This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks
The action you just performed triggered the security solution
There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase
You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked
Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page
Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInGAINESVILLE
(WCJB) - Shelters are opening across North Central Florida as evacuation orders are issued for residents ahead of Helene
The storm is expected to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast as a major hurricane
Statewide evacuation information can be found here. A full list of currently open general population and special needs shelters across Florida can be found here
Alachua County has issued an evacuation order for residents living in mobile or manufactured homes
or homes that might not survive hurricane-strength winds
General population shelters do not provide cots or beds
so those seeking shelter will need to bring their own bedding
Animal Resources will have supplemental supplies on hand for those seeking pet-friendly shelter
They encourage residents to bring veterinary records
Animals without such records will be vaccinated upon intake to minimize the spread of contagious diseases
Please remember that animals must be properly restrained throughout their stay at the emergency shelter for the safety of all involved residents and pets
For information about transportation to the special needs shelter
Alachua County has activated the 311 Emergency Information Line (or at (352)-264-6557
if 311 is unavailable in your area) for questions and rumor control
Officials with Bradford County Sheriff’s Office said a shelter opened at 10:30 a.m
Thursday morning as power outages are expected throughout the night
Officials ask residents to please bring any essentials they might need
Special needs patients should bring their oxygen
Pets accompanying owners must be in a crate with its own water and food supply
Citrus County has issued the following mandatory evacuation orders. If you’re not sure what zone you’re located in, you can check here
8 a.m.: Licensed skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities located in Zone A
2 p.m.: Those living within Evacuation Zone A or any structure countywide not capable of withstanding tropical storm force winds or greater
Citrus County Transit provides transportation at no cost to an open shelter or other safe location within Citrus County
Citizen information lines are open until 10 p.m
Residents taking shelter are asked to bring personal information
a 72-hour supply of any required medications
any special dietary needs or non-perishable foods
and extra batteries or external power supply
Columbia County will open four general population and one special needs emergency shelter location on Thursday
The only items provided at shelters are cots for sleeping
and limited food; please bring only the essentials that you will need for sheltering
One pet-friendly shelter has now opened in Columbia County as of Thursday afternoon
Pet owners seeking shelter are asked to remember to bring pet papers and food
Dixie County officials have issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents of the coastal communities of Suwannee
including those in mobile or manufactured homes
especially in low-lying areas of the county
Citizens with animals needing shelter must bring a crate
Owners must provide a rabies vaccination certificate and proof of distemper parvo/feline distemper vaccine
Note: This shelter will be moved to the old Dixie County High School Gymnasium located at 16077 U.S
Gilchrist County officials say all shelters will open Wednesday at 6 p.m
Officials ask those coming to seek shelter to bring medication
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for recreational vehicle parks
All residents living west of US Highway 19 have also been ordered to evacuate
as storm surge levels may reach levels of up to 15 to 20 feet
Owners must provide a Rabies vaccine certificate and proof of distemper parvo/ feline distemper vaccine
Levy County Animal Services will provide vaccines for an additional $10.00 per vaccine
If you cannot provide proof of vaccinations
your animal will be sheltered at the Levy County Animal Control shelter
Those who need transportation to the shelter should call (352)-486-5155 or (352)-486-5576
Citizens with special needs will be able to check into the shelter at 2 p.m
The shelter will open to the public at 4 p.m
Small pets are also being allowed into the shelter with proper documentation
Putnam County officials said the county is under a tropical storm warning with winds expected to arrive Thursday and 3 to 4 inches of rain expected
General population shelters will open Wednesday
and the special needs shelter will open Sept
Taylor County Sheriff’s Office officials have issued a Mandatory Evacuation Order for Taylor County due to the intensity of the forecasted Hurricane Helene effective immediately
Taylor County residents in need of shelter are welcome to shelter in Alachua County
if you need help finding shelters or transportation support
The State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) is now active
Residents needing resources before and after Hurricane Helene can call 1-800-342-3557
There are English, Spanish & Creole speakers available to answer questions. Visit this link for more information
