From "Florida Today", October 5, 2008
Brevard County is sailing in treacherous waters.
A wretched economy is forcing the County Commission to make deep budget cuts at a moment when three new members will be coming aboard, significantly changing its makeup.
At the same time, it’s critical that commissioners plan for our community’s future and find ways to lure new industry to offset the thousands of jobs that will be lost when NASA’s shuttle program shuts down.
Voters already have made one choice in sending Republican Andy Anderson to the District 5 seat during the August primary. Anderson served five years on the Palm Bay City Council, giving him a solid background in handling difficult problems.
Space Coast residents now face two more choices in races that will be decided Nov. 4. We believe two candidates deserve the public’s support — Democrat Robin Fisher in District 1 and Democrat Ed Geier in District 3.
They bring years of community service and leadership to the table, providing the kind of experience that will be needed to help guide the commission through more rough times ahead.
Fisher’s credentials are impressive.
He understands businesses, running his own Titusville insurance agency for nearly 20 years. He also has served as a member of the Titusville and Palm Bay city councils and as Titusville’s vice mayor, giving him knowledge about the real world of governing and making tough calls.
His service on the boards of directors of Brevard Community College, Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce and Brevard United Way shows he has the skills to work with interests across the county to develop coalitions and can get things done.
On the most important issue facing the commission — spending cuts — Fisher says everything should be on the table, except essential services for public safety. His call for a "line-by-line, item-by-item" budget review is what the taxpayers want.
His other top priority is creating jobs, which is especially important in Titusville because of the shuttle program's demise.
To that end, he strongly supports county funding for the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast and its efforts to attract new business. But he also brings a small businessman’s common sense for the kind of pro-business climate that government can help spur.
He's a strong advocate for protecting North Brevard's open space and rural lifestyle, working with other Central Florida counties on regional planning to control growth and safeguard the Indian River Lagoon.
Also running for the seat are Republican Roger Shealy, a partner in a Titusville investment firm, and Libertarian Ilene Davis, a financial consultant. Neither has Fisher’s grasp of the complexities facing the county.That makes him the clear choice in District 1.