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The Freedom Forum Who Will Really Stop The Conference Center?From: Fred Bergmann CommentsWho Will Really Stop The Conference Center? by Fred Bergmann The forum for county commissioner candidates held 23 August was a revelation. We heard candidates state their positions on tourism, hospitality growth, the Tourist Development Commission, and especially the Conference Center. The questions were loaded toward the tourist perspective, but they were the hosts and the questions did a good job drawing out the candidate’s positions on these important issues. Kathy O’Dell clearly and unequivocally placed herself squarely behind the building of the Conference Center. She appealed to the audience of mostly tourism industry supporters that this upcoming primary election was really a referendum on the conference center, and they needed to get their friends, neighbors, and employees out to vote for her or they would lose their third vote on the BOCC and the conference center itself. She even admitted that the Conference center did not have wide support in the county and she was not used to receiving applause on that issue when speaking before large audiences. She did not explain why she is fighting so hard for something most of the county doesn’t want. I agree with O’Dell that the conference center does not have wide support in this county. In fact, every other candidate who spoke that night was against building it using public land and public money. There were subtle differences in their positions however, that need to be explored before voters can intelligently choose the commissioner who will best follow through on this contentious issue. With the clear exception of Gaylan King, who has fought with the current BOCC/TDC for over a year and is already working to disband them and start over; and Doug Hutcheson, the rest of the candidates thought the current TDC were “doing a great job” (Readdy, Otto, Josey), and that it was “well run” (Ransom). I don’t understand how these candidates can “totally support” (Burkett, Readdy), or “support efforts wholeheartedly” (Dunn), a TDC whose major accomplishment, together with a majority of the BOCC, has been to double the bed-tax and try to force an unwanted, ill-conceived conference center down the throats of the entire county. I also question how candidates who have received large donations from the tourist industry (Burkett, Dunn), and who have strong connections to the current BOCC regime (Burkett, Dunn), can be totally objective and sincere about stopping the conference center. From this standpoint, I admire O'Dell for at least telling us where she stood on the issue and clearly showing us who is supporting her. I also admire Otto for admitting he is late to the issue but would vote “NO” if given the chance. One aspect of this discussion not totally explored is the economic impact of a bed tax. We have heard that the conference center is to be built using “someone else’s money”, that the taxpayer should not be concerned, and that the results are good for the economy. I cannot understand why every restaurant owner, hotel operator, or other tourist industry business person is not screaming bloody murder that all this money, millions each year, is being diverted from the economy into what amounts to a private slush fund. Everyone with even a basic understanding of economics should realize that money brought into an economy gets multiplied 2 and 3 times as it passes through the hands of workers, vendors, and other businesses spread over the entire private sector. On the other hand, taxes don’t multiply at all, and when we see the TDC wasting tax money on travel junkets, SUVs, huge un-bid out-of-town PR contracts, “YES” buttons, ads to fight the Freedom Committee, over $300,000 in salaries each year, and of course, a conference center, we should realize that the bed tax is actually hurting a lot of people for the benefit of a few. You can find a more complete discussion of these economic factors at the following web addresses: SHOULD GOVERNMENTS OWN CONVENTION CENTERS? and "When Pigs Fly" You won’t see this letter in the NW Florida Daily News before the first primary because of a self-imposed unpublicized deadline they set at early last-week. The reason may also be that I name names, quote people, and speak out against the current power structure. But, if you agree with what I have said, please tell your friends and neighbors about it; print it out and pass it around (my permission granted), or contact me and I will give you copies. If you don’t agree, feel free to post your response on the Freedom Forum or, if you prefer, contact me personally at fjberg@arc.net. Also, don’t just take my word for the facts here; look at the data posted on these local websites: (www.beachbrowser.com) – especially the “Follow the Money” feature -, www.budgetwaste.com, or research the NWF Daily News sources. Most of all get out and vote for candidates who will take back our county government and listen to the people for a change. My choices are: Gaylan King, Doug Hutcheson, and Shirley Ransom. Fred Bergmann ______ Last changed: March 04, 2008
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