By Matt Wiley
Erika Remsberg (D-Land O’Lakes) says that she has no ties to any outside interests, and hopes that Wesley Chapel voters will consider that fact when they head to the polls for the November 4 General Election when they decide who will take over the District 2 seat on the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners.
So far, Remsberg, of Land O’Lakes, has raised nearly $9,000 for her campaign against Republican opponent and Wesley Chapel resident Mike Moore, who has raised nearly 20 times that much ($170,000). The two are vying for long-time Comm. Pat Mulieri’s seat on the BOCC, as Comm. Mulieri is retiring at the end of this term.
This election is Remsberg’s first foray into politics, she says. Remsberg is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who has worked as the Homeless Liaison for the Pasco County School District (PCSD) since 2006. She also worked as a therapist for the BayCare Health System for five years. Remsberg earned a B.S. in Community & Human Services from the State University of New York (SUNY) Empire State College in 1998 and earned her MSW (Master in Social Work) degree from New York University in 2001.
“I had been speaking to some civic groups,” Remsberg explains. “A woman had seen me speaking about working with impoverished students within the (Pasco County) school system. She suggested that I run for county commissioner. Initially, I was surprised because I’ve never been politically involved. But, the more I thought about it, being a community-based social worker, I’m in a unique position to understand what families are going through all over Pasco and I have the training to help assist the county in moving it in the direction of really helping its residents.”
Remsberg says that she has seen poverty all over the county, from Lacoochee to Wesley Chapel. She says that the county has poverty rates ranging from five to more than 30 percent. To combat poverty, as well as any other issues in the county, Remsberg says that her vote is solely hers.
“I have no investments in any businesses, lands or developments, so I don’t gain from anything I vote on. My vote will simply be based on the best interests of the residents of Pasco,” she says.
Remsberg adds that she also wants to focus on public transportation, unemployment and growth planning, which she says go hand-in-hand.
“I’d like to see more focus on socio-economic development in the areas of the county that have the highest amount of poverty and unemployment,” Remsberg says. “I think the dollars to create jobs need to go to areas that need them the most. Moving forward, I would shift attention to the wings of the county that are starving for jobs. This would help Wesley Chapel alleviate congestion, because I’d also work to try to increase public transportation options.”
As far as planning, Remsberg uses the new Walmart Supercenter on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel as an example.
“I want to see the people with jobs be able to get to work,” she explains. “Yes, Walmart is creating jobs, but a lot of those employees aren’t going to be able to afford to rent apartments in Wesley Chapel. So, they’re driving to work from Zephyrhills, Dade City, maybe even Tampa, which is adding to congestion.”
Remsberg says that she wants to work on a comprehensive strategy when creating jobs to also create housing in those areas that people can afford.
“For the jobs we’re creating, are the people that area going to be working those jobs going to be able to live in that area?” she asks. “I think we’re missing the mark there, but I believe we can do better if we plan better.”
Remsberg has received endorsements and support from the Democratic Women’s Club of Florida, the West Central Florida Federation of Labor, the Heritage Pines Democratic Club, as well as many local individuals, including Beverly Ledbetter, who is running for the District 38 seat in the Florida House of Representatives (see separate story on page 6).
“Local government impacts people’s lives on a daily basis,” Remsberg says. “I think it’s really important for people to understand what their representatives are voting for and how it will impact them. If I’m elected, the only motive I have for my vote (on an issue) is to help my community.”
For more information, please visit ErikaRemsberg.com.
Moore Wrapping Up Campaign
Meanwhile, Moore, who lives in Seven Oaks, has been campaigning hard, as we’ve covered several times since he announced his candidacy last summer.
“We’re thankful for the support in the primary,” Moore says of his surprisingly easy victory against two better-known Republican candidates (including former State Rep. Ken Littlefield). “That victory was due in part to the hard work of our volunteers. We’re still walking neighborhoods, waving signs and meeting with future constituents.”
Moore, who owns VR Business Sales & Mergers & Acquisitions — a Wesley Chapel-based company specializing in buying and selling small businesses — as well as serving as president of the Wesley Chapel Republican Club, says that his main focus will remain on letting voters know that he plans to work on the county’s public safety and on bringing high-paying, secure jobs to the area.
“People leave (Pasco) county for work every day,” Moore says. “I want to work to bring jobs here and become a premiere county, where every citizen can live,work and play. I want to see the county prosper for everyone.”
If elected, Moore says that accessibility will be one of his major concerns, with plans to hold regular “town hall meetings” in the district.
To date, Moore has been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, Pasco County Sheriff’s Lodge No. 29, the West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association and the Pasco County Professional Firefighters Local 4420.
In addition, Moore also has been endorsed by several elected officials, including outgoing Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford, Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco, U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Pasco BOCC chair Jack Mariano, Dist. 18 State Senator Wilton Simpson, Pasco County superintendent of schools Kurt Browning, Pasco property appraiser Mike Wells, San Antonio Mayor Tim Newlon and former Zephyrhills Mayor Danny Burgess (who also is running for District 38 state representative; see pg. 6).
For more information, please visit MikeMoore2014.com.
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