A mandatory evacuation order has been issued for Suwannee County residents living in mobile homes
Anyone taking shelter is asked to bring bedding
medication and other comfort items as needed
Officials have issued a voluntary evacuation order for Union County residents
Residents using the shelters should bring 2 days’ worth of supplies for themselves
All shelter residents that bring pets should bring them with a crate and bring a 2-day supply kit for their pets
Local officials ask those seeking shelter to arrive before noon to avoid driving through tropical conditions
Click here to subscribe to our newsletter
MARION COUNTY
– A man riding a motorcycle through Marion County was killed in a crash early Thursday with a sedan that violated his right of way
at the intersection of SW 80th Avenue and SW 80th Street
the motorcyclist — identified as a 37-year-old Citrus Springs man — was riding north on SW 80th Avenue as a sedan being driven by an 87-year-old Ocala woman traveled south on the same road
both of them approaching the SW 80th Street intersection
As the motorcyclist entered the intersection
“thus violating (his) right-of-way,” the report states
The man and the motorcycle were thrown onto the northeast grass shoulder while the sedan came to rest obstructing the intersection
The woman was hospitalized for treatment of minor injuries while the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at HCA Hospital Ocala
Troopers believe the woman was wearing a seat belt during the crash
adding it was unknown whether the man was wearing a helmet
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily:
Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved
joined the ClickOrlando team in November 2021
TV Listings
Email Newsletters
RSS Feeds
Contests and Rules
Contact Us / Follow on Social Media
Careers at WKMG
Closed Captioning / Audio Description
Public File
Current EEO Report
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Do Not Sell My Info
FCC Applications
EEO Report
Disability Assistance
Copyright © 2025 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group
Citrus County residents Brian and Nanza Darley’s home was destroyed by Hurricane Helene
They share their story with volunteer Angie Irmer at local Red Cross shelter
Hurricane Helene left a path of destruction more than 800 miles long
spanning from Southwest Florida to Virginia
This massive area of impact includes Florida's Big Bend where communities are still recovering from two prior hurricanes (Idalia in August 2023 and Debby in August 2024)
as well as a tornado in May 2024 -- all in the last 13 months
This is the tragic case of repetitive damage and loss
Red Cross partnered with Citrus County Government to support displaced citizens by opening an emergency shelter in Citrus Springs
County Administrator Steve Howard visited the shelter the day it opened and shared
Health Department and Red Cross have done an exemplary job
I spoke to many citizens that were very thankful."
One of the families affected by Hurricane Helene is Brian and Nanza Darley who came to the shelter when they lost their home
“This is devastating…there is nothing left,” said Nanza Darley
She later stated that the Red Cross volunteers at the shelter “listen to us and give us hope.” Her husband Brian Darley said
“The Red Cross is giving us a chance to put our life back together.”
This is a similar sentiment from another shelter resident Joseph Melchionne from Citrus County
He and his disabled mother came to the shelter after a tree fell on their home
“We never have had to ask for help before on any of the other storms we went through
I’m glad that there was someone to help…a big thank you to the (Red Cross) volunteers.”
HOW TO FIND HELP Find shelters and other resources by downloading the free Red Cross Emergency app
For people unable to access the information they need
call 1-800 RED CROSS but keep in mind longer wait times due to large call volume
You can also find shelters and community-based services by following your local emergency officials on social media or by monitoring local news
The Red Cross has disaster mental health workers available at many locations. If you or a loved one needs help, reach out through the Disaster Distress Helpline for free 24/7 multilingual support by calling or texting 1-800-985-5990
Financial donations for Hurricane Helene enable the Red Cross to prepare for
respond to and help people recover from this disaster
If you would like to volunteer with the Red Cross, visit redcross.org/volunteer to learn more about volunteer opportunities
Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross
Find a drive and schedule a blood donation appointment today
It’s a scene that’s become all too familiar to Citrus County coastal residents the last 18 months
Aerial drone video of flooded neighborhoods
Airboats rescuing stranded citizens as waters rise
imploring people to stay away and let emergency responders do their work
Hurricane Helene brushed Citrus County with an 8-foot storm surge that inundated Crystal River
leaving residents and business owners wondering how to move on
Crystal River Mayor Joe Meek, who posted regular tide and flooding information throughout the night Thursday
“Unofficial, getting reports and pictures from throughout the city, we do not have specific surge numbers yet, but definitely in excess of Hurricane Idalia, looking like the 1993 no-name storm,” he said
“Unbelievable amount of water throughout the city
numerous structures flooded substantially.”
