Thompson: I will use my decades of experience to improve Crystal River – Citrus County Chronicle

I want to thank the Citrus County Chronicle for investing the time to host a virtual forum for Crystal River City Council candidates and conducting an editorial board interview.

With this opportunity to rebut your endorsement of the incumbent of 18 years, I want to share with your readers, first and foremost, that I love Crystal River and that I want to take my decades of planning and accounting experience and put it to use.

Why do I love Crystal River?

I love the beauty found in its natural wonders.

I love the people of Crystal River, both those who have moved here in recent years, like we have, and those who have lived here all their lives. I love our local business owners who have struggled through decades of stagnation and blight associated with the shutdown of the nuclear plant.

I love those who lobby so hard to clean up Kings Bay and our waters and keep them clean, those who fight to convert septic to sewer, and those who fought so hard to lobby state officials to extend parkways nearby. And now that the Suncoast Parkway is coming here, are we prepared to plan properly for its arrival? Are we ready to set up public workshops and seek public input?

Are we ready to tackle the decades-old parking issues?

Are we ready to focus on our local economy, our lack of retail opportunities, the increased traffic associated with increased tourism and the coming of the parkway, and how to support a revitalization of the Crystal River Mall?

Are we ready to re-evaluate the trolley and how it can be used to showcase and connect many different parts of our city?

Are we ready to take a hard look at our budget and ask questions like why do we need a $900,000 tower truck when we havent even budgeted a new building, additional building maintenance, additional personnel and additional training, when the county already has such assets and often responds to fires faster than we do?

In conclusion, in the Chronicle endorsement of my opponent, they claimed I supported new programs and regulations. I can assure the readers this is nothing further from the truth.

I do, however, support being accessible to the residents and returning every text, email and call I receive. I support asking the public for input. I support focusing on the budget and finding redundancies and cost-saving measures.

Even though I was disappointed with the Chronicles endorsement, it is my hope to gain the endorsement of the voters of our city who should feel free to question me by either calling me at 352-895-3561 or terryforcrystalriver@gmail.com.

Terry Thompson is a candidate for Crystal River City Council.

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Thompson: I will use my decades of experience to improve Crystal River - Citrus County Chronicle