voteheather2008.com Blog

On Monday, I attended the BOCC’s second budget workshop. During the course of the meeting, nearly every cost-saving measure that was suggested by County Administrator Gastesi was challenged or withdrawn, increasing the likelihood that our taxes will be increased to make up for the $10 million shortfall in the County’s coffers. One particular issue, Trauma Star, highlighted for me the problems with the decision making on the current County Commission.

The first observation about the discussion is that we are having the discussion at all. If the Commission had been frugal and focused on the essential role of government – providing for the safety, health and welfare of its citizens – then the budget would not have been so depleted by expenditures on questionable real estate deals, grandiose edifices and special-interest projects that life-saving services are on the chopping block.

Medical evacuation is a service that is vital to the residents and visitors of the Keys. Boating, diving, a busy single-lane highway and an aging population create the need for fast transport to mainland facilities better suited to meet the needs of cardiac and trauma patients than our local hospitals. Several recent accidents on land and sea and the ensuing dramatic evacuations demonstrated this need.

The second thing that struck me was the inadequacy of information provided to determine whether or not the service provided by Trauma Star could in fact be cost-efficiently and effectively provided by a private vendor, LifeNet. How many trips does each helicopter make in a year? Do they both have the same on-board equipment? Do they have equivalent dedicated and trained staff based in the Keys? How many miles can each fly without re-fueling? What is the cost to the County, and to the patient, for transport on each helicopter? What guarantee would the County have from a private vendor that service would be provided as long as it’s necessary?

Thirdly, Sheriff Roth suggested that there could be additional revenue sources to cover a portion of the cost of Trauma Star. That’s great – but why wasn’t this included in the initial request to the County for funding? Is it guaranteed revenue?

Perhaps the most disturbing thing about the debate was the solution proposed by the Commission: put the issue to a referendum to be decided by voters, and fund Trauma Star for six months until the result of the referendum can be acted upon.

While having the public decide is an admirable, democratic alternative, it begs several questions. Why stop there – shouldn’t the voters decide on other budget line items? Why does the Commission believe that the public does not trust them to make the right decision now? And if the voters decide to keep Trauma Star, where is the County going to get the money to pay for the next six months? The County Administrator recommended the cut because it could save $1.8 million. Now where is the $900,000 for six months (or $1.8 million for twelve months) going to come from?

I believe that providing for the safety of our residents and visitors is the first priority of government. Whether that is best done through Trauma Star – a stellar service, by all accounts – or by a private vendor could not be definitively determined based on the information provided to the Commission thus far. Not requiring this information, and passing the buck to the ballot, seems like an abdication of the responsibility of the Commission. Monday’s debate certainly was not a logical, reasoned, deliberative discussion about this vital charge of government.

Last week, FIRM received a letter out of the blue from former Represenative Ken Sorensen, criticizing FIRM for “taking credit” for work we’ve done on windstorm insurance. As any review of FIRM’s press releases from spring 2006 will confirm, we have acknowledged the contribution former Rep. Sorensen made in this fight in his last months in office. In fact, I referenced him in the caption to a photo on my website’s home page. So it came as a shock to our board members to receive such a negative letter from someone who we thought was working with us.

It’s been surmised that this was all a political ploy because Dr. Sorensen is a very good friend of the incumbent, Commissioner Sonny McCoy. Certainly, the motive is suspicious, and counter-productive for the folks of Monroe County. FIRM’s work is far from over (we’re meeting with the team that developed the Florida Public Hurricane Model this week, for instance), and one would think that anyone who had the best interest of property owners and residents in the Keys long-term would support a group that has worked so hard to address this issue.

We’ll shortly be posting on this website an audio clip from the Morning News program that includes remarks by Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty about the impact FIRM has had in the insurance arena. A review of the press releases on FIRM’s website (www.FIRMkeys.org) will suggest that Dr. Sorensen’s recollection is incomplete. For those interested, the e-mail string between Dr. Sorensen and FIRM regarding this issue (some of which was quoted in The Citizen last week) appears below. Let me know what you think.

______________________________________________
Dear Dr. Sorensen,

Nice to hear from you after so much time.

