On September the 11^th 2009 the eighth anniversary of the day  when nearly 3,000 American people perished during the cowardly act of terrorist on our great country in  the cities of New York, Washington D.C. And Shanksville Pennsylvania Class #19    gathered to learn and understand how local County and City government works efficiently and judiciously.

Seminole County Commissioner Brenda Carey spoke on the effects of governmental decisions and how it affects all of us the tax payers. Commissioner Brenda Carey asked Class #19 to lower our heads for a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. It was with great pride and remembrance that at we did this a a “remembrance” to the lives lost eight years ago and yet while I did hold my thoughts for that moment I could not help feel a scène of responsibility to the 343 New York City firefighters who perished while providing the duty to act. The duty to act and serve is not just left to the public safety sector or U.S. Military; it is a duty and responsibility for leaders, like us in Class #19 to answer the call as well to our community, pears and Country. The call must be answered like the fire alarm that rang out that day in New York or Washington D.C. on September 11^th, I tough assignment, but no one every said it is easy being a firefighter or in this case a leader.

You see being a leader should be a calling to serve and direct for all the right reasons, heroics’ and self praise is not the fabric of or benefits of leadership, but perseverance to assure the ethical decision that is best for all parties involved is.

It’s like what Seminole County Commissioner Carlton Henley said during his brief speech on directional leadership, Remember? “If you’re getting kicked or stabbed in your back you must be the leader because you’re out front”… wow those are words to live by for inspiration folks and a heartfelt thank you to Commissioner Henley for sharing that with our class.

Class #19 enjoyed a wonderful lunch sponsored by the Engineering group Site Secure Inc. and over lunch we were educated on fair elections and equal polling by Mike Ertel. Remember the Florida Chad’s?  Well, no of that here in Seminole County’s Supervisor of Elections Mike has made significant improvements since his appointment to office by then, Governor Jeb Bush, including efficient elections, excellent service and a regain of voter confidence. I enjoyed the Mayors session where the seven (7) local City mayors all came in to answer questions and update Class #19 on the recent and past economic growth and future growth management in each city. The topics of light rail, mall revitalization and downtown C.R.A.’s all came up and I must say I certainly stand encouraged by what each Mayor discussed during this session.

Thank you Mayors Bush, Kuhn, Andrews, Bundy, Mealor, Glancy and Bates for taking time out of your busy day and supporting Leadership Seminole and Class #19, much was learned and Class #19 can certainly gain more admiration on decisions from the Mayors office.

  Now having said that; I am certainly excited about discussing our afternoons Break-Out session, or more appropriately Mock Commission meeting regarding a request to grant a Special Exception to allow a dog kennel near a school. Let me start out by saying Class #19 does not need any acting lesions, in the words of the late Rodney Dangerfield “Wow, this is a tough audience” and believe me as the Lead Commissioner for this meeting I certainly felt like I was getting staled fruit thrown at me, well between the dog activist, the good old boys& I mean they were not bashful about their friend ship and the developmental Attorney, believe me running into burning buildings suddenly looked appealing again. Class #19 took a lesson learned acutely in just how Commission meetings are run and what happens when you have a “good old boy net work”, dog activates and a three (3) concerned citizens all take the podium within a half hour, ouch!  My mother said there would be days like these but not to this magnitude, but on a serious note, the work and decision making in a public open format the city and county commissioners experience is unique and at times difficult.  

Class #19 now understands the difficulty in mitigating the right decisions to perform effective and manageable government. I can’t help but think of an old saying that would sum up our little mock commission meeting, it goes like this “Doing what is right is not always popular; however, being popular doesn’t always mean your right”.