Letter to the Editor, as published in the Citrus County Chronicle July 17, 2020:

It’s not easy to say “no” to someone who is a decent person with a good heart, especially when you’ve known that person for a number of years. But as I look to the future of Citrus County and consider the needs of this special place that I’ve chosen to be a part of and make my home, my choice for the District 5 Board of County Commissioners election has to go to Holly Davis.

I have lived in Citrus County since 2001. With my considerable background in law enforcement, as a former business owner in South Florida and the Cayman Islands, as a volunteer serving in numerous capacities in our Citrus County community, I have had the opportunity to meet and work with many elected officials over the years. Some have greatly impressed me, but regrettably, many have not.

As I’ve gotten to know Holly Davis over the past two years, I have come to admire her as a woman with strong leadership skills developed over years of running her own successful businesses and signing paychecks; a woman who understands the risks that every business owner takes to provide important services while having to deal with the regulations put in place by our governments to insure safety and standards.

Holly is no wallflower and does not scare easily, but she listens, researches and considers all viewpoints before making good decisions. As a strategist, she looks first at the big picture to define the way to reach a goal. I have witnessed that Holly has respect for people in all walks of life and she knows how to work toward consensus to benefit the good of the whole.

When Holly is elected to the BOCC, she will apply her skills as a strategist to help her fellow commissioners drill down into the issues until they find the firm footing that the entire commission can build upon. She will be decisive but work within the parameters of an elected commissioner. The winners will be Citrus County, our residents and our businesses.

I hope you will join me in voting during this primary election for Holly Davis for District 5 of the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners.

Tom Gotterup
Crystal River