We must say that we are puzzled by your invective against this grassroots organization of over 5,000 members that worked with your office in addressing the windstorm insurance crisis. I recall the first meeting your office arranged on March 30, 2006 with Consumer Advocate Steve Burgess, Actuary Steve Alexander, members of the insurance industry, representatives from Citizens Property Insurance, Rep. Ross and Keys officials including the late Commissioner Murray Nelson and schools superintendent Randy Acevedo, among others. I recall cooperation in the following months between FIRM and your assistant, Holly Merrill, and the press conference we attended at your invitation to announce the Pilot Project.

The Pilot Project did in fact grant Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty the authority to set actuarially sound rates in Monroe County without the “top 20” restriction, and your sponsorship of that legislation was key. I strongly believe, however, and the Commissioner concurs below, that it was FIRM’s production of data to support a rate reduction that led to the rollback we’re now enjoying. Further, FIRM reached every single member of the House and Senate in Tallahassee, as well as the Florida delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives, to convince legislators that it was time to address the insurance crisis.

Those of us who volunteered countless hours of unpaid time to convince your fellow legislators to support pro-consumer legislation, to gather data, to analyze weather patterns and claims information, and to travel frequently to Tallahassee well after the end of your term have been gratified at a process that brought individuals from varying political perspectives together to address an issue of such importance to people in the Keys. We welcomed your support and that of your successor, Rep. Saunders. We stand by the work of all the members of FIRM, and look forward to continued cooperation with our representatives in Tallahassee.

Best,
Heather

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Heather Carruthers
President
Fair Insurance Rates in Monroe
www.FIRMkeys.org

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From: Kevin McCarty [mailto:Kevin.McCarty@floir.com]
Sent: Monday, July 07, 2008 3:04 PM
To: Heather
Subject: RE: FIRM Member Question

Dear Heather,

I can tell you what I know from personal experience. There is no question that FIRM has played a roll in recent public policy both on a state [level] but more specifically and directly for Monroe County. FIRM was instrumental in establishing the pilot program that lowered Citizens rates in Monroe County. Firm provided the office with the necessary data for the office to differentiate Monroe in certain rate filings. I hope this is helpful.

Kevin

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From: CAPTDRKEN@aol.com [mailto:CAPTDRKEN@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, July 07, 2008 2:10 PM
To: robbiekw@bellsouth.net
Subject: Re: FIRM Member Question

July 14, 2008 [sic]

Mr Hopcraft,

I believe the earlier statement speaks for itself. The functions of splitting windstorm and flood insurance at consumer discretion,the involvement of the state consumer advocate, freezing of rates, the requirement of justifying insurance rates thru an actuary at public meetings in the keys were required” by law” under my watch and sponsored by my office NOT FIRM. In fact , I almost never saw FIRM people in my office except once while serving as our state representative even though they were invited.

The “FIRM” leaders avoided my office and wandered around the capitol with commissioners Neugent and Rice and a county lobbyist who had years before worked for the Ins. commissioner. It seemed as if they thought the lobbyist made laws and not the legislators.

In spite of this attitude of arrogance and without any visits by “firm” I had been working on fixes to our Ins problem for months. Working with chairmen Dennis Ross and Brown ( INS) I wrote into law the relief we so badly needed. These are the same reforms certain leaders of firm take credit for when in fact they had nothing to do with them or the law making that made them a reality! The legislation created then has been kept over the past few years and the reason is not “firm” even though some aspiring politicians claim false credit for it. While your early officers wandered the halls led by Commissioner Nuegent they really had zero impact on any real legislation that brought relief to Monroe county residents. After the efforts of my office became the governing law of the land they rode them claiming political credit for something they were never a part of !

I hope that clears up your concerns. My Tallahassee office will always be available to honest brokers for public good.

sincerely ,
Dr. Ken Sorensen

In a message dated 7/7/2008 11:00:15 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, robbiekw@bellsouth.net writes:

Ken, I have forwarded your email to the other FIRM board members and I’m sure you will be getting comments from several.

we would appreciate it if you could be more specific in your comments to us. you haven’t really told us anything you disagree with.

we could also use your help in guiding us on our trips to Tallahassee to make state our cause for the florida keys

Robbie Hopcraft
FIRM Board Member

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From: CAPTDRKEN@aol.com [mailto:CAPTDRKEN@aol.com]
Sent: Saturday, July 05, 2008 1:09 PM
To: robbiekw@bellsouth.net
Subject: FIRM Member Question

YOUR WEBSITE INFORMATION ON THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS THAT TOOK PLACE IS TERRIBLY SKEWED , INACCURATE AND MISLEADING.

