Pasco County Commission: Pair of incumbents defeated

BROOKSVILLE — Anti-incumbent anger in Hernando County cost two of three county commissioners on the ballot their jobs in Tuesday's election.

Voters ousted District 3 Commissioner Diane Rowden and District 5 Commissioner Chris Kingsley, both two-term Democrats, replacing them with Republicans John Druzbick and James Adkins, respectively.

The sole incumbent to survive, Republican Jeff Stabins in District 1, defeated Democrat Ramon Gutierrez.

The incumbents have faced harsh attacks this election season from various groups angry over property taxes that soared in recent years.

Druzbick, 57, a local businessman and former School Board member, has been an advocate of zero-based budgeting, shared purchasing by governmental entities and reducing the number of county consultants.

Druzbick said he believes voters could relate to the message that commissioners should have acted sooner and trimmed tax rates and scaled back budgets.

"It's ironic," Druzbick said. "That theme was coming from both parties. I think people wanted a change."

Rowden, 59, defended her record of tax cutting and touted her staunch stand on slow growth rather than out-of-control development.

Tuesday night she struggled to maintain her composure. "I really love my job. I really did. I love the people of this community. I know so many people appreciated the things that I do for them," Rowden said.

In the District 5 race, Adkins won with a narrow margin over Kingsley. A former Brooksville fire chief, Adkins, 59, built his platform on lower taxes, less government and more freedom.

"It's great," he said after the vote count. "I guarantee that I'll be working with the citizens and for the citizens."

Kingsley, 52, who focused on his support of county property tax cuts, could not be reached for comment late Tuesday.

Stabins won by a substantial margin against his challenger, Democrat Ramon Gutierrez, a mortgage broker and real estate agent. Stabins, 48, ran on his commission record and his background, which includes six years in the Florida House and his career as a teacher.

This will be a second term on the commission for Stabins, who has been a supporter of the ongoing county government downsizing and the county property tax rate cuts made during his term.

"Obviously, I'm thrilled. It's been a tough year," Stabins said, expressing sadness for the defeat of both Rowden and Kingsley.

"There's no tougher job to defend than local county commission," he said. "Today the stars just aligned for me."

Comments on this article

by david	Nov 7, 2008 12:40 PM
I'm not against the natural migration of people who want to move to Florida. What I am against are the builders who came from all over the country. Built thousands upon thousands of homes, thirty feet apart, and flew people in so they could sell them

by dave	Nov 7, 2008 12:39 PM
The only hope for positive change in Hernando county will come in the way of a clean sweep of Hernando's county commission. If this does not occur. Effective and positive change will never arrive.

by Maryann	Nov 7, 2008 10:34 AM
Doesn't this reporter know the difference between Pasco and Hernando Counties? Why does the heading say Pasco when the body of the article is about 2 Hernando Co. ex-commissioners!

by Jack	Nov 5, 2008 9:05 PM
Its called a free market--I'd rather have free transactions based on real people's voluntary supply and demand instead of a busybody politician such as Rowden controlling our economic future.

by Charlotte	Nov 5, 2008 9:03 PM
Gee, soon we'll look just like Pasco County.

by Amber	Nov 5, 2008 9:02 PM
This county is in trouble NOW!! Druzdick you already had our taxes raised twice! Build Build Build!Dont forget to hire all the immigrants at minimum wage!! Sure You wont!

by Joseph	Nov 5, 2008 9:02 PM
Don't worry, Jeffy-boy, we'll get your tax and spend azz, next time. The business people's money kept you around a little longer, but to do what. Kiss their butts favors must be paid for, what did you promise in return?

by To Ted	Nov 5, 2008 9:02 PM
House flippers gone wild. They scooped up cheap homes, got stuck them when the market went belly up, and then abandoned them. Don't blame the builders for meeting the demand of the flippers. BTW: Name calling wasn't necessary.

by george	Nov 5, 2008 8:59 PM
diane the people that pick up my trash need some one that shows up once in a while plus they pay real good and you can decide weather to pick my trash up are skip my house if it looks like too much work plus they give great retirement and vacation

by Sam	Nov 5, 2008 8:59 PM
"I really love my job. I really did. I love the people of this community. I know so many people appreciated the things that I do for them," Rowden said. Definitely don't count me as one of those people that appreciated her.

by Jack	Nov 5, 2008 8:53 PM
This is great news for taxpayers and workers in Hernando County.

by Chloe	Nov 5, 2008 6:29 PM
It is about time those 2 get out of office!Lets remember that we voted them out,so in 2 years when they run against someone else we won't vote them back in!Kingsley-I don't think the school board is hiring!Rowden-I don't think the airlines are hiring

by Jim	Nov 5, 2008 8:59 AM
An eleven year invventory of homes on the market, sprawling developnemts everywhere...how's that working out for the republicans. They just gave themselves more rope to hang themselves.

by mike	Nov 5, 2008 8:59 AM
Rose Rocco come back to the republican party. There is nothing left for you at that other party.

by Spoils Boy	Nov 5, 2008 8:59 AM
Great job by the voters. We have 2 more left that are up for re election in 2 years. Clean House !!!!

by Jack	Nov 5, 2008 8:59 AM
Rowden is a tax and spend socialist who has 0 respect for property rights and businesses. It was about time the voters rejected her.

by Fireball	Nov 5, 2008 8:59 AM
Maybe, Dan DeWitt Times Staff Writer, can treat Rowden and Kingsley to lunch and inform them that the next election he will campaign even harder for them the next go around than he did this time.

by Heather	Nov 5, 2008 7:24 AM
Flip, it's a tough loss for those of us who want low-growth in this county to swallow. Opponent in the pocket of Builder's Assoc. & Realtors. God help us.

by Ted	Nov 5, 2008 7:24 AM
Yipee... Build Build Build Build. Builders gone wild. Taxes Taxes Taxes . Build some more Vacant houses. Go get um.. You Dopes.

by HD	Nov 5, 2008 7:24 AM
Let's see if all of those Rowden campaign signs come down as fast as they went up.

by Howard	Nov 5, 2008 7:24 AM
It looks like Rowden is not the legend in her own mind that she thought she was. Not caring or being sensitive to the feelings of the voters in the community finally caught up with her. Now go take down those Rowden signs from all over the county.

by Abouttime	Nov 5, 2008 12:33 AM
Bye Bye Rowden!! Maybe the Mermaids are hiring. Its so good to see some positive change in office!

by Flip	Nov 4, 2008 11:57 PM
Must be a tough loss for the Times to swallow.