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Commission Seats Challenged

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By KEVIN WIATROWSKI

kwiatrowski@tampatrib.com

Published: October 19, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - The race for the Pasco County Commission's third district pits veteran incumbent Ann Hildebrand against newcomer Teresa Conroy.

Hildebrand, 70, is a Republican. A retired social worker, she is running for her seventh and final term on the commission.

Conroy, 49, is a Democrat. She is vice president of Bay Area Tradewinds, an online publication. She formerly worked as a plan reviewer with Lexington Homes.

District 3 covers southwest Pasco as far east as Trinity. While the commissioner elected will represent that area, voters countywide will choose between the two candidates.

Hildebrand defeated two challengers in August's Republican primary to secure another run for her seat.

During her time on the commission, Hildebrand has served several times as chairwoman. She also represents the county on the board of Tampa Bay Water, the regional utility that serves Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

She also was appointed recently to the board of the Tampa Bay Regional Transportation Authority, which is tasked with resolving some of the region's most vexing transportation problems.

In recent years, Hildebrand supported the Penny for Pasco local sales-tax increase and the preservation of 600 acres of coastal land in her district. She also supports the county's purchase of the Cross Bar Ranch wellfield property in north-central Pasco.
Conroy defeated Nicholas Plank in the Aug. 26 Democratic primary to win the chance to oppose Hildebrand.
Conroy says her experience in the building industry gives her a good perspective on ways to improve county government. One way to do that would be to improve the efficiency by which the county approves permits for development, she says.
Conroy supports providing more mass transit options in Pasco, by improving the county's existing bus system and by building light-rail connections within Pasco and between Pasco and neighboring counties.

She says the county has too many public parks and wants to see more activities for young people, possibly in the form of community centers.
Conroy and Hildebrand both support the pending sale of problem-plagued Aloha Utilities Inc. to the Florida Governmental Utility Authority. The state-chartered authority has struck a deal to buy Aloha for $90.5 million.

Authority officials say they plan to shut down two problematic wells and eventually link Aloha to the county's public water supply, provided by Tampa Bay Water.

"There's no question these people who have Aloha Utilities need help," Conroy said. "If it's going to help them, I support it. But it's a lot of money."
Conroy is less certain about the potential for Pasco County to take over Aloha's system - and the debt for its purchase - at some point in the future. Hildebrand has described the pending purchase as "an interim step" that could result in the county taking over Aloha.

"There are a lot of questions we have not answered," she said recently.

TERESA " TERRI" CONROY

AGE: 49

EDUCATION: High school graduate

FAMILY: Divorced, two children

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Vice president, Bay Area Tradewinds. Worked as a permit reviewer for six years for Lexington Homes before being laid off in December.

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

WEB SITE: www.terriconroy .com

ANN HILDEBRAND

AGE: 70

EDUCATION: Bachelor of arts from Michigan State University

FAMILY: Married to Charles Jack; two grown children

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Retired social worker

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Seeking a seventh term as county commissioner; first elected in 1984

WEB SITE: None

Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski can be reached at (813) 948-4201.

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