Citrus County Sheriff’s deputies blocked road access into Crystal River and Homosassa
Deputies blocked nearly all roadways leading west from U.S
as waters were still receding in the early afternoon
“I know a lot of folks are wanting to get back in
unfortunately the water levels are just too high to be accessible to most of our residential areas,” Meek posted around 1 p.m
Despite a mandatory evacuation order, and dire predictions of a 10- to 15-foot surge, some still chose to ride out the storm at home. The Sheriff’s Office said it rescued 85 residents and pets who were trapped by rising floodwaters
The county said 161 people evacuated to Citrus County emergency shelters
the county will open a recovery shelter at Citrus Springs Community Center
The American Red Cross will staff it with hot meals and a shower trailer
Daystar Life Center in Crystal River is also offering hot meals
There were no reports of injuries or fatalities
About 31,000 power customers lost electricity during the storm
County Commission Chair Holly Davis said Citrus County’s coastal communities sustained significant damage
“Together as a community we can get through this
Let’s all pitch in to help,” she said
Meek said Helene’s flooding is another resiliency test for his city
“Many buildings and places that have never seen flood waters
Mike Wright is a former reporter with the Citrus County Chronicle
where he had covered county government and politics since 1987
Mike's skills as an investigative reporter earned him first-place awards in investigative writing
Mike also helped the Chronicle win the Frances Devore Award for Public Service in 2002
May be time to move inland and leave the coast for week-end visits
This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media
Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL
© Copyright by Extensive-Enterprises 2025. All rights reserved. STAFF LOGIN
— Shelters are open across the Tampa Bay area in anticipation of Hurricane Milton
which is making its way across the Gulf of Mexico
All residents should check their local county's website to ensure they have all information for shelters
Officials said shelters will close for intake at 2 p.m
FDEM: Know Your Zone
and I feel like that's part of where the system failed"
Henry Betsey Jr. is facing charges for marrying three Florida women in three different counties at the same time. Now
saying the system that handles marriage licenses kept them in the dark
Report a typo
Citrus County Commissioner Ruthie Davis Schlabach had the money
community support and benefits of incumbency
Yet it’s Janet Barek who will hold the title come mid-November
stunned the Citrus County political scene by defeating Schlabach in the Republican Primary for District 3
It was tight. Barek won with 51% support
and fewer than 800 votes separated the candidates
Barek acknowledged that she’s the beneficiary of an overall public nervousness about Citrus County growth
“I’m pleased people want the change and I’m going to give it to them,” she said
A self-described government watchdog
Barek has harangued Commissioners on topics ranging from residential road resurfacing to taxes and growth
Commissioners will quite often respond by saying she’s incorrect or her remarks are misleading
Schlabach said she lost when supporters didn’t show up to vote
who won a five-candidate Republican Primary in 2020
voters received mail pieces daily not only from Schlabach’s campaign
but also from Tallahassee-based political action committees supporting her
one newspaper ad and exactly 100 yard signs
But she had a booth at Howard’s Flea Market in Homosassa and showed up at every candidate event
every Sunday at Howard’s Flea Market talking to ordinary people
Barek said citizens want a slowdown in growth
They want the Nature Coast to be the Nature Coast,” she said
“They’re tired of all these developers coming and everything is cleared
Barek’s answer was pragmatic: comfort breaks during Commission meetings
“I would like to see a little bit of civility come back to the board,” she said
the Chairperson should take a 10-minute comfort break
It appears Lince Dorado has returned to World Wrestling Entertainment pretty much out of nowhere
as he wrestled as part of an NXT live event in Citrus Spring
Florida tonight opposite Friday Night SmackDown
Dorado's last match on screen for WWE was a losing effort against Cedric Alexander on the August 20
following a series of losses mostly alongside his Lucha House Party tag team partner Gran Metalik
Dorado first came to WWE through the Cruiserweight Classic tournament in 2016 before eventually becoming a major part of the 205 Live brand
competing in the cruiserweight division on a consistent basis before eventually forming the Lucha House Party group with Metalik and Kalisto
Dorado has been wrestling across a wide variety of indie promotions including Major League Wrestling
most recently losing to Rich Swann at CZW's Cage of Death 22 event on December 21st
