TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pasco News

County Commission District 3 Candidate Profiles

ADVERTISEMENT

THE SUNCOAST NEWS

Published: October 18, 2008

On Nov. 4, Democrat Teresa Conroy will try to keep Republican Ann Hildebrand from a seventh - and, according to Hildebrand, final - four-year term on the County Commission.

Ann Hildebrand
County Commission District 3 (Republican)

Ann Hildebrand, the incumbent, will face Teresa Conroy in the Nov. 4 general election for the County Commission District 3 seat.

Hildebrand believes transportation will be among some of the biggest challenges. She serves on the executive committee for Tampa Bay Regional Transportation Authority, known as TBARTA. The county has revised impact fees in an effort to continue improving roads.

HILDEBRAND

The county is following advice from the Urban Land Institute to overhaul county growth management ordinances. "The slowdown (in the housing market) will allow us to streamline and be creative."

Because of the statewide Amendment No. 1 property tax system changes, "We are looking at all areas of government to get more bang for the buck and do more with less." To draw more high-paying jobs, she believes the county has streamlined procedures and offered incentives through Pasco Economic Development Council. SYSCO Food Service and Opinicus have located here.

For energy needs, "conservation and efficiency is vital," plus more "green" projects. She has been on a leadership team working with Progress Energy Florida.

As for a proposal to hire only nonsmokers, she comments that the county wants a "healthy staff and hopefully can see a reduction in our insurance premiums."

Bio snapshot

A Pasco resident since 1971, Hildebrand, 70, lives in New Port Richey with her husband. They have two sons, Lance and Clay.

Education: Bachelor's degree in social services from Michigan State University.

Experience: Elected to the County Commission in 1984. Commission chairwoman five times; Tampa Bay Water board member and two-time chairwoman; secretary-treasurer TBARTA; chairwoman U.S. 19 Task Force; past chairwoman Tourist Development Council and Metropolitan Planning Organization; past member Economic Development Council.

Memberships: Secretary and past president PACE Center for Girls; Youth and Family Alternatives board and past president; co-founder, chair for 15 years and board member Good Samaritan Health Clinic; chairwoman Keep Pasco Beautiful; chairwoman United Way of Pasco board; CARES past president; Safety Town board; Morton Plant North Bay Hospital board; Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services advisory board; and many more.

Awards: Women of Distinction Award from Girl Scouts of America; West Pasco Chamber Public Service Award and Eminent Pioneer Award; United Way of Florida Outstanding Public Official in the state; YFA Outstanding Volunteer; Queen Chasco; and many more.

Teresa 'Terri' Conroy
County Commission District 3 (Democrat)

will face the incumbent, Ann Hildebrand, in the Nov. 4 general election for County Commission District 3. It's her first attempt at elected office.

Tax revenue will be one of the biggest challenges, Conroy said. "As money dries up, funds that are currently in place need to be redistributed." Planning is essential. "For too long, this county has reacted to problems and not planned for them." New programs might generate some revenue.

CONROY

Despite the housing slowdown, Conroy would not loosen growth regulations. The county should offer incentives to builders for "green" homes that conserve water and energy. She laments how the county raised impact fees on builders as they struggled. "I do not want to see higher impact fees of any kind burden the builders."

The county hasn't done enough to encourage industry to move here, Conroy thinks. "The businesses that I see popping up are not bringing good quality jobs." Perhaps the county can offer lower impact fees for commercial projects, or incentives for moving into existing surplus of office space.

As for energy costs, perhaps going to a four-day work week might be one option. "We could increase our mass transit. We could also become a leader in recycling."

A proposal to hire only nonsmokers for county jobs smacks of discrimination to Conroy. "You may be eliminating a good quality worker" who happens to smoke. "To me, it would be the same as saying if you work here you cannot get pregnant. It just isn't right."

Bio snapshot

A Pasco resident for nearly 30 years, Teresa "Terri" Conroy, 49, is divorced and has two children, Kaitie, 9, and Courtney, 19. She resides in New Port Richey.

Education: Graduated Chartiers Valley High School, Bridgeville, Pa., 1977; attended drafting school for one semester.

Experience: Achievers of America Tradewinds Magazine; Lexington Homes in permitting and other roles for more than six years, through December 2007.

Memberships: Community Service Council, Relay For Life Hudson and New Port Richey, R.E.S.O.R.C.E. Recycling Club, PSN Networking Group, West Pasco Chamber of Commerce, American Heart Association, former vice president of Mittye P. Locke Elementary PTA, First United Methodist Church board of trustees.

Hobbies: Cooking, crafts and decorating.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT