On the November 8th Ballot, candidates for three seats on the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners will face off. Incumbent Nick Nicholson (R) and opponent Jimmy Lodato (D) will be vying for the County Commission District 1 seat. Voters will choose between Incumbent Diane Rowden (D) and John Alloco (R) for the District 3 seat. In contention for the District 5 seat (currently held by Commissioner James Adkins who is not running for re-election) is Paul Douglas (D) and Steve Champion (R).
The map above shows where each district is located in the county. All voters in the county cast a vote for each district seat up for election.
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District 5
Steve Champion, District 5
“I love this county and it has always been my home. The Champion family has been in Brooksville since the 1930’s. As a child I grew up in Brooksville before moving to Fort Lauderdale at the age of 12. I built a successful career with one of the largest retailers in the country. I held several key upper management roles. In 2008 I realized my dream of returning to Hernando county and in 2013 decided to open a business down the street from my great grandparents home”
“I’m running for County Commission because the people need a voice. I’m not a Politician; I’m a small business owner and I will work closely with the citizens of our county. I have a family and know what the people are going through in the county. Unfortunately we have career politicians in several key positions now . I have no other intentions other than to make Hernando County the best for the people. I will focus on policies geared around supporting small business and promoting economic growth.”
“ I look forward to meeting the voters in the county and sharing my thoughts and ideas for a stronger Hernando County. I am committed to working overtime to show the people of the county that I’m their candidate for Hernando County Commissioner, District 5″
Steve Champion has over 23 years executive experience leading multimillion dollar retail stores for one of the largest retailers in the US.. He has a record of achieving all financial goals which is exactly what is needed in the county. In 2014 Steve along with his wife Shanda realized their dream of opening American Gun & Pawn in historic Brooksville Florida. Steve & Shanda live in District 5 since 2010, their business is in district 5 and Steve’s family home is also in district 5. Steve has 5 children, Steve’s son Christopher (18) graduate of Nature Coast high just recently enlisted in the US Marine Corps. Steve Attended Broward Community College in South Florida and in 2003 received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Hamilton College.
Total monetary contributions to date (9/16/16): $42,253.71
Total monetary expenditures to date (9/16/16): $34,055.19
Paul Douglas, District 5
Mr. Douglas has not submitted a candidate statement.
Total monetary contributions to date (9/16/16): $7,608.50
Total monetary expenditures to date (9/16/16): $5,679.90
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Diane Rowden, District 3
When I first entered politics, I made a promise to myself that I would strive to leave Hernando County better than when I found it. I have lived here for 33 years and am not done making Hernando County better. Over the years, change has come very slowly but all of those small changes are coming together. I want to guide and make sure that Hernando County stays on its path to prosperity. Several years ago, under the direction of our county administrator, we developed a collective vision and a plan to implement that vision. The vision and plan was adopted after many many months of research and discussion. Here’s a condensed version and the results it has produced. It’s a good plan and we are making progress.
Economic
• Have a robust, renewable, viable, and sustainable economic engine to support the needs and enhance the lifestyles of our residents and visitors.
Accomplishments
• Workforce development, a major initiative to improve our economy, continues to strengthen as AM Skills graduated its first class of 29 students.
• Recruited five new companies while retaining and growing two existing businesses representing 233,000 square-feet of space, 230 new and 101 existing jobs.
• Continued to enhance the permitting process by reducing wait time to an average of 3-5 days for residential and 10-15 days for commercial.
Infrastructure
• Create and maintain a highly effective infrastructure that enables the community activities of its citizens and businesses.
• Develop infrastructure that supports multiple modes of transportation while protecting our natural resources.
Accomplishments
• Improved roadway surfaces on 43 miles of roads.
• Maintained and improved 10 county parks by adding electronic gates, pay stations, a dog wash station, and by replacing beach sand, playground equipment and a football field.
• Improved transit services by rebranding with a new logo and adding services including a fourth bus route (Green Route), expanding the Purple Route into Pasco County, reducing wait times from 75 to 60 minutes and increasing the bus fleet.
• Approved use of the 9th Cent Local Option Fuel tax as a long term dedicated source of funding for Transit Service.
Natural Resources
• Establish a sustainable community by embracing the best ecological practices and policies.
Accomplishments
• Passed a noxious tree plant ordinance aimed at controlling the spread of Lead Tree and Brazilian Pepper Tree plants.
• Continued site preparation at Lake Townsen Preserve and trained and certified four employees as Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agents.
• Increased recycling by 10 percent.
Total monetary contributions to date (9/16/16): $34,696.00
Total monetary expenditures to date (9/16/16): $22,607.39
John Alloco, District 3
My name is John Allocco and together with my wife, Randi, we own and operate a small business – a physical therapy practice – here in Hernando County.
I moved to Florida to pursue a college education. I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Sciences at the University of Florida and a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy at the University of St. Augustine and began my career here, more than sixteen years ago.
Not too long after, I met Randi – a nurse working here in Hernando. Almost a decade ago, we opened our small business and we are blessed to have grown, with the opportunity to serve residents of our community, each and every day. We now have 8 full-time employees and several part-time employees. Our “blended” family has grown as well, with two adult children and two young children – both of whom attend school here in Hernando County.
Hernando County is a wonderful place to live, work and raise our children.