Dorado talked about his return to NXT with the following post on X:
Cats out of the bag! Time to get #luchalit @WWENXT #NXTCitrusSprings pic.twitter.com/MAJJp7vFKf
It is currently unknown to what capacity Dorado has returned—whether this is a true return with him re-signing with the company in an official capacity
or if it's just the start of things to come with he and WWE working on a deal following this appearance
#NXTCitrusSprings It’s a Lucha kind of night pic.twitter.com/Fb5EwiOz58
Full results from this NXT live event include:
Are you excited to see Lince Dorado back in WWE
Should he be part of the NXT roster or go to either Raw or SmackDown
— Shelters are opening across the area in anticipation of Hurricane Helene
which is making its way toward the Gulf of Mexico
It wasn’t even close, and Holly Davis isn’t going anywhere
The first-term Commissioner easily defeated no-party upstart Paul Grogan to win re-election to Citrus County Commission
a defeated Inverness City Council candidate known for his anti-LGBTQ rhetoric
rarely campaigned and never said why he was running against Davis
Davis posted a thank you on her Facebook page
“It’s been an honor to serve you these last four years
and am grateful for the opportunity to continue,” she said
This wasn’t even a contest on paper. Davis had $85,000 in collections; nearly all of Grogan’s $5,189 came from his own pocket
and his biggest expense was the $2,929 ballot qualifying fee
no no-party candidate had finished with more than 41% in a Citrus County race
many wondered whether an upset in the August Primary would carry over to District 5 in the General Election
District 3 Commissioner Ruthie Davis Schlabach also thought she had an easy re-election path only to lose to Janet Barek
a cantankerous 74-year-old Citrus Springs woman who is a regular attendee at County Commission meetings
One significant difference: Barek campaigned vigorously
showing up whenever candidates were invited
Grogan, a merchant marine captain who spends eight months a year at sea, didn’t campaign in any traditional sense. Grogan did not participate in the Citrus County Chronicle’s election events
nor did he provide the newspaper any campaign information
Grogan is a prolific Facebook hound
often posting dozens of times in a single day
Other than some yard signs scattered about and $1,000 in radio ads
Grogan didn’t make a single campaign move
Grogan didn’t seem to have any specific platform
it reads: “He hopes to support responsible development and local autonomy in Citrus County
and additionally give back to his community and the world via this position
Davis, who is completing her year as Chair, is best known for being the architect behind the county’s first strategic plan
She also interacts frequently with citizens
“You may not like my answers sometimes — all too often I’m as frustrated as you but it’s the legal reality of the situation — but you will always get the straight truth from me as to what we can accomplish together,” she said
Schoors please provide me with your employment contract with this authors contract with Florida Politics
He is confusing the marketplace soliciting advertising from Candidates as a Blogger offering no Press Identification as anything else
You stated you employ only journalists writing articles yet Mike Wright is clearly retired as a journalist and hides your employment situation
He prides himself to be a fanciful Hit Man slanting articles for publication not only to a webpage operating in Interstate Commerce but recirculates blogger material into a fake attempt to recapture his bygone title of Journalist even though his material is offered in such commercial venues as a local Citrus County glorified coupon cutter advertising venue called Hometown Citrus as well
In fact his blog was started with the aid of the local big wigs at the Chamber of Commerce
His logo was provided by Citrus County Commissioner Holly Leigh Davis in a clear conflict of interest
In fact Mike Wright provided big play to her his whole career offering exclusive coverage at her home with other officials floating this state’s Sunshine Laws
I sought clarification from Mike Wright but he refuses to reveal who he is working for
I am trying to ascertain his commercial interests in trying to mask a coupon book as News
An official from Hometown Citrus is his buddy and refuses to provide any information as to his misleading behavior in the marketplace
I require to examine his contract with you for my required good faith pre suit investigation as to my targeting by rival competitors in the marketplace
Please provide me specifically if Mike Wright signed a no compete clause in his contract with Florida Politics and his role with your entity
You specifically said to me I should write this request to you on this platform
It has been screenshotted because this author has been known to block and erase any of my efforts to competently investigate my case for my legal counsel
