1. Launched a Citizen-Led Planned Future
Citrus County’s first-ever official Strategic Plan began in mid-2021, and launched January 2023. Five words encapsulate this historic effort: “Where nature and community thrive.”
Two open town halls and a workshop with 40 county leaders (no politicians or staff) crafted this collaboration. The FSU facilitators remarked that in all their years of helping with governmental strategic plans, this was the only one that was not politician-led, but citizen-led.
The goals, steps, and timelines included in the plan have accelerated long-overdue projects that were stuck in “government molasses,” such as the Inverness Airport Business Park, Crystal River Airport runway extension, CR491 widening south of CR486, the Port Citrus boat ramps, and the new animal shelter.
In August 2024, we learned that our 20-month-old Strategic Plan had been one of three counties nationally honored to receive the National Association of Counties’ EDGE Award for Strategic Planning! There are over 3,000 counties nationally, so to be one of three is a big award, recognizing the quality of our citizen led plan, and just as importantly, the processes we have in place to measure progress. (Planning is great, but successful and timely execution is just as important!)
2. Voted to Start Paving Roads & Stop Wasting Money
Residential road resurfacing is a hot priority for residents, but has been underfunded for many decades, far from a best-practice repaving cycle of 20-25 years. When a road degrades to rebuild status, it costs over 3x as much to rebuild as repave on time! Every year Citrus County underfunded roads, it was digging a deeper hole, an insane waste of taxpayer dollars driven by short-sightedness and election cycles. Beginning with the 2023/24 budget, Citrus County is now on a 20-25 year cycle. It will take time to catch up, but many more miles of roads will be done in 2023/24.
3. Voted Against Developers When “Good Project – Wrong Place”
Holly is to her core an honorable person who looks out for the Citrus County community. Three major development votes did not go the way the developer wanted: infill in Sugarmill, infill (golf course) in Pine Ridge, and Cardinal Farms. All three may have ended up being nice projects, but it was not in the best interest of the community to approve them. In two of those three Denied projects, the developer donated to her campaign.
4. Fierce Protector of Our Waters
Lobbied hard in Tallahassee for continued Crystal River and Homosassa River restorations, and took the lead right after being sworn in, to secure initial funding for the Tsala Apopka lakes, starting with Point Lonesome.
In late 2023, she received reports of a vessel docked in unincorporated Crystal River that was starting to sink, leaking oil and fuel. A report from the state said, “not enough to be removed on emergency basis” and, “based on current timelines, will be over a year, maybe up to two, to get it removed.” Holly contacted her FWC connection, who drove by in his own boat to see it, and agreed with Holly that it’s just silly that the state is investing so much in our springs and river restoration with eel grass plantings, but are letting meadows die from this leaking vessel. It took several months, but we received state approval to yank it out ourselves (a county contractor) and then receive 100% reimbursement for the cost from the state. This is now a model going forward, with other derelict vessels already being removed under the same state-local partnership. A big thank you to FWC for partnering with Citrus County on this solution.
Sometimes you only spot weaknesses in the rearview mirror, such as the 7-11 being built in Homosassa, right next to the springs. Right after that happened, a by-right development, she was hugely supportive and voted in favor of a new county ordinance banning gas stations, oil change providers, and other risky petrochemical type businesses from being built anywhere near our springs. Never again!
5. Supported Move to County Culture of Performance
Holly voted to hire a performance-driven county administrator who not only quickly implemented the strategic plan, but also immediately worked to change the culture of government workers in the county from “throwing up roadblocks” to “bringing fresh ideas and energy.” There are exciting things planned for 2024 on our path to becoming a performance-based organization where residents can see far more clearly what they’re getting for their hard-earned tax dollars.
In support of this performance culture, Holly voted to reduce expensive and wasteful turnover by making sure our quality employees are compensated fairly in today’s market.
6. Set a Course to Effective Transparency
In her first year as a commissioner, Holly improved the county’s communication with citizens to emphasize what was working well, and laid the groundwork for a far more effective level of transparency.
Because, while Citrus County budgets win awards for clarity and transparency, these finances and many of the other subjects tackled are complex, and could be far more efficiently communicated to residents. Getting the communication right the first time helps the county run lean on minimized tax dollars, and improves trust in county government. Look for many new communication initiatives in 2024.
7. Continually Sought Education, Opportunities to Serve, & Valuable Connections
Beyond the required annual Ethics training, optional certifications and participation in various organizations ensure that your commissioners have received the training necessary to do their job. This is especially in the area of growth management, which carries many risks, from legal to the desired quality of a community as it grows. Additionally, participation builds connections to bring grant money and opportunities home to Citrus to reduce tax dollars, and a collective voice promotes fewer state preemptions and greater local choice. But all this time away from home and personal expense is optional for your commissioners!
Holly is an Advanced Certified County Commissioner (ACC1), and will soon start the coursework for the next level (ACC2). At just 18 months in office, she was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Florida Association of Counties, as the representative for four counties. Holly was also appointed to the Water & Sustainability and Community/Urban Affairs committees for FAC, and to the Community/Economic Workforce Development and Arts committees for National Association of Counties. She attends Tallahassee Legislative Days (and was instrumental in obtaining the initial funding for Too Far lakes restoration) and many Florida Chamber economic and prosperity summits, including being a driving force behind the launch of Prosperity Citrus.
She is currently chair of the Board of County Commissioners, the Tourism Development Council, the Medical Examiner six-county board, and a member of the Citrus County Community Charitable Foundation. She joined the local YMCA board in 2023, and in 2021/22, served on the Early Learning Coalition, Withlacoochee Regional Water Supply Authority, and Veterans boards.
Holly historically donates 10% of her professional time to charities (local or national), and in early 2024 her marketing firm collectively donated $25,000 in professional billable time to area charities, including a complete marketing package for Blessings, and brand reworks for Jessie’s Place and CASA (Citrus Abuse Shelter). A brand rework for Key Training is in the works.
Holly Davis humbly asks for your support on November 5, 2024.