Calderwood to run for county commission

Former Alachua Mayor Jean Caolderwood (bottom left) formally announced Wednesday she is seeking a seat on the Alachua County Commission. 

Former City of Alachua mayor and commissioner Jean Calderwood has stepped back into the political arena, announcing plans to run for Alachua County Commission.

The longtime Alachua resident was joined by supporters when she kicked off her campaign with a press conference at Alachua City Hall Wednesday afternoon.  The former mayor said she plans to run for the District 3 seat currently held by Alachua County Commissioner Paula DeLaney.

Although DeLaney’s seat on the commission doesn’t expire until November 2012, Calderwood is getting started early and laying out her platform.  DeLaney has not made a formal announcement as to whether or not she will seek re-election.

Since stepping down in April 2010 from her role as the City of Alachua Mayor, Calderwood said a number of people have asked, urged and encouraged her to run for the County Commission.  But she said the final decision to run came after discussions with her family.

“A lot of people have seen what we were able to do here in the City of Alachua with good leadership,” Calderwood said, pointing to economic development projects like Dollar General, Walmart and Sysco Foods distribution centers, Progress Corporate Park and the downtown area.

In a press release Calderwood said, “Changing leadership and changing the direction is critical for the future of Alachua County.”

She said the biggest complaints she hears are that people in Alachua County are tired of high taxes, bad roads and too much government.

Calderwood said she wants to restore a sense of pride to living in Alachua County, saying, “It makes me sad that you don’t hear anybody bragging about Alachua County.”

“You hear people in the City of Alachua, High Springs, Newberry or the University of Florida who are proud of their communities,” said Calderwood.  “All three of my sons and all four grandsons were born right here in Alachua County and I want them to have a sense of pride about living in Alachua County.”

Calderwood said she brings the ability to listen and make decisions fairly.

“The County Commission is not listening to the citizens.  I would listen and I would vote based on the information in front of us,” she said, adding that the Commission uses poor judgment.

A recent measure that would convert a former Holiday Inn on Newberry Road into a shelter for homeless veterans is just one decision by the County Commission that Calderwood thinks was ill-advised.

She also points to the hotly contested Haven Acres Cat Sanctuary near the City of High Springs.  Against the requests of City of High Springs officials and the County’s own staff recommendations, in 2009, county commissioners voted to permit the sanctuary.  County commissioners revoked that permit last week, but only after it confiscated nearly 700 cats from the sanctuary, which was only supposed to have 200 of the felines.

Chief among Calderwood’s concerns is the tax burden on the citizens while roads seemingly continue to deteriorate faster than they’re being repaired.

“The County’s proposed budget for the 2012 fiscal year is $320 million.  Somewhere in there the commission could find some areas to cut back so they can reduce the millage rate.

“We need to look at the number of buildings to see if there’s room for consolidation and savings.  We need to determine if the County’s land development codes are so cumbersome that they require extra staff for review.

“I think we also need to look at how many advisory committees the County has in place and if they are all functioning like they are supposed.  And if they’re not a critical need, then we need to determine how much of the County’s resources are being spent to sustain them,” said Calderwood.

Economic development is also a major tenant of her campaign.  The former commissioner and mayor said the County needs to do more in the way of attracting businesses to help diversify the tax burden on the County’s residents.

“My belief is that you make sure you have a quality of life that appeals to employers and the businesses will take the risk of investing in your community,” she said.  “We’ve got to change the direction of Alachua County.”