Primary Elections: Manatee County board of County commissioners district 5

Four candidates — two Democrats and two Republicans — are facing off in the Aug. 14 primary election for the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners District 5 seat, which is being vacated by longtime East County resident Donna Hayes.

Democrats Frank Archino and James Golden will battle for a spot against the successful Republican bidder — either Vanessa Baugh or John Colon — in the Nov. 6 general election.

Archino is a retired U.S. Naval officer, having served for more than 21 years at naval bases in Scotland and Virginia, and participated in conflicts such as Desert Storm and Desert Shield.

Golden, a pastor, is a veteran of the U.S. Army, a member of the Florida Bar, and two-term member of the Bradenton City Council. He currently serves on the board of directors for Manatee Glens Hospital.

On the Republican ticket, Baugh is owner of Vanessa Fine Jewelry, located on Lakewood Ranch Main Street. She is a member of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and the Sarasota/Manatee Home Builders Association.

Colon has more than 30 years of financial experience, now serving as senior vice president of investments for Wells Fargo Advisors, in Sarasota. He is chairman of the Sarasota Housing Authority and the governor’s appointee to the state Republican Executive Committee.

DEMOCRAT
Name: Frank Archino
Age: 52
Family: 12 siblings; two children, a son and a daughter
Hometown: Born in Reggio Calabria, Italy. Immigrated to the United States in January 1970.
Education: Associate’s degree from the State College of Florida; attended numerous military schools and professional courses
Relevant experience: Served in active duty for the U.S. Navy for 21 years, during which he served in conflicts such as Desert Shield and Desert Storm. After retiring, he pursued a degree in political science.
Website: frankarchino.com

What would be your top priorities if elected?
No. 1: To encourage investment in Manatee County for the purpose of creating sustainable jobs.
No. 2: To improve housing by working to keep people secure in their homes and incentivizing home improvements to improve home values.
No. 3: To continue rebuilding Manatee County infrastructure and keeping it beautiful.

How can Manatee County’s economy be diversified?
I want to work to bring businesses in different industries to invest into Manatee County. If we can accomplish this, Manatee County can create jobs and prosper.

What would you change to make the county more business-friendly to create jobs?
I would change the perception that the businesses are here based on the needs of the county government. County government, the people and business can work together for the benefit of everyone involved.

What is the best way to manage growth, particularly in East County?
The best way to manage growth in the East County is to rewrite zoning laws that make sense for future developing. We must be smart on how and where we develop. Protected areas and wildlife sanctuaries are extremely important to local communities.

Would you attempt to change EDC policies of seeking companies in Sarasota County?
Working together with other counties is essential to creating jobs. Sarasota County can be a source of investment in Manatee County, and the EDC is an important tool for accomplishing that.

What makes you a better candidate than your opponent?
The leadership qualities I learned in the U.S. Navy are second to none. These leadership qualities and my dedication and commitment to service are what I bring to Manatee County.

Name: James T. Golden
Age: 64
Family: Married to Mildred Moten-Golden, a blended family of six children and 15 grandchildren
Hometown: Bradenton, 19 years
Education: Bachelor’s degree from Stetson University; juris doctor from University of Florida; and master’s of divinity from Atlanta University
Relevant experience: Two-term Bradenton City Council member; City of Bradenton representative to Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council
Website: votegolden2012.com

What would be your top priorities if elected?
My top-three priorities would be to:
No. 1: Broaden the tax base without raising taxes.
No. 2: Create more public-private partnerships to stimulate economic growth and development.
No. 3: To maintain our quality of life by major capital infrastructure improvements, by adequate funding to meet our public safety and health needs and by assuring that all new development is in accordance with smart growth policies.

How can Manatee County’s economy be diversified?
In my opinion, one of the ways to immediately create a more diversified economy would be to maximize the potential of our deep-water port by collaborative efforts with private partnerships, other governmental entities and international business interests.
We must also become more innovative in our efforts to provide more capital incentives to new businesses, businesses seeking to expand and businesses seeking to relocate.
Over the long-term we must continue to diversify our higher educational curriculums to be an attractive employee market for businesses seeking a diversified work force.

What would you change to make the county more business-friendly to create jobs?
One thing I would suggest is considering more long-term tax credits for businesses hiring the long-time unemployed and under-employed and for keeping them hired for a reasonable period of time. There could also be additional incentives for employers who invest in re-training of these people.

