Ron Pritchard

MY TERM OF OFFICE

I learned years ago there are three kinds of people: people who make things happen, people who let things happen and people who say, “what happened”.

Well, this is what happened in District 2 during my term as your County Commissioner:






Roads:

Multi-family Housing:

Some were approved and some denied. The ones that I approved were also approved by our Planning and Zoning Board and MIRA after public input was heard. The ones I denied were inappropriate for that location. My approval or denial of multi-family housing was based upon fact, concurrency and law – not emotional input.

I can assure you that property owners will pursue legal avenues when they believe they have been wronged and it is incumbent upon this Board and future Boards to base decisions upon fact – not emotion. The general public should not have to pay for these errors in judgment.

Stormwater Projects:

Public Access to Public Waterways:

Miscellaneous:

In fact, I kept all of the promises I made when I campaigned to be your County Commissioner in 2002.

I promised I would question just about everything, I would hold people accountable, I would not pander or politicize, nor would I watch the applause meter just to make a “popular” vote, and that I would fight for what I believed was best for Brevard County. I said repeatedly that my decisions would be based upon fact, law, and reliable input and I held true to that course.

There should have been no surprises that I did what I said I would do.

As I have said I did not come here to make friends – I came here to make a difference. This was not an “ego trip” for me. I got over that years ago when I was promoted to Lieutenant on the Fire Department.

At the very least I got people to talk about our budget and attend meetings to voice their request for less taxes, less government, and more accountability. Maybe someday government will really listen.

One final comment…Remember the airplane flight and the repeated malicious attacks on me by Florida Today’s editorial staff? Let’s go through this one more time with an added twist that Florida Today has ignored.

As you recall the flight to Tallahassee was taken to meet with the Secretary of Transportation to discuss the critical need for installation of guardrails along I-95. On the return trip a turkey buzzard committed suicide by hitting the wing of the aircraft thereby exposing electrical wiring and causing a fuel leak. This fuel leak was atomized by the rushing wind and for those of you that understand flammability, atomized fuel is extremely volatile. Couple this to the exposed electrical wiring and the potential for explosion and a fiery crash was possible. We didn’t tell Commissioner Colon.

There were six people on this airplane – 2 County Commissioners, our Sheriff, a State Representative, a Deputy Sheriff, and the pilot. Did Florida Today have any comment about this potential disaster or loss of life? No, their focus was elsewhere.

Now it gets even better. At the same time Florida Today was attacking me for following the advice of our County Attorney - a 10 page Legal Opinion that stated the flight was a gift to the Commission, not the Commissioner and therefore not reportable - County Officials in Bay County, Florida were addressing identical allegations with the Ethics Commission.

Their allegations were whether an airplane ride was a gift to the Commission or the Commissioner and whether it was reportable under Florida Statute. Sound familiar?

The Bay County Officials decided to fight the wrongful allegations and hired an attorney who argued the case before an Administrative Law Judge and won. Surprise, there was no violation!

On August 17, 2006 (in a 22 page review of the allegations) the Administrative Law Judge recommended that the Commission on Ethics issue a Final Order and Public Report finding that the Respondents did not violate Florida Statutes, and dismissing the complaint.

On October 25, 2006 the Commission on Ethics concluded that it would be appropriate to exercise their authority under Florida Statutes and dismiss the complaints. Accordingly, the Commission on Ethics dismisses the complaints.

I chose to settle the complaint and pay a $100 fine rather than burden our taxpayers with thousands of dollars in legal fees.

I would like to summarize my term of office with a quote from Theodore Roosevelt:

"It's not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

In closing, I would like to thank the countless staff people who were always there providing guidance, information, and support. And of course, the “ladies” of the District 2 office: Rose, Sharon, Diane, Sally and Carol. They made it happen.

My wife, Donna, has always been and will always be the love of my life. This was not a fun ride for her but she stood steadfast by my side. She is my rock and I know I can always count on her to be there supporting me and my effort to improve Brevard County’s quality of life.

There are a lot of good people in Brevard County and together we have accomplished many things. It has been my privilege to represent them.

Keep speaking out and fighting for less taxes, less government and more accountability. Limiting revenue is the key to controlling spending.

May God bless the good people of Brevard County. And may God bless America.

Ron Pritchard, D.P.A.
County Commissioner