There is a new excitement in the air and our county is once again growing, but even with the economy recovering, too many of our local businesses are still struggling. Too many of our residents and our children are leaving to pursue university educations and trade certificates and returning to find those jobs requiring those highly valued skills still don’t exist in Hernando County. Many of our residents live here but must commute many miles to neighboring counties to find the job they need to support their family.
I’ve never sought a political office but now I am running for Hernando County Commission, District 3, to bring a new, fresh, small business perspective to our County Commission.
I am committed to setting policy for smart, sustainable growth and a balanced tax base, to strengthen our local economy, so our local businesses grow and flourish.
I am committed to working with our Sheriff, first responders and School Board so they have the resources they need to create a safer and more secure community.
I am committed to creating an environment in Hernando County that is attractive to new businesses – providing new jobs and career opportunities for Hernando County residents and helping our existing businesses grow.
I see a bright and prosperous future for our community and working together, we can ensure Hernando County’s best days are still ahead. If you believe as I do, on Election Day, I humbly ask for your support and your vote!
Total monetary contributions to date (9/16/16): $33,545.96
Total monetary expenditures to date (9/16/16): $19,282.69
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District 1
Jimmy Lodato district 1
I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida, and have been married to my wife, Tammy, for 35 years. I graduated from Jefferson High School and attended the University of Tampa. After a successful career as Vice President with a national company, I founded three businesses specializing in statewide sales, service, marketing and advertising of non-food products in the food and drug trade. I represented seventeen Fortune 500 companies such as General Electric, Westinghouse, Polaroid, Pfizer, Duracell, Loreal and Fuji Film.
When I sold my businesses, I was able to retire at the age of 39. Before my wife, Tammy, and I moved to Hernando County in 1999, we lived in Pinellas County. As President of the Tierra Verde Community Association, I implemented a fire district, negotiated for protection with the sheriff’s department, established a lighting district and enacted a multi-year beautification master plan, making Tierra Verde the most desirable place to live in Pinellas County today. These programs reduced the tax base by half and are still in effect.
I currently serve as a member of the board for the Hernando County Education Foundation and was recently Chairman of the Steering Committee and co-Chairman of the Save Our Students Hernando PC, the campaign to bring back the half cent funding for our schools, which was passed by a 60.5% majority. A successful educational system plays a vital role in economic development and I attend all meetings of the Hernando County Board of County Commission as well as Hernando County School District. With my expertise in economic development, I will work with the County, the school district and our citizens to bring job opportunities to our community. I want to bring prosperity to our citizens and create a better quality of life for families and retirees.
Some of my other involvement in Hernando County includes:
Member Greater Hernando Chamber of Commerce;
Represented Corporate Jet Solutions as spokesman, as well as other corporations with interests in Hernando, Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties;
Former Chairman Hernando County Democratic Executive Committee;
Former Vice-Chairman Hernando County Democratic Executive Committee;
Former President Tierra Verde Community Association;
Sponsor and volunteer for Kiwanis Back to School programs;
Involved with Communities in Schools;
Member Sons of Italy in Hernando County;
Outstanding Community Engagement Award from Hernando County Education Foundation;
Award from Hernando County School District for Faithful Dedication and Tireless Commitment as Co-Chair of Save Our Schools Campaign to Restore the Half Cent
Total monetary contributions to date (9/16/16): $5,445.90
Total monetary expenditures to date (9/16/16): $3,824.90
Nick Nicholson, district 1
As a member of the current Hernando County Commission, I have consistently worked hard to maintain a consensus with my fellow Commissioners. A few of the items in which I have been involved and pleased to support are:
•Not supporting property tax increases.
•Consistently high quality maintenance of the roadways. 41 county roads, totaling 36 miles were paved.
•Recruiting new businesses to relocate and retain existing businesses resulting in either keeping jobs and/or creating new jobs.
•Improvement in streamlining the permitting process cutting time from 20 days to 5 days and improvement in customer service.
•Installation of shelters and benches for the bus stops at 45 locations. Cutting turnaround time from 2 HRS to 60 Minutes. Extending operations from the old 7am – 4pm to the new 6am to 7 pm. So people can get to work and home. Extending the routes to service the airport, Pasco County, and the Light House for the blind.
•Raising enough money to get the fireworks going at the fair for the 4th of July with 10,000 people enjoying it.
I pledged to improve the Quality of Life and safeguard it for the people of Hernando County. I have fulfilled that pledge.
When I was walking door to door, I was asked why a structural unsound house with weeds 20” tall was allowed to remain. After my election, I asked that same question. They said they did a monthly check to see if it was still there. I asked why not tear it down and mow the grass? They said they did not have the money to do it. I went to our attorney and he said we can lien the property and get rid of the house and mow the grass.
We tore down 20 houses last year and now have 3 crews that mow the grass when it gets over 18” tall and lien the property. Problem solved.
Evaluations of the employees had not been done for 6 years. I asked why not. They said because there was no money for raises. I said that is not the sole reason for an evaluation. How does an employee know what they are doing good and how to get better if there is no evaluation. We now do evaluations for all employees in February of each year.
Employee lunches, certificates of recognition, and certificates of years served starting at 5 years. Employee morale is up and getting better.
Since I have been a commissioner, we take care of our employees. I support our fire fighters.
We have brought in over 200 jobs that pay $40,000 or more.
I am the peoples Commissioner and always will be. Of the people, by the people, for the people.
Total monetary contributions to date(8/25/16): $41,350.00*
Total monetary expenditures to date (8/25/16): $40,906.13*