What is the best way to manage growth, particularly in East County?
I believe that 1) strict adherence to our comprehensive growth plans along with few exceptions under the most rare of circumstances; 2) more mandatory dialogue between affected parties before the governmental decision-making process begins, and 3) a more transparent decision-making process will be the best way to manage growth, not only in East County but throughout Manatee County.

Would you attempt to change EDC policies of seeking companies in Sarasota County?
I will answer this question as if it applied to Manatee County. I do not think it would be wise to attempt to change EDC policies without a closer look on my part into to how effective the current policies are.

What makes you a better candidate than your opponent?
My opponent in this Manatee County Commission District 5 race is not the other Democratic primary contender. I am seeking to win the Nov. 6 election against either of the Republican candidates who wins the Aug. 14 primary. In my opinion, I would be the better Democratic candidate to oppose that Republican candidate because I already have the most experience in electoral public service; my public service record of being fair-minded is well documented and my commonsense practical solutions to our community problems have already stood the test of time.

I encourage the readers to look at the debates on METV that are being replayed on the METV website from now until the primary.

REPUBLICAN
Name: Vanessa Ann Baugh
Age 58
Family: Husband, Don (been married 20 years); four children; 10 grandchildren
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Va.
Education: Attended Tidewater Community College
Relevant experience: “I started Vanessa Fine Jewelry more than a decade ago and managed to succeed in the most difficult financial and emotional times in our lifetime. It shows that I know how to adjust a business plan, cut the budget, keep a budget balanced, make payroll, deal with the growing impact of government regulations, red tape and make those tuff decisions that have to be made. I know what is needed for business to create jobs. I have the real-world practical experience as a business owner.”
Website: vanessabaugh.com

What would be your top priorities if elected?
My top priorities would be job creation, economic development and fiscal responsibility. We need to control our tax burden and prioritize our spending while helping businesses create jobs and protect our quality of life. Also, we need to remember public safety.

How can Manatee County’s economy be diversified?
We need to focus and work with not only the EDC, but also the economic development department at the county to select certain areas of industry, i.e. health care, or others that would bring into the county high-paying wages.

The commissioner could help by communicating and working with the companies that are considering a move. You know the old saying, "how to win friends and influence people.”

If the commissioner became a friend to the organization, he or she could recommend attorneys, CPAs, banking institutions, etc. A commissioner should be more involved than just a vote on giving an incentive. We need to make this a priority.

We need companies moving their headquarters here to Manatee as soon as possible to help increase revenues, which, in turn, helps established businesses. This will help to stimulate the economy.

I have been working with a company that makes airplane parts in Connecticut, which just signed a letter of intent on commercial property in Manatee. The goal is to move its business here by the end of the year. The owners and I developed a relationship of trust and friendship.

By diversifying, we will be in a better position the next time the real-estate market crashes. Diversifying is a win for everyone. It increases revenue and helps all the other industries already in Manatee County.

What would you change to make the county more business-friendly to create jobs?
Businesses that are already in Manatee — let's help them in readjusting their business plans, marketing, etc. We have people in county government who could work with small-business owners. After all, we are in this together, so let's build partnerships to work together.

Remove obstacles and red tape so that a business can relocate quickly, have information ready and at that fingertips regarding building permits, banks, financing, CPAs, etc. We need to work on building those relationships. Let's take the term "public servant" to the next level.

One last note, we need to keep taxes low so that it helps not only business but the residents, as well.

What is the best way to manage growth, particularly in East County?
We have some choices on how and where we grow. In the past, we have had low rise, low density and limited mixed uses. This creates a spread-out land-use pattern that is difficult for water, sewer and transportation planning and increased costs. I prefer an option in which we have everything we need — home, shopping and business all together, more of a mixed-use application. It tends to raise the bar on quality of life. Green space is set aside and wetlands are preserved. Let's remember, growth needs to pay for itself and still have the best quality of life for our residents. With this plan it is possible.

The county is working on a study on how to grow. The goal is to make infrastructure more efficient. It could save taxpayer money, lower maintenance costs and infrastructure cost.

Would you attempt to change EDC policies of seeking companies in Sarasota County?
Yes, I believe both counties should work together regarding economic development, however, we should not allow one or the other to allow incentives to a company leaving Sarasota or Manatee for the other.

