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Candidates for Brooksville council tout current, past experience

 
Bernardini
Bernardini
Published Oct. 12, 2016

BROOKSVILLE — City residents have just one City Council race to decide on the Nov. 8 ballot, and that choice is between two native Brooksvillians who have each served on the council before: sitting council member Frankie Burnett and challenger Joe Bernardini.

Burnett, 61, is a retired contract manager for Mid-Florida Community Services. He has a business management degree from the University of Phoenix and took additional coursework at the University of Florida. He is separated and has four adult children and four grandsons.

Burnett was elected to the council in 2004 and served one term, then was appointed in 2010 for a partial term and re-elected in 2012. He is past president of the Hernando County Branch of the NAACP. He is co-founder and past president of the South Brooksville Community Economic Development Commission, chaplain for the Frederick Kelly Elks Lodge and has been active in numerous church and local organizations, including the Community Alliance, Take Stock in Children and Habitat for Humanity.

"I believe in serving as a positive leader that is inclusive of all citizens and business owners," Burnett said of his candidacy. "I have strived to create a participatory democracy for our city by personally visiting with residents and business owners on many issues and always encouraging an open exchange of opinions at public meetings."

Burnett counts growth and development as the most important issue facing the council and the city.

"Revitalizing and growing Brooksville is very important. We have made a lot of progress in the last few years. We are finally moving forward," he said. "We must continue increasing the number of visitors, residents and businesses that are coming to our city."

He specifically voiced support for the Florida Blueberry Festival and the city's designation as part of the Florida Main Street Program.

Burnett said his focus on economic growth is to serve businesses that have already chosen Brooksville.

"Many times I believe that people underestimate the importance of business retention and providing a business-friendly environment for businesses to prosper," he said. "I am an advocate of improving educational opportunities in the city and enhancing the technology infrastructure that is available so that we can attract the new jobs and businesses of the future."

A strong supporter of City Manager Jennene Norman-Vacha, Burnett believes the city's budgeting process is a good one that provides public transparency. He believes in towing the line on the city's spending. Raising taxes, he said, does not encourage building business.

"We must work to maintain a lower tax rate," he said. "Instead of just levying a higher rate, I believe that the city should work harder at growing its property values, through revitalization efforts, investment and encouraging new business and commercial business growth."

Burnett is challenged by Joe Bernardini, 64, who has previously served for 22 years on the City Council and was appointed mayor four times. A 40-year service technician for AT&T, he served two years on the city Police Department.

Bernardini is past president of several local service organizations, including the Noon Lions Club, the United Way of Hernando County, the Brooksville Jaycees, the Hernando County Fair Association and the Hernando County Sheriff's Auxiliary. He has volunteered with the Sheriff's Office for 25 years on the posse auxiliary and as a reserve deputy. A graduate of Hernando High School and the Police Academy at Saint Leo University, he also attended St. Petersburg College and Pasco-Hernando State College. He is divorced and has two daughters and six grandchildren.

Bernardini says he wants to return to the council to continue work he began in the past.

His platform is "to continue top-notch constituent service by me personally, to maintain our quality of life at a cost we can afford, and to ensure responsible growth, growth that benefits the city and not the special interests."

Bernardini is concerned about the increasing animosity between the city and the county, and he counts it among the top issues the council needs to address.

"The most pressing issue facing the city is the deteriorating relationship with the county. This includes annexations, litigation and fire safety. It is time for the governing bodies to sit down together, analyze the differences and seek resolution,'' he said.

He also wants to see the city work harder to bring in more businesses and jobs.

"I would recommend a more aggressive advertising and recruitment program, working in conjunction with the county's economic development department and the Chamber of Commerce through their national media," Bernardini said.

He said he has had a good relationship with the city manager and, while he thinks the budget process is transparent, he would prefer to see more workshops and meetings on the annual budget during hours when working city residents can attend.

Regarding the city's spending plan, Bernardini said, "I would promote holding the line on taxes and only consider raising (the rate) under circumstances where citizens' safety, health and welfare are at risk."

Each candidate believes he can best tackle the city's needs.

"As a lifetime resident of the city with years of public service behind me, I bring the knowledge and experience to be a successful councilman on behalf of the residents," Bernardini said. "We are both qualified. However, I feel I have the advantage in experience and a willingness to ask the tough questions and seek the right answers."

Said Burnett: "I am a positive leader that is concerned about the city of Brooksville. I am a 'people person.' I talk to residents and business owners to understand their concerns, advocate for a community focus and represent those I serve, not my own self-serving ideas."

Contact Barbara Behrendt at bbehrendt@tampabay.com or (352) 848-1434.