DR. KEN SORENSEN, FORMER LEGISLATOR

DISTRICT #120

7/05/08

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Last week, I attended the BOCC budget workshop in Marathon. I was surprised to see only one other challenging candidate in the audience. The decisions made over the budget in the next few weeks could impact the County well beyond the next budget year.

The projection was that the County’s deficit will be about $11 million. Roman Gastesi, the new County Administrator, with considerable help from Debbie Frederick and Tina Boan, presented a budget that essentially made up half the deficit through cuts in expenses and half through an increase in the millage rate.

Mayor DiGennaro began the meeting by diffusing any tension surrounding potential library closings with the promise, confirmed by Mr. Gastesi, that libraries would not be closed. Was this a red herring, something that was never really intended for the chopping block and could be “saved” by sitting Commissioners? How are we going to “save” our other essential County services, like public safety and health, in light of this deficit?

What is most troubling about the meeting is that we find ourselves in this position at all. The sitting Commission oversaw several years of free-spending, of drawing down our reserves for non-essential expenditures during times of relative prosperity when those reserves should have been expanding. Reserves are for emergencies, for circumstances that cannot be controlled. The overspending of the past few years could have been controlled with just a little discipline and the understanding that the money in the reserves belongs to the taxpayers, not to the Commission.

Construction projects have been mismanaged and costs have escalated tremendously. Not many businesses in the private sector could, for instance, absorb a quadrupling in construction costs for any project, yet the County did. They’ve spent money on sinking ships and buying property that doesn’t serve a real public purpose.

There was actually speculation from the dais that by buying Hickory House and now selling it, the County may realize greater tax revenue. Really? What about the lost tax revenue of the years when the County owned it? Is this how we want to spend taxpayer dollars, taking property off the private market, holding it until its value increases (if it does), and then selling it just to possibly increase tax revenue in some government-sponsored real estate speculation scheme? Does this Commission really believe that the purpose of government is simply to raise taxes?

Apparently so, because one of the only options left is to increase our millage rates to bridge this deficit they’ve created. How does this relate to the state mandated tax reduction? Increased millage forces out the folks who are just hanging on and hurts businesses, cutting social service support hurts the most vulnerable among us, and cutting salaries for essential public safety personnel hurts everybody.

Many private citizens spoke at the meeting, sharing concerns about service cuts, tax increases and the decisions that have brought us here. At the end of the day, after input from two dozen speakers, the direction given to the County Administrator from the Commission didn’t really reflect the concerns about deputy salaries or social services that the taxpayers who spoke had raised.

The folks who attend BOCC meetings are not paid to be there. Their time should be respected by starting meetings promptly, by keeping 10-minute breaks to 10 minutes, and by acknowledging the concerns they raise. If private citizens felt confident that their representatives were representing them, they would not feel the need to attend the meetings. But when they do, their input should be carefully considered, and their time should be respected.

Heather

“As a candidate for public office in Monroe County, I believe political issues can be freely debated without appealing to prejudices. Positive campaigning promotes citizen involvement.”

Thus begins the “Statement of Ethical Campaign Practices” I signed to complete the paperwork for qualification this week. (I had submitted over 600 petitions two weeks after I declared.) I was thoroughly surprised, pleased and honored to read and sign the document. It is a pledge from the candidate to focus on facts and issues, to comply with campaign finance rules, to “tell the truth” and to not condone any unethical activity. I’ve posted a link to the document on the Issues page of my website.

I was surprised by the document simply because we’ve seen some prior campaigns in the Keys that, while perhaps legal, have not always walked the ethical path, and because such a document should not be necessary, that folks should without question seek to do what’s ethical, what’s right. I was pleased because, if candidates and their supporters truly abide by it, the result will be issues- and qualifications-focused discourse that can produce the best for the people of Monroe. I was honored to sign it because I take the responsibility of public service very seriously.

