Press Release
Pat K. Gass, Group 4
October 11, 2015 7:50 p.m.
The last three years have been some of the most stressful of my life. They have also been some of the most informative and rewarding. I never understood the stress of public office and the perseverance necessary until I chose to throw my hat in the ring and you, the people of our community, voted to give me that chance. If you will have me, I would like to have that opportunity again.
I have lived in this city for 90 percent of my life. I call it home. My parents brought my siblings and I here and I chose to raise my family here for the same reasons that brought so many other families to our island. The charm and uniqueness of this community are our largest assets and, though beset on all sides by a variety of forces, I want to see a course charted that saves what we all love and embraces the best of the new things that come our way.
In the parlance of our times, I can be described as a “fiscal conservative.” I believe that debt should be avoided. I do understand, however, that debt may not always be totally unavoidable. I believe that our City government should do its best to live within its means, in the here and now, as opposed to betting on things that have not yet come to pass. This approach necessitates patience, commitment, and tough decision making. I do not believe in trying to keep Fernandina in the past, but I do not believe in leveraging our future. If I am to be spoken of after my time on the commission, I hope that the things said will be that I maintained our city’s standards and that I was a good steward of the peoples’ money. Not that I saw to the construction of this or to the revitalization of that. I believe good things will come to this city and that its future is guaranteed, not by the tax dollars we use to encourage business, but by the way we help our citizens and maintain the shared spaces, activities and appearances of our beloved community.
Our city is not now at a crossroads. Rather, the choice to change direction is constantly available. I hope that you appreciate my vigilance in maintaining the course that I feel is best for our humble beach town. It has been a learning experience, an honor and a pleasure. Regardless of whom you vote for, or how you do it, I encourage everyone to cast their ballot. It is only with everyone’s participation and input that we can plot our best course. It is my hope that you will vote for me to again help in that process as your commissioner.
It’s truly unfortunate that commissioner Gass does not grasp the facts and extreme problems with the city departments or city government much less has a vision for the future of the city. A year ago, charter members as with city manager Gerrity and city attorney Bach received a 4% raise which Gass rallied for. Gass gave a rave review (employee evaluation) of the city manager.
Just recently a 2.5 % raise was given to the city attorney which Commisoner Gass supported and voted to approve. It appears that with the lawsuits the city has been in and millions of dollars being paid out, maybe a reduction in pay instead of a raise would be more appropriate for the city attorney. For every frivolous lawsuit that is lost, commissioners that supported the city manager should be held responsible for loss of tax payers dollars as well as the city manager instead of the taxpayers.
Gass tried to retain Gerrity through a revote once he gave his notice to resign. Gass could not get support with the current commission. Now the city is in another lawsuit with previous human resource director Robin Marley which I’m sure will be very costly for the city! In closing Commissioner Gass is well gaware of the inexperience and issues with Murrallo and Higgingbotham and she continued to support them. Thankfully under political pressure and massive unrest within the fire department the city manager hired a professional fire chief prior to his resignation. Commisoner Gass does not deserve another term as Commisoner due to favoritism and supporting inexperience!
I concur with your statements.
Pat Gass “I know the cost of everything and the value of nothing.”