Sure, the following local elections don’t see the same coverage as the presidential election, but they still represent significant choices. The names on your ballot will have an effect on your daily life: they allocate the local budget, provide utilities and emergency services, maintain our roads, and make decisions about taxes, zoning, and development.

Another thing to consider when you’re weighing the importance of being informed about these local races is that you have more voice in the following local elections than those at the state or federal level. As of this publication, there are 290,491 registered voters in the county—compared to 135 million registered voters nationally in 2006. Since, in this way, your vote carries greater weight, there’s a greater need for voters to pay attention to these races.

A description of the local positions follows, including the names of the candidates and links to their web sites. When candidate web sites are not available, we have linked to their information as listed on VoterFocus.com. Please note we chose to list the positions alphabetically and the candidates by party, in the order of Democrat, Republican, and unaffiliated, have not included unopposed races.

To learn more about these races and candidates, you can also check our calendar for information about upcoming local candidate forums. At the time of publication, there were three such forums scheduled, and we will update our calendar with any additional opportunities.

County Commissioners

What they do: Five-member board makes our county’s laws and policies, establishes the county budget, appoints the county administrator and county attorney, and confirms department heads.
Why you should care: That’s five people making decisions for the whole county. Outside of the election, you can get involved with by attending their meetings (every other Tuesday either in New Port Richey or Dade City; see their calendar for more info) or serving on a Citizens Advisory Board on an issue in which you are particularly invested.

Candidates
• District 3
  • Terri Conroy, Democrat
  • Ann Hildebrand, Republican
• District 5
  • Ginny Miller, Democrat
  • Jack Mariano, Republican

Clerk of Circuit Court

What they do: Keep records of the court (eg, paperwork and evidence), oversee jury management, process marriage licenses and passport applications.

Why you should care: In Florida, the Clerk of the Circuit Court is also County Treasurer, Recorder, Auditor, Finance Officer and Clerk to the County Commission. This is not just the name on your jury duty slip, but the person who records mortgages, conducts the sale of properties in foreclosure, and handles the investment of our county’s funds. This position is not just administrative, but has a wide range of responsibilities affecting the rights and property of county citizens.

Candidates
• Robert N. Altman, Democrat
• Paula O’Neil, Republican

Community Development Districts (CDD)

What they do: Manage and maintain amenities for specific neighborhoods.

Why you should care: If you live in one of the nine CDDs where one of the five available seats is up for contest, these people will control your development’s taxes and assessments.

CDDs with elections:

• Country Walk (aka Meadowwoods)
• Heritage Pines
• Lake Padgett Estates
• Lexington Oaks
• Meadow Pointe
• Meadow Pointe II
• Northwood
• Oakstead

To see a listing of those running for these seats, please look at a sample ballot for your precinct or the complete listing of local candidates provided by the Supervisor of Elections. Some of the candidates for CDD seats also have profiles online at VoterFocus.com.

Mosquito Control Commissioner

What they do: Three elected commissioners oversee a staff of 26 and a fleet of 20 trucks, two boats, two helicopters and an airplane.

Why you should care: Our county’s “anything can happen” race. Elvis impersonators and white supremacists have run for the position in the past. While the work of actual mosquito suppression is handled by the director and his staff, board members are responsible for the $4 million budget and receive $4800 a year for their service.

Candidates for Seat 1
• Sandy Applefield
• Nancy Britton
• J. Steve Luikart

Sheriff

What they do: County’s law man, responsible enforcing laws and maintaining our jails. Leads a staff of 1,140, including 436 law enforcement deputies, and a budget of $86 million.

Why you should care: Crime in the county is up—a 17.6% increase in violent crime from 2005 to 2006 and 5.8% increase from 2006-2007 and non-violent crime was also up 15.1% and 2.8% respectively in the same time periods. The people on the ballot have an impact in the county’s response to that, specifically how to do more with less during budget cuts.

Candidates
• K.S. Bogart, Democrat
• Bob White, Republican
• Bobby Kinzy, NPA

Supervisor of Elections

What they do: Make elections happen: beginning with the qualifying of candidates to voter registration and the training of pollworkers to the final tally of this county’s votes.

Why you should care: Voter fraud. Hanging chads. Section 101.031(2) of the Florida Statutes. And, like all other local elections, they can be a stepping stone to higher positions: Current Florida Secretary of State Kurt S. Browning was our county’s Supervisor of Elections for 26 years.

Candidates
• Pat Carroll, Democrat
• Brian E Corley, Republican

Superintendent of Schools

What they do: Makes recommendations on education, staffing, taxes and related policies to be acted on by the school board and oversees more than 9,000 employees, more than 65,000 students, 79 schools and an annual budget of $1.2 billion.

Why you should care: The school district is the county’s largest employer and responsible for educating the future generation. The superintendent is at its helm. Even if you don’t have kidlets, you need to care.

Candidates
• Steve Donaldson, Democrat
• Heather Fiorentino, Republican