I haven’t dealt with ethnic names in later years
I’m in the land of Anglo Saxon based names lol
My posting on here complies with the request you made of me in our email discussion
Many tourists who visit Florida head for Orange County, home of the state’s most famous theme parks. But just 85 miles west of here lies a lesser-known county, with a similar name and its own wild character. If you’re looking to explore Florida’s natural beauty, or if you’re into hiking, biking, and paddling, you should visit Citrus County
That hippo is Lucifer, better known as Lu, and he took up residence in what’s now Homosassa Springs State Park back when it was just another roadside attraction
Lu faced a possible eviction: only native animals are allowed in the state parks
his many fans beseeched the then-Governor Lawton Chiles for a special dispensation to let Lu stay
Chiles declared Lu an official citizen of Florida
and Lu has been delighting (and occasionally splattering) visitors ever since
But Lu isn’t the only worthy attraction here – there’s plenty more wildlife and incredible nature to see
Use this guide to inspire your next adventure to Citrus County
The Wildlife Walk takes visitors past captive bobcats
Panthers are the official Florida state animal
yet they’re also on the endangered species list
The park’s most notable landmark is the enormous manatee statue out front
large enough to be seen from the nearby U.S 19
If you’d rather see a living manatee
you’ll find them in the Fish Bowl Underwater Observatory sunk down in the spring itself
the park has a manatee program in the bleachers that overlooks the Fish Bowl
The 20-minute show offers a quick tutorial by a park volunteer about manatee biology
Manatees are central to tourism in Citrus County
thanks to a Cornell University grad student named Daniel “Woodie” Hartman
who conducted the first in-depth study of the lives of manatees in the late 1960s
He ended up writing about his research for National Geographic
Jacques Cousteau happened to read the article
and featured Florida’s “forgotten mermaids” on his popular TV show in 1972
and Crystal River is now the only community in America with a manatee-based economy
This 61-acre site just off U.S.19 contains six pre-Columbian burial and temple mounds
demonstrating that this was one of the longest continuously occupied sites in Florida
Not only was it occupied for more than 1,000 years
but the evidence shows people traveled thousands of miles to visit every year to trade goods
take the mile-long trail and stop by the museum
a piece of memorable ‘60s architecture which shows off some of the artifacts found amid the mounds
The trail includes a 51-step staircase to the top of Temple Mound A
which rewards you with a beautiful view of the surrounding tidal creek
Described as “the jewel of Crystal River,” and beloved by locals
Hunter Springs Park offers a relaxing stopover at the most accessible spring in Kings Bay
In addition to the boardwalk for manatee viewing
the park is open to swimming year-round and has a playground
There’s a fee for the use of the launch but no kayak rental is available at the park
kayaks are available for rent from many outfitters out of Kings Bay to ensure you have a wonderful day on the water
To step into Crystal River Preserve State Park is to enter a time machine. Much of the property has remained untouched for centuries, allowing visitors a vision of Florida of the past. The park, just down the road from Crystal River Archeological State Park
stretches 20 miles along the Gulf Coast between Yankeetown and Homosassa
protecting more than 27,000 acres of scrub
There are two kayak and canoe launches – one by the park headquarters, the other by Mullet Hole. Crystal River Preserve Adventures offers reservations for guided kayak excursions
Wednesday and Friday provided by the 24- seat vessel “Monroe.” But what many visitors prefer is to hike or bike on the Seven-Mile Loop Trail
which is the longest unpaved loop in Citrus County
What adds even more to its appeal is that it’s part of the Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail
The coastal location combined with the undeveloped character of the park makes it a major hotspot for birders looking to boost their life lists
Be forewarned – there are no restrooms or potable water on the trail
so take your canteen and be sure you go before you go
Another prime paddling spot is the Tsala Apopka chain of lakes
This is the largest freshwater system in Citrus County
covering approximately 22,000 acres near Inverness
Local residents love the undeveloped feel of the area
although people have altered the landscape repeatedly since the 1880s
it’s three separate pools that connect 15 lakes relying on water from groundwater
and surface water movement from the Withlacoochee River
The Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes surrounds most of the Flying Eagle Preserve
