LOCAL POLITICS: AN INTERVIEW WITH ALACHUA COUNTY COMMISSIONER MIKE BYERLY

IN THE MIDST OF ALL THE NATIONAL ANGST ABOUT AMERICAN POLITICS IN A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR, MANY OF US FAIL TO SUFFICIENTLY FOCUS ON LOCAL ELECTIONS. YET IT'S AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WHERE YOUR "BIGGEST BANG FOR THE BUCK' CAN AND SHOULD BE APPLIED. THE LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT THAT MOST IMPACTS YOUR PERSONAL LIFE IS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND VOTERS NEED TO SUPPORT CANDIDATES WHO SUPPORT THE THINGS MOST IMPORTANT TO THEM.

USING THIS GUIDELINE FOR WEDNESDAY'S NORTH FLORIDA WRITER LIVE BROADCAST, I AM PLEASED TO WELCOME ALACHUA COUNTY COMMISSIONER MIKE BYERLY AS MY GUEST ON WEDNESDAY AT 1 PM.  MIKE IS UP FOR REELECTION, HAS A TOUGH OPPONENT WHO IS SUPPORTED BY LEADERSHIP INTERESTS IN THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, YET HIS STRENGTH LIES IN HIS STRONG AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR ALLOWING ALACHUA COUNTY TO BE A VARIED COMMUNITY WITH A MIX OF URBAN, BEAUTIFUL FARMLANDS AND RURAL CHARM.  IT IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE OF VARIED LIFESTYLES AND VARIED INTERESTS, FROM FAST PACED BUSINESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROPONENTS AND NATURE LOVERS, HELP BROADEN THE OUTLOOK IN A STATE WHICH IS PRESSURED BY SO MUCH PUSH FOR UNBRIDLED GROWTH.

WE WILL DISCUSS MIKE'S STRONG SUPPORT FOR A BALANCED LIFESTYLE AND NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION, HIS COMMITMENT TO BEING EXCEEDINGLY OPEN AND HONEST IN WHAT HE WORKS TO ACCOMPLISH, AND HOW VOTERS, REGARDLESS OF PARTY AFFILIATION, CAN HELP OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH SUPPORT FOR HIM TO NOT JUST BECOME ANOTHER LAND OF ENDLESS SPRAWL AND STRIP CENTERS.

i MIGHT NOT ALWAYS AGREE WITH MIKE, IN FACT I DON'T AGREE WITH ANYONE ALL THE TIME, BUT i DO BELIEVE IT'S TIME FOR ANYONE WHO IS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR RURAL LIFESTYLE AND/OR OUR NATURAL RESOURCES IN ALACHUA COUNTY TO SUPPORT HIM. HOPE YOU'LL EITHER TUNE IN OR LISTEN ON DEMAND LATER.