Mike Moore Kicks Off Commission Campaign In Dade City

By Matt Wiley

Surrounded by family, friends and supporters, Pasco County Board of County Commissioners District 2 hopeful Mike Moore (R-Wesley Chapel) kicked off his campaign on September 18 in Dade City.

Inside the packed Kafé Kokopelli in downtown Dade City, guests and honorary hosts — including Dist. 18 State Senator Wilton Simpson (R-Dade City), Pasco County Schools superintendent Kurt Browning, Pasco property appraiser Mike Wells, San Antonio Mayor Tim Newlon and Zephyrhills Mayor Danny Burgess — gathered with Moore for a fund-raising reception. Honorary hosts House Speaker Will Weatherford (R-Wesley Chapel), Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco (R-Odessa) and Commissioner Jack Mariano (R-Hudson), all of whom have endorsed Moore, were unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts.

“Once in a while, you have somebody who runs for office that has the skills that are necessary to spend your money, and I think that’s so important,” said Wells during the event. “Many times, we vote for people because we like the way they look, they’re a friend of a friend or you know them from the golf course. (Mike) is a business man. He understands running a business, and government is nothing more than a big business… I think he’s going to make a great county commissioner.”

Sen. Simpson, who represents much of the northern and western portions of Pasco, shared Wells’ sentiment.

“The county is going through some major changes,” Sen. Simpson said. “Infrastructure is going in, economic development is coming into the county; things are getting better. What we need are steady hands at the till. Mike Moore is going to bring that to the (BOCC). We’ve been treading water for the past several years and growth is starting to come back and take off. I’m very supportive of Mike.”

“Everyone’s support means so much to me and my family,” Moore said. “Never in my wildest dreams as a kid did I see myself running for public office, being a politician or running for the County Commission.”

Moore stated that the purpose of his campaign is to help bring secure, high-paying jobs to Pasco, so that opportunites aren’t missed. He plans to create an action plan to show companies what the County has to offer.

“I need to know what’s working for you and what’s not in this County,” Moore said. “The campaign’s not about me. It’s about everyone here, and most important, it’s about Pasco County.”