I have a patriotic strain that runs deep in my family. My dad spent 22 years in the Navy, and both of my parents had siblings who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. Though I have not always agreed with decisions made by our leaders, I have always strongly believed in the fundamental principles of democracy on which this nation was founded, in our representative form of government, in the separation of powers, and in the opportunity that democracy provides to give individuals real power and a voice through the elective process.

That’s why I got choked up when I had the privilege of speaking before the Florida Cabinet and then-Governor Bush two years ago. Being able to respectfully and responsibly be part of the political process is at once humbling and invigorating, and a reminder of the greatness on which our government and nation stand.

So I was honored to sign this “Statement of Ethical Campaign Practices.” I am eager to follow its guidelines, and hopeful for a fair, honest and honorable campaign season ahead. I hope you are too.

We were all a little perplexed at Mayor McCoy’s announcement at the last BOCC meeting that he wanted to “step down” from being the County Mayor. There was no real indication of why he’s unable to perform the Mayor’s duties. But on a subsequent interview with Bill Becker on US1 Radio, he stated that he had spoken to then Vice Mayor Di Gennaro about passing the gavel. Di Gennaro has friends in Tallahassee, travels there frequently and holds fundraisers at his home for the Governor, so Mayor McCoy thought Di Gennaro would make a good Mayor (he’s held the position in the past). McCoy asked Vice Mayor Di Gennaro if he would accept the appointment, and he agreed.

Now-Mayor Di Gennaro disputes Commissioner McCoy’s recollection, and insists that the two never discussed the issue. No finding of Sunshine violations has been found.

To me, there are several problems with this incident, and here are three. First, there’s the casual way in which the leadership position was passed off through a proclamation from Mr. McCoy, as though one individual alone has the authority to determine the leadership for the entire County. It was simply presented at the end of the BOCC meeting (when at least one Commissioner was out of the room), without a full vetting or questioning by anyone on the dais, and when most in the audience had gone home after a very long day.

Second, it seems quite clear from a reading of the administrative statute that such a passing of the gavel can only take place for the duration of the meeting in which the request is made. If a Mayor is unable to perform Mayoral duties for longer than the length of that meeting, then a new election for a Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem is required. Mr. McCoy wants to step down until November 4, 2008. The BOCC meeting was adjourned before this could even be addressed. That seems like a violation of the very laws that govern our government.

Third, the possibility that this was discussed out of the Sunshine speaks to the lack of trust citizens have in their Commission. If deals are made — or even if the public perceives that deals are made — outside of the sunshine, behind closed doors, between “friends,” then how can the public ever feel confident that democracy is being practiced, that their views are being represented?

Transparency, to me, is essential to democracy. The government exists to serve the citizens and taxpayers who fund it. They should be aware of the factors that go into decisions that are made in their behalf — whether we’re talking about setting insurance rates in a quasi-governmental agency or determining appropriate land use or selecting our leaders. Improving transparency in our County government is one of the reasons I am running for the Commission.

Heather

The last meeting of the Board of County Commissioners in Key Largo was an interesting one — as they all seem to be. In the midst of a cloudy economic climate, there didn’t seem to be much discipline when it came to spending choices. For instance, County staff suggested postponing some aspects of construction of the Murray Nelson Government and Cultural Center. These elements — primarily to augment the theater space that will double as the new BOCC meeting room — could all be added back at a time in the future when money is not quite so scarce.

When originally proposed, the project was planned to cost around $8 million. After bids were received, it was budgeted at $10.8 million. Change orders approved in May of 2007 actually reduced the projected cost by $451,000 for a new total of about $10.4 million. (The Keynoter has reported that the actual cost may end up at around $12.9 million.) In the construction process, several unanticipated items emerged, resulting in a predicted new change order that will increase the cost by about $358,000, bringing close to the amount budgeted in 2006.

Certainly, anyone who has contracted to renovate or build from scratch expects, unfortunately, the actual cost to come in over the bid. Construction inevitably uncovers unforeseen obstacles or items that must be addressed before a project can reach completion. That’s why, in the business world, you budget internally to account for cost overruns, and/or you negotiate a contract that provides the builder with a financial incentive for coming in under budget and on time. You might even include in your original specs items that you know could be scaled back if necessary. (This project was expected to be substantially completed by May 31, 2008 according to the project status on the County’s website — which has not been updated since July 2007.)

