after 14 years on the commission.

With an expected loss of at least $300,000 in property taxes - thanks, in part, to the tax relief measure voters approved in January - candidates had little trouble agreeing that managing the city's money will be the commission's top priority.

"We need to rethink what government does," said Beebe, who touts his 25 years in the business world, starting and leading technology companies, among his credentials for office. "We can't do it all. Change is going to be difficult."

The two incumbents agreed with Beebe in saying the commission needs to gauge residents' opinions to help set spending priorities.

"Everything is on the table," Van Gorden, a middle school principal, said. "I think it's important that there are no sacred cows."

But asking residents to wade through a thick, complicated budget may be unrealistic, Agnello said. It would be better to elect people capable of managing money.

"We need people who can look at the core priorities," the Osceola Tavern owner said.

"The more money you throw at something, the more money we'll spend," Agnello said, explaining his support of Amendment 1. "Make us work within our budget."

That answer came back to haunt Agnello somewhat. He was arrested in August for not paying thousands of dollars in state sales tax and also fell behind on his property taxes. He was asked: Why should voters expect him to do better as a commissioner?

"You have a lot of help," he said. "You don't have your hand in the cookie jar as a commissioner.

"I know how to survive a tough budget."

Candidates also outlined their positions on the following issues:

•Paving Dade City's dirt roads: Penix said not everyone wants to pay for paving assessments. Sidewalks are an even bigger priority, especially near schools, she said. Agnello suggested pursuing grants that might help pay for sidewalks and said the city should consider using a composite gravel to improve dirt roads. And Beebe, while jokingly saying he would not oppose paved roads, noted the disconnect between available money and paying for everything on the city's wish list.

•Youth programs: Agnello said the city has good sports leagues but needs offerings for children who don't play sports. A Boys and Girls Club, such as Lacoochee has, might be able to provide programs, he said. Beebe said providing additional youth programs should not be a priority in light of the city's funding problems, while Penix hoped that wealthy residents might donate the land for and build a youth center. Van Gorden said the city's Recreational Advisory Board was drafting a plan for an outdoor theater, tennis courts and other options for youth but that building all that would take time.

•Helping local businesses: The city ought to work with the chamber of commerce to recruit "clean businesses" and provide tax incentives for certain merchants, as the city did for the Hampton Inn that recently opened on U.S. 301, Van Gorden said. Beebe said the city needs to make it easy for businesses to open here with a professional city hall staff. Spend the city's redevelopment money wisely, and be a good booster for Dade City, he said. Agnello said the commission should serve as a bully pulpit in arguing for more county tourist tax dollars.

•Keeping the city police department: Despite the city's fiscal woes, none of the candidates said they supported closing the police department, as Dade City did with its fire department several years ago amid financial difficulties.

Shive and Avila were no-shows at Monday's forum. In a letter to the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, which organized the forum, Avila said he had a prior commitment but also complained about the forum's scheduling and format. Shive had to attend services for his mother, who died this month, but also expressed similar complaints about the forum.

Their opponents, not surprisingly, said Shive and Avila ought to have been there.

"If you're going to be a public servant, you've got to be in public," Van Gorden said. "There's no excuse for my opponent not being here."

Editor Jeff Scullin can be reached at jscullin@tampatrib.com or (813) 779-4614.

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