Posted By waterboardseat3 on 07/30/2008 4:19 PM
Thank you for the question. For a year and half before I ran I attended ECWCD Meetings to learn about the board. I spent time talking to staff and asking questions at the board meetings. Once I got on I was able to hit the ground running and challenge some of the ways things were done. It was through those efforts that ECWCD formed the budget and audit committees. Thus , allowing members of the public in on the process.

My opponent seems to be a nice guy. (I say seems because I really don't know him and vice versa) but he lacks even the basics of understanding the board. It was comments like he has posted on this website that I reconsidered and reentered the race. From what I have read from him the direction he wants to take the board is back to the days of the late nineties were there were resignations, false accusations, attacks, and negative headlines week after week in the papers. For the past eight years all of that has changed. The board has established long range plans, and goals and works each day to make sure that staff is following through.

I say it's "Leadership that working!" for the tax payers of Lehigh Acres. Since being elected I have voted to cut taxes in half, reduced debt by over 4,000,000, demanded accountability during budget reviews, and that’s just on the tax issue.
That’s why I am running for another four year term. Now is not the time for new leadership that will take us back to personality driven politics. We need the “Barrett Leadership” which questions issues that could raise assessments, cost district taxpayers money, and keep all land owners safe during major storm events. I say again I will put my eight year public record up against my opponents five meeting attendance any day.