Things are obviously a little different when you’re dealing with public money. Your budget has to be open — you can’t “hide” those extra dollars a business might set aside for overruns. You have to adhere to specific codes and regulations regarding public construction and financing. And you also should ensure that judicious, cost-effective use of public money is your priority.

County staff understood that several other items in the Government & Cultural Center might be able to be postponed in order to keep the ballooning budget under control by saving $262,000 to offset the anticipated $358,000 increase. All the items on that staff list were indeed promised to the community, are very important components of a meeting room and theater, and were part of the original plans. Arguably, if the BOCC had not dedicated capital money to other projects (Hickory House, Vandenberg), there might be additional dollars to cover these overruns now.

Since the initial budget approved in 2006 for this project, we’ve seen new restrictions on our ability to tax imposed by the state, declining tax revenues and a budget deficit. Yes, some of this may have been due to mismanagement in the past. But the job today is to face today’s reality. Isn’t this the time where we start looking at what we absolutely need versus what we really want, where we start considering other options for providing these things? For instance, have we given any thought to offering private donors naming privileges for the theater space in exchange for the $262,000 staff is looking to save? And where did that $451,000 saved a year ago end up — in a contingency fund for this project, or siphoned off to another project or general revenues? The BOCC chose to cut nothing, but never really addressed where additional money to cover the new overruns will come from.

Another example. The new park on Big Pine Key could open this August, and will cost $18,000 per month to operate (plus $22,000 in a one-time expenditure for equipment). Staff presented an option to delay opening for two months until the next budget has been finalized, but the BOCC decided to move ahead. I guess I would have asked for a more detailed accounting of why it will cost so much to run a park each month, and would have suggested waiting those two more months to open it until we had a clearer picture of the financial road ahead.

On wastewater. Former Mayor McCoy “pontificated” [his word] on the bonding efforts initiated under his leadership when he was on the Key West City Commission that led to the city’s completion of advanced wastewater treatment. To me, this begs the question: Where has his leadership on this issue been on the County Commission? Why are we two years from a deadline for completion without a plan to finance the outstanding balance?

Isn’t it time for a change? I think so. Restoring a sense of fiscal responsiblitiy to the BOCC is one of my goals in running for the Commission.

Heather

Last weekend, I drove back from a Friday night wedding in Ft. Myers in time to attend the GLEE Expo at Marathon High School on Saturday afternoon. What a turn-out! I remember the attention paid to the environment during the last energy crisis — let’s hope the attendance at GLEE heralds a real commitment (that won’t fade when gas prices fall) to long-range planning that acknowledges our limited resources and fragile ecosystem.

It has sort of amazed me that, at the County level, we haven’t really done much on this front. We’ve got two new construction projects (the Nelson Government Center and the McCoy Airport) that haven’t been designed for real efficiency or to anything like LEED standards. We don’t seem very interested in developing a reliable and affordable transportation system. I can’t find recycling containers in County buildings. We don’t provide any incentives for folks who might like to pursue green building.

I know a lot of this can be expensive. I run a business, and we’ve been “going green” for the past few years. Those initial investments of compact fluorescent bulbs, of amenity dispensers, of low-flow shower heads, of biodegradable cleaning products, are all pricey. But now, we don’t change lightbulbs nearly so often, we don’t order soap and shampoo so often (and we don’t have so many little plastic bottles to dispose of), our water bills are a little lower, and our new cleansers not only last longer, but they also don’t wreck fabrics and finishes quite so much. So although we had up-front costs to consider, the long-term pay-off is positive. Plus, it’s the right thing to do.

I would like to hear from you about your ideas on the green issue. I would also like to work with County employees to see how we can better control our construction costs and hopefully save some money to finance any greening efforts. I’d like to hear their ideas about improving both energy and cost efficiencies. These are tough economic times, and I’d like to hear new ideas about “going green” without raising taxes — something we can’t afford to do right now.

