Curtis HolmesSince leaving the Largo City Commission in 2005 I have reserved comment on actions of the city commission and in particular any specific commissioner. I have not endorsed any candidate for local office, feeling I had my turn on the commission; it is now time for someone else. In the 2009 Largo City election I must speak out in favor of a candidate, that candidate is Curtis Holmes. Holmes does not have experience as an elected official, nor did any current or former Largo City Commissioner before their election to the commission as far as I know. However Curtis Holmes does have experience in city business, being fully informed as to city commission activities both in budget matters and ordinance action of the commission. Holmes has offered many potential cost saving ideas to the city, as well as ideas for general improvement to the way our local government works. If you sit down and have a serious conversation with Holmes you will soon find him to be very knowledgeable on a wide range of topics, he is not the radical some would paint him as. Curtis Holmes did not win the endorsement of the local daily newspaper. In the editorial endorsement of Mr. Woods the paper failed to mention the important fact the Curtis Holmes fought and won a battle against that same paper. In a public safety matter Holmes encouraged the Largo City Commission to follow the law already on the books and ban the sale of newspapers on street corners. This action has cost the newspaper sales; it was Holmes who stood up for us, the citizens of Largo on this issue. That same editorial endorsement claimed Mr. Woods's involvement in the building of a new library, the strategic planning process and the acknowledgement of Martin L. King has a leader. The TRUTH is that Mr. Woods had absolutely nothing to do with the design, funding or building of a new Largo Library; Woods was not on the commission at the time. The Strategic Planning process was first discussed by then candidate Charlie Harper prior to the 2002 election. The Strategic Plan was developed and passed prior to Woods being on the Commission. Acknowledgement of MLK as a leader in racial progress and the need to recognize King started in 2003 by THEN members of the commission. Looking at the two candidates, Holmes and Woods side by side I see a leader, a businessman, a person who will speak up for the citizens of Largo in Curtis Holmes. In Woods I see more of the same actions coming from him that we have seen for almost the last four years, a follower, a person of limited ideas, and a person that is not focused on the needs of the community. In the economy of 2009 we need a candidate that is razor sharp focused on ways the commission can LEAD and give DIRECTION to the administration, not the other way around. My fellow citizens do not take this election lightly, one commissioner can make a difference, and one voice can make a difference in your city government. The City of Largo has some outstanding Administrative leaders, some very good employees, and as a body, some commissioners who do care about the future of Largo and you as citizens. An elected official carries a tremendous responsibility, if that official takes the office seriously. I believe Curtis Holmes will take the office of City Commissioner in a serious, considerate and focused fashion. I don't want a TEAM PLAYER as my city commissioner, I want an individual who thinks for himself, makes a decision based on a thought process and reasonable discussion of issues, and a person who votes for a purpose not to be a team player. I encourage my fellow citizens of Largo to examine the facts, look at the issues and draw the responsible conclusion…vote for Curtis Holmes for Largo City Commission. Charlie Harper, Largo
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