and swamps along five miles of the Withlacoochee River
Along the water are 22 miles of multi-use trails winding through woods and old pastures
making the preserve a terrific place to hike or bike
The preserve is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail
which means you’re liable to see everything from ducks to wild turkeys to raptors here
Birds recorded in the preserve include sandhill cranes
whose long necks have earned them the nickname “snakebirds”
You’re also likely to see gopher tortoises
which Floridians used to call “Hoover chickens” during the depression
Don’t try to eat them now – they’re a protected species
An even better ride—if you’re up for it—can be had on the 47-mile Withlacoochee State Trail
The trail passes through three counties (Citrus
making it one of the longest paved rails-to-trails projects in the state
you don’t have to ride the whole trail all the way to the end in one trip
It passes through several small towns that offer a good place to stop for the afternoon or the night (or even the week)
“The southern end of the trail offers plenty of shade and a nice view of the Withlacoochee River while the northern end is more open,” says trail manager Christopher Raby
“My favorite portion is the mid-section of the trail that runs through downtown Inverness and borders Wallace Brooks (park) and Liberty Park.”
You can peel off the Withlacoochee State Trail to explore the Liberty Trail
a meandering boardwalk through cypress and palm trees that runs along Lake Henderson and connects Liberty and Wallace Brooks parks
You’ll have to park your bike and tie your walking shoes
because the Inverness-owned Liberty Trail is for foot traffic only
you have a better chance to spot the wildlife all around you
Waterfowl such as egrets and herons swoop in to feed in the marshes
and you’re likely to see alligators and turtles
To protect the natural habitat of manatees
Fish and Wildlife Service set up the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge in 1983 which covers Three Sisters Springs
the last unspoiled and undeveloped spring habitat in Kings Bay
You can view Three Sisters Springs from land by hiking the boardwalk
which offers a variety of viewing platforms and regular guided tours during what the staff calls “manatee season.” Beginning in mid-November
seeking the warmth of the springs’ flow from underground which protects them from the cold
That crowding usually continues until late March
when the temperatures rise and they slowly disperse
it’s still possible to see manatees and your best chance of spotting them is the early mornings
Here you can spot up to 100 different native and migratory bird species that have flocked to this lush home
You can’t jump into the spring from the boardwalk and splash around with the manatees
but you can bring or rent a canoe or kayak and launch from any of the public boat ramps or kayak launches on Kings Bay
Then you can make your way to the spring run for Three Sisters
This is it: the one place where everyone says you can experience Florida the way it was meant to be
People will call it “pristine”
the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge will blow your mind
was established in 1943 for the protection of the flocks of migratory birds that stop off there
There’s a visitors center with a two-story observation tower
but most of the refuge is accessible only by water and best experienced from a kayak or canoe along the spring-fed Chassahowitzka River
estuaries and brackish marshes provide the perfect environment for a variety of marine life including manatees
which like to graze on the seagrass meadows in the refuge’s tidal bays
This post is sponsored by Discover Crystal River. Click here to explore more
We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the world’s hidden wonders
Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month
Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders
Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders
Janet Barek, a Citrus County Commission mainstay for years, stunned Commissioner Ruthie Davis Schlabach in her District 3 re-election attempt
Schlabach held a slight edge in early votes, but Election Day voting pushed Barek over the top with 51%
Fewer than 800 votes separated them out of 37,000 votes cast
Meanwhile, in District 1, voters returned Jeff Kinnard to office for his third term with 57% over Curtiss “CJ” Bryant
Schlabach had far out raised and outspent Barek
Schlabach had $65,000 in contributions to Barek’s $3,200
the District 3 race garnered much of the attention as both candidates discussed the growth taking place countywide
Bryant’s attempt to paint Kinnard as a rubber-stamping
pro-development Commissioner may have impacted the final numbers
whose re-election was unopposed just four years ago
angered pockets of the county with votes for developments that neighbors opposed
Kinnard said he supports