Recommendations

By John Labriola - The Aug. 18 primary elections are around the corner, and with mail-in ballots having already arrived in voters' hands, it's time for recommendations.

The marquee election this year is the governor's race, with Ron DeSantis stepping down after eight highly successful years due to term limits. Several qualified candidates have entered the race to replace him, so the Citrus Crusader will hold off on recommendations for governor until the general election.

In the contest for Chief Financial Officer, our former state senator Blaise Ingoglia has done an excellent job of exposing financial irresponsibility in local government as he builds support for this November's constitutional amendment to eliminate most homesteaded property taxes. The Crusader recommends keeping BLAISE INGOGLIA.

In the race for state representative, it was disappointing to hear Tod Cloud come out against the property tax amendment at a recent candidate forum. Although Cloud has taken conservative positions on other issues, Republicans should be united on cutting property taxes, especially this year. Vote for JJ GROW.

The District 2 County Commission race pits Commissioner Diana Finegan against her 2022 opponent Stacey Worthington. While Worthington has tried to moderate her image, she did support allowing LGBT Pride propaganda displays in the libraries in 2022 and continues to have the financial backing of Citrus County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Josh Wooten, a former Democratic county commissioner who supports the LGBT and DEI agendas. On the other hand, Finegan has defended conservative values and has repeatedly tried to get the commission to cut taxes. She deserves another term. Vote for DIANA FINEGAN.

The District 4 County Commission race features three candidates, but only one is conservative. The incumbent, Rebecca Bays, who is running against Jennifer Grogan and Holli Herndon, has voted to raise taxes, opposed spending cuts, appointed LGBT activists to the Library Advisory Board, and approved controversial residential developments. Herndon, a local educator, is a woke liberal who believes people can choose their own gender and opposes honoring Charlie Kirk. Grogan, who owns a small business and helps run a ministry, has been a strong voice for conservative family values and recently spoke out at a county commission meeting against a proposed data center shortly before the application for the center was withdrawn. Vote for JENNIFER GROGAN.

For Circuit Judge, the Crusader recommends LISA YEAGER.

Finally, for School Board, John Thrumston is a former county commissioner who would apply his businessman's perspective to the problems of the school district. Vote for JOHN THRUMSTON.

Early voting begins Aug. 7.

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