What makes you a better candidate than your opponent?
I am sincere in wanting to help make Manatee County the best county it can be with the best quality of life possible. With the problems we have today, it is going to take a level-headed, experienced person to accomplish this. It is going to take someone who has not been able to rely on someone else to write those payroll checks, who did not receive any money from the government and had to keep the business going when times were tough; someone who has gone through what everyone else has, and only had themselves to back up on, someone who works well with others and realizes the honor of being able to do so and is humbled by it and, most importantly, someone who cares about the people of Manatee County. I am that person.

I am a good listener. You must listen to the people. If you don't, how can you know what their needs are. I have been, over the years, very involved with many charities in Manatee, such as Meals on Wheels, Kiwanis, The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund and the American Cancer Society, to name a few. I feel that you need to give back to the community, but you also need to be involved if you want to be a leader of the community.

The impact that I hope to make is one of helping the people, help Manatee get to the next level and help build relationships to help us get there. Lets all start working together and building the relationships to have Manatee County the v best county in Florida.

Name: John Colon
Age: 60
Family: Married 33 years to Patricia Colon; son, Felipe, 30
Hometown: New York City (Queens)
Education: Attended Queens College, holds Series 7, Series 10 and Series 31 securities licenses.
Relevant Experience: With more than 30 years of financial experience, Colon now serves as senior vice president-investments for Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, for which he works with families, businesses and retirees to meet financial goals; chairman of the Sarasota Housing Authority (serving Sarasota and Manatee counties from 2010 to present, commissioner since 2005); governor’s appointee to state Republican Executive Committee (2010 to present); Manatee County Republican Executive Committee (2002 to present); co-chair Manatee-Sarasota Chapter UNCF (2005 to present)
Website: johnacolon.com

What would be your top priorities if elected?
My three-top priorities are broadening our economic base to promote employment, preserving our quality of life (including public safety and infrastructure) and creating a sustainable and efficient budget.

Our fiscal and budget issues are linked to our employment situation. These issues must be addressed for us to maintain our quality of life and build and diversify our economic base. We need to look at both sides of the equation, revenue and expense. Growing our economic base will increase revenue on one side, while prudent spending will keep down costs on the other side.

How can Manatee County’s economy be diversified?
We need to recruit new companies to Manatee County that vary in focus and type. This will not only make our economy less cyclical, but also increase incomes. The average salary in Manatee County is currently $34,000, but the average salary at newly recruited companies in Manatee County is about $47,000. As your county commissioner, I will work aggressively to recruit and retain businesses for Manatee County the way I have built my business over the years, one client at a time.

What would you change to make the county more business-friendly to create jobs?
One of the specific ways we can grow and diversify our economic base is by securing a public-private partnership to develop the Port of Manatee. I know there has been some discussion about selling the port, but I am adamantly opposed to that course of action. We have a tremendous opportunity in the port, which is the closest deepwater port to the newly expanded Panama Canal. We need to bring in a partner with the funds and expertise to allow us to fully realize the potential of this asset.

What is the best way to manage growth, particularly in East County?
We can manage growth by focusing new development around existing infrastructure. We lowered the impact fees to promote the recovery of our building and development industry, and, thus far, it has had a positive effect. Development that utilizes existing infrastructure allows us to further stretch the funds that we collect from impact fees. Accessibility and public safety is also a consideration and generally enhanced when new development occurs around existing infrastructure.

Would you attempt to change EDC policies of seeking companies in Sarasota County? The EDCs of Manatee and Sarasota counties have excellent working relationships, and each focuses on recruiting businesses outside of the region. Our economy is regional, and we can be more successful working together than working against each other. Economic development brings employment opportunities and tax dollars. When businesses relocate to Manatee County, they employ residents of both counties, so it is in the interest of both counties to attract more businesses to the region.

What makes you a better candidate than your opponent?
Our county is operating in a challenging fiscal environment. Prudent decisions must be made to preserve our quality of life and strengthen our economic base. The County Commission needs strong leadership with proven fiscal experience to move forward. My record of success in business, public service and community involvement put me in the best position to provide this necessary leadership. In my professional life, I have more than 30 years of experience helping families and businesses meet financial goals. My experience with municipal bond underwriting and budgets, in particular, are skills I have honed throughout my career.

Our County Commission needs to be equipped to make difficult budgeting decisions and understand our debt structure. As a lifelong Republican and proven conservative, I have already been in positions of public trust and fiduciary responsibility. I understand what it means to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars and do more with less. Over the past 12 years, I have worked hard to contribute to the community and have developed working relationships on the local, state and national level. As your county commissioner, I will utilize my expertise and these working relationships to get results.