By Matt Wiley
‘We need to be shaking hands with the CEOs & company reps & letting them know what Pasco has to offer, instead of waiting for them to come to us.’ – Mike Moore
The 2014 Pasco County local elections may still be just less than a year away, but the race for the Pasco County Commission District 2 seat (which includes all of Wesley Chapel) already is heating up, as current Dist. 2 Comm. Pat Mulieri (R- New Port Richey) will not be seeking reelection.
So far, two Republican candidates have filed with the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections office to be considered candidates for the seat — current Wesley Chapel Republican Club president Mike Moore and Robert (Bob) Warren Robertson. If no candidates of any other political parties file between now and July 28 of next year, the two will square off in an August 26 Primary election, and the winner will take the seat. However, if at least one candidate of another party (or with no party affiliation) files, the winner of the primary will face off against that candidate (or those candidates) in the November 4 General election
Although it is still early, Moore already is gathering endorsements from both local and state elected officials, including Florida Speaker of the House Will Weatherford (R-Wesley Chapel), Pasco County sheriff Chris Nocco (R-Odessa) and Dist. 5 County Commissioner Jack Mariano (R-Hudson).
“My family and I, we live here, we work here and we run a business here,” says Moore. “We really care about this county and it’s where we’ve planted our roots. At the same time, I see a lot of changes and improvements that need to be made in this county.”
Among those changes Moore says he would like to make, if elected as a commissioner, is getting out and attracting companies that will bring high-paying, secure jobs to not only Wesley Chapel, but also Pasco County as a whole.
‘We Have A Lot To Offer’
“Sometimes those big companies have come here, but we haven’t had a plan in place of why they should come here,”
Moore says. “We have to seek them out.” Moore says that, if elected and the budget allows, he will be active in attending major business and manufacturing conferences that often are attended by big-business CEOs, whom he would reach out to about opening branches or relocating to Pasco County.
“We need to be shaking hands with the CEOs and company representatives and letting them know what Pasco has to offer, instead of waiting for them to come to us,” Moore explains. “We need to be able to offer the right incentives from the beginning.”
The University of Central Florida (in Orlando) communications graduate is the owner of VR Business Sales And Mergers & Acquisitions, a Wesley Chapel-based company specializing in buying and selling small businesses. VR is the second business Moore has started from the ground up; he says that in 2004, he began Care First Home Care, a company that provides in-home caregivers for the disabled and elderly, which he sold in 2011.
It is his business experience that Moore says makes him an ideal candidate for the District 2 Commission seat.
“You need to run a county as a business,” Moore says.
In addition to his business experience, Moore points to his extensive community involvement and leadership experience as the president of the Wesley Chapel Republican Club and to his participation in the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club, which allow him to not only connect with potential businesses that may be interested in the county, but also as someone who can always be in touch with his constituents.
Moore says that he also serves on the Seven Oaks Elementary School Advisory Council and volunteers as a soccer, football and baseball coach in the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association (WCAA).
“Mike Moore is a true public servant who is ethical, fiscally responsible, and can help our County through this economic recovery,” said Speaker Weatherford in an August 16 press release. “I am honored to support Mike in his campaign for Pasco County Commissioner. I know he will serve our community well.”
On February 13, Weatherford also appointed Moore to the advisory committee of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, the state agency that administers human services programs to benefit Florida’s elderly population. Moore also serves on the Central Pasco Advisory Board to Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-Palm Harbor).
Mariano is, so far, the only current member of the Commission who has endorsed Moore. “Mike is very active in the {WCAA} and wants to encourage our youth and families to play sports and to enjoy our parks and libraries without having to pay any extra taxes (fees),” Comm. Mariano said in a press release. “Mike is a family man and business man well suited for the County Commission.”
Pasco County sheriff Chris Nocco also has expressed his support for Moore’s County Commission bid.
“Mike has a strong business background and understands economic growth starts with strong public safety,” said Nocco in a press release supporting Moore. “I know he will work with law enforcement to make sure our neighborhoods and kids are safe.”
Since we went to press with the August 31 issue, Mike also has received an endorsement from county property appraiser Mike Wells.
For more information about the Dist. 2 County Commissioner race, please visit PascoVotes.com and click on the “Candidates” tab.
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