Brad Arnold, Joe Elliot, Al Butler, Randy Mask, Don Hahnfeldt, from left.
Presentations Thursday evening by four outstanding Sumter County officials, about the efforts and efficiencies each has achieved. made the capacity crowd at the Repubican Club of Sumter Landing meeting feel very proud of their government. Al Butler and Don Hahnfeldt, Chairman and Vice Chairman, respectively, of the Sumter County Board of Commissioners; plus County Administrator Bradley Arnold and Tax Collector Randy Mask, spoke of streamlined policies and procedures, resource sharing, plus privatizing and outsourcing techniques they have used to collectively save millions of dollars for Sumter County.
Joe Elliott, president of the Sumter Landing Republican Club was moved to say: “We all know the old cliche ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help you.’ Well, these gentlemen don’t just promise. They have all done their jobs so well, and have done so much to improve Sumter County government, we owe them our congratulations — they truly HAVE been here to help us.” The group of speakers represent years of military and government service and private business enterprise — a good combination for well run government.
Don Hahnfeldt speaks to the GOP Thursday evening.
Don Hahnfeldt’s presentation briefly ran through historical highlights — starting with Ronald Reagan’s presidency through the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union. He emphasized American power and pride in those years of peace and prosperity, when debt and unemployment were low — when America experienced economic growth and was the world’s only super power.”Back then,” Commissioner Hahnfeldt remarked, “over ninety percent of Americans said they were either proud or very proud to be Americans.”
“Then came ‘Hope and Change,’ representing socialization of medicine, expanded entitlement programs, open borders, the greening and secularizaton of America, wealth re-distribuion and selective enforcement of our U.S. Constitution and laws. We used to be a nation of laws,” Hahnfeldt continued, “and now only seventy percent of conservatives are proud to be Americans, and sixty-percent of those who supported the ‘Hope and Change’ said in polls they are NOT proud to be Americans. Go figure,” he said with a puzzled shrug.
In a segue to our gubernatorial race, Hahnfeldt said “Rick Scott has set a high standard — of running our state like a government should be run. He has created over 600,000 new private sector jobs and repealed Florida’s tuition hikes. Unemployment decreased, and there has been a record increase in the average wage level. He has lowered taxes while providing improved quality of services.” Hahnfeldt is proud of Sumter County’s record property value appreciation. “Sumter County has been doing what’s right for its residents, and Governor Scott has been doing what’s right for Florida.” He is proud The Central Florida Hospital Alliance hospitals and healthcare providers are doing well despite the siege by the ‘Affordable Care Act.’ He cited strong hospital leadership, and drew a parallel with Rick Scott’s style of governing.
Tax Collector Randy Mask, who formerly served on the Sumter County Board of Commissioners, outlined the step-by-step analysis of his public sector areas which has resulted in manpower and cost savings through streamlining of operations. Motor vehicle, elections and tax collection service locations are more convenient, with shorter waiting times and better cross-trained staff than before. He lauded Governor Scott for cutting taxes forty times; and for setting aside three tax-free holidays in 2014 to save residents millions of dollars — on hurricane and school supplies, and next month, on purchasing energy-efficient appliances.
Sumter County Administrator Bradley Arnold spoke to Republicans Thursday.
County Administrator Bradley Arnold praised the five Sumter County Commissioners he works for as being supportive; open to advice and constructive criticism, and responsive to residents’ needs. Arnold is proud of the guidance they have been able to offer to small towns in the county to keep them financially afloat in difficult times; and of the rollback rates they are able to provide — to keep county taxes either unchanged or even slightly lower than in the past.
Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, Al Butler, outlined how Rick Scott has eliminated and refocused government departments to better utilize workers’ contributions; cut bureaucracy in the Southwest Florida Water Management District and increased the funding and speed of road projects. “These changes were not welcomed by all involved — it sometimes was a slug fest, but he got it done,” Butler declared. “We owe it to people like those in this room who elected government officials who look after our safety and security, keep government small and improve our services.”
“I am very concerned about having a low election turnout,” Butler added. “Many people don’t think this election is important. It is up to us to convince our neighbors to vote — because, although Governor Scott is bound to win our party’s nomination, he will need the strong mandate from a large voter turnout as a sign his programs have the support of the people. Your efforts, however small, have tremendous power to help get this done.”
Club president, Joe Elliott, closed the meeting by lauding the speakers’ sensible, aggressive leadership in Sumter County and club members’ strong support for the re-election of Governor Rick Scott.