We live in an environmentally sensitive — and obviously unique — area. I’m guessing that most of us actually like its uniqueness, and that’s at least part of why we’re here. Let’s work on a new commitment to managing change from a long-term perspective, and to “greening” our beautiful green islands.

Heather

Hello Friends!

Well, it’s been just about a month since I filed and announced I was running for the County Commission. Thank you all so much for the support you’ve already given me. I had well over the required 472 petition signatures in the first two weeks, which will help us save about $2,600 in filing fees. Many of you have contributed (personal notes are on their way), asked how you can help (click on “action” and “volunteer” on the website), and given me encouragement as I’ve traveled up and down the Keys. It is humbling and gratifying, and I am thankful to all of you.

This is likely to be a difficult campaign. Things can sometimes get unpleasant and emotional in Keys politics. I can speak for my entire campaign team when I say that we will campaign vigorously, and we will do so in a civil and respectful manner. I hope you share my commitment to keeping our focus on issues of relevance to Monroe residents and responsibilities of elected officials to them.

We all love this place, and so much is at stake in the Keys for each and every one of us. Let’s work together for what’s best for ALL of us here. Please let me know if there are issues of importance to you. (And if you can contribute your time or any of your hard-earned dollars, we’d appreciate that, too!) Thank you.

Heather

P.S. This is my first experience blogging, so don’t hestitate to tell me how I’m doing! Drop a note to heather@VoteHeather2008.com.

Heather Carruthers, a Key West resident, officially announced her candidacy today for Monroe County Commission - District 3.

Heather Carruthers has a history of public service in the Keys. As a member of the Board of Directors of Fair Insurance Rates in Monroe (FIRM) she continues to work with and on behalf of citizens throughout the Florida Keys. This grassroots consumer effort effectively demonstrated that Windstorm rates in Monroe County were excessive and ultimately resulted in a rate reduction benefiting thousands of Florida Keys residents. As a member of the Media and Strategy Committees of FIRM, Heather has had the honor of representing the group before Governor Bush and his Cabinet in April 2006 and she continues to represent FIRM in Tallahassee.

In response to her achievements with FIRM, in 2007 Heather was appointed to the Florida’s Task Force on Citizens Property Insurance Claims Handling and Resolution. State Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty described her as “a forthright citizen and strong advocate for Florida’s insurance policyholders” when he appointed her to this Task Force.

Ms. Carruthers is a leader in many capacities. She is a former Chair of the Lodging Association of the Florida Keys and a former president of the Key West Business Guild. Heather is a graduate of the Key West Ambassador Academy and Leadership Monroe County (Class XI) and was named Leadership Monroe’s 2006 Leader of the Year.

Ms. Carruthers has made many contributions to our community. In 2004 she founded the Southernmost Women’s Invitational Non-Profit Golf (SWING) Tournament, an important annual fundraiser for the health clinic WomanKind, Inc. Heather is a member of the Key West Chamber of Commerce and has served on the boards of Sculpture Key West and the Key West Symphony Orchestra. Additional community involvement includes singing with the FKCC Keys Chorale and the vocal quartet, Swing Low. Heather has been a featured soloist with Island Opera Theater. Prior to her arrival in the Keys, she sang with professional choral ensembles in venues from Milan to Manhattan to Mexico City.

Heather holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wells College, Aurora New York and pursued graduate studies at The Julliard School, New York, NY and at SUNY Purchase, White Plains, NY. Heather’s business background includes direct marketing, publishing and advertising with companies such as Meredith Corporation, Bantam Doubleday Dell and Ogilvy & Mather New York, NY. For nearly a decade, Heather has been the co-owner of Pearl’s Rainbow, a 38-room multiple award-winning guesthouse for women in Key West.

This is not Heather’s first foray into electoral politics. She was a candidate for
the Key West City Commission District V in 2003; she was narrowly defeated in the run-off by eight votes after winning the primary election among a field of five candidates.

Heather Carruthers, a Democrat, is running for the District 3 seat because she believes in improving the way County government responds to citizen input, improving how it manages fiscal responsibility and improving the transparency in County Commission decision-making. Her experience and accomplishments, especially with the grassroots organization FIRM, demonstrate Heather’s ability to work with and be the voice of all citizens and to effectively accomplish real, measurable benefits on behalf of all citizens.