[Aloha1]

Originally Posted by Northwoods

I want commissioners that want to do the best for Sumter residents. Many times, that is working with or negotiating with the Developer.

Example - Months back the commissioners tried to increase impact fees. (I know I won't get this 100% correct )...The Developer offered 40% impact fees but only The Developer (small businesses would be exempt). I would have liked the commissioners to use this offer to start a negotiation to increase impact fees. But the commissioners rejected it.

So what did we end up with? Something much less than that.

People think that candidates who aren't anti-Developer are pro-Developer. I'm not sure that's true. Maybe they understand that getting the best outcomes for Sumter residents is negotiating with the Developer, not fighting against the Developer.

Because... if you look at it.... what have the "anti Developer" Sumter commissioners accomplished? Not what have they said, or ran on... what have they accomplished?

I want effective commissioners that will negotiate the best outcomes for Sumter residents. In my opinion, I don't believe the POA candidates will do that.

Excellent response. And it goes right to my point that the POA may very well be "part of the problem" by actively taking political sides and willfully ignoring what chaos their support caused from the last election.

[twoplanekid]

Who determines who is anti Developer or pro-developer? Who places the label on that person? Can a person be neither? Are issues more important the labels? Does a stance on issues determine their label? If I ask a lot of questions, does that place me as being pro or anti?

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by twoplanekid

Who determines who is anti Developer or pro-developer? Who places the label on that person? Can a person be neither? Are issues more important the labels? Does a stance on issues determine their label? If I ask a lot of questions, does that place me as being pro or anti?

I don't know a lot of the political particulars, but I do know a couple of things. 1) This mysterious presence lurking in the shadows, AKA "The Developer" seems to have a pretty good handle on what makes The Villages tick and what is needed to keep it ticking; and 2) I for sure don't want a gaggle of cranky old curmudgeons with axes to grind trying to make someone who DOES know what they're doing, to bend to the will of said curmudgeons.

My wife and I knew what we were getting when we moved here. Things were pretty clear and as far as I am concerned, in our best interests. People who move here and then try to change things are working in THEIR interests, not mine.

[kansasr]

Originally Posted by Aloha1

So the Property Owners Association is once again attempting to influence the Sumter County Board. Now they are promoting the person who bankrolled the failed Commissioners from the last election which wasted countless time, money, and delayed the acquisition of new ambulance service in Sumter. Enough already. Do your homework before voting.

I'm glad we have someone on the side of the residents!

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

I don't know a lot of the political particulars, but I do know a couple of things. 1) This mysterious presence lurking in the shadows, AKA "The Developer" seems to have a pretty good handle on what makes The Villages tick and what is needed to keep it ticking; and 2) I for sure don't want a gaggle of cranky old curmudgeons with axes to grind trying to make someone who DOES know what they're doing, to bend to the will of said curmudgeons.

My wife and I knew what we were getting when we moved here. Things were pretty clear and as far as I am concerned, in our best interests. People who move here and then try to change things are working in THEIR interests, not mine.

Well said.

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by kansasr

I'm glad we have someone on the side of the residents!

I'm not convince of that. They seem to be anti-developer to me. Not the same thing.

[twoplanekid]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

I don't know a lot of the political particulars, but I do know a couple of things. 1) This mysterious presence lurking in the shadows, AKA "The Developer" seems to have a pretty good handle on what makes The Villages tick and what is needed to keep it ticking; and 2) I for sure don't want a gaggle of cranky old curmudgeons with axes to grind trying to make someone who DOES know what they're doing, to bend to the will of said curmudgeons.

My wife and I knew what we were getting when we moved here. Things were pretty clear and as far as I am concerned, in our best interests. People who move here and then try to change things are working in THEIR interests, not mine.

So, you are in favor of a corporation running the Villages instead of CDDs with elected officials other than the three commercial CDDs? Sorry, but that's not my wishes for the Villages and it's not the way things are run. I will disclose that I am an elected board member of NSCUDD who has served 4 years and will serve one more 4 year term before retiring.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by twoplanekid

Who determines who is anti Developer or pro-developer? Who places the label on that person? Can a person be neither? Are issues more important the labels? Does a stance on issues determine their label? If I ask a lot of questions, does that place me as being pro or anti?

Great post, people appear to be very quick to assign the pro or anti developer label based on one’s stance on specific issues. There are some who think everything the developer does is bad and anyone who supports the developer on any issue is pro developer, while others think the developer can’t possible do anything wrong and anyone who questions the developer on specific issues is anti developer. Personally, as both a business person and Villages homeowner I admire the developer and think that at least 95% of what they do is spot on. If I didn’t truly believe that we wouldn’t have made a significant investment in a retirement home in the Villages. That being said, there are a handful of specific issues that I question the developers actions and or methods of doing business. That doesn’t make me anti developer, but having the audacity to question them quickly gets me strongly attacked as anti developer by a few people who I won’t mention. As far as determining who is pro or anti at the elected county official level, the best way to make that determination is to follow both their voting record and the money. If someone’s voting record on issues is consistently one sided, and the side they support by voting on issues is also the source of their funding, connect the dots.

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Amazing how complicated politically this place is. IMHO the developer has built an awesome place but has too much control over local politics.

Hoping we can vote for people who understand this place and be on the side of us villagers but not owned by the developer.

Amen to that ! Never expected this... and it gets worse year by year !

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

I don't know a lot of the political particulars . . .

I don’t know ANY of the political aspects so I have no idea what people are talking about. I want to be an informed voter but facts are hard to come by.

What is the POA? Why do people love it or hate it? Why the animosity between the POA and the developer?

Can someone explain it for those that are new to TV or tell us how to find the information? Any books, newspaper articles, or online stories? Thanks.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by twoplanekid

So, you are in favor of a corporation running the Villages instead of CDDs with elected officials other than the three commercial CDDs? Sorry, but that's not my wishes for the Villages and it's not the way things are run. I will disclose that I am an elected board member of NSCUDD who has served 4 years and will serve one more 4 year term before retiring.

My guess is that you knew how TV was run when you moved here, but came anyway.

What made it OK then, and NOT OK now?

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

I don’t know ANY of the political aspects so I have no idea what people are talking about. I want to be an informed voter but facts are hard to come by.

What is the POA? Why do people love it or hate it? Why the animosity between the POA and the developer?

Can someone explain it for those that are new to TV or tell us how to find the information? Any books, newspaper articles, or online stories? Thanks.

What the POA has to say about the POA Their bulletin is available from a link on that page as well.

You should also look into the Villages Homeowners Advocates (VHA) for another perspective.

The POA seems to act as a watchdog group that alerts Villagers to what they perceive as efforts by the Developer to take advantage of the residents.

The VHA seems to act as an intermediary between the Villagers and the Developer to work towards a mutually agreeable partnership.

[twoplanekid]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

My guess is that you knew how TV was run when you moved here, but came anyway.

What made it OK then, and NOT OK now?

There have been no changes in who governs the Villages since I purchased in 2014. Many people have misconceptions as to the systems (CDDs) that are in place where elected officials govern the Villages along with District Staff. Now, there is a fine line on who owns what, who is responsible for what, and who should pay for things. I would encourage those that are public service minded to run for an elected office to then experience and learn more about the inner workings of the governance of the Villages which I proudly call my home and am proud to serve as an elected official.

[shut the front door]

Originally Posted by Sparky25

It is nice to have the POA looking out for us. If you read all the slanted garbage in the villages daily news it is sickening. I will always vote for people who are on the peoples side.

Absolutely. The only reason I've read the Daily Sun the last month is to see which candidates they are bashing. Those are the ones I will vote for.

[Mrs.Guy]

Originally Posted by shut the front door

Absolutely. The only reason I've read the Daily Sun the last month is to see which candidates they are bashing. Those are the ones I will vote for.

Trying to think of an answer for this post that won't get get me kicked off this site on my 1st. post.

Here goes..... Have you considered "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe" ?

My husband CWGuy told me about some of the posters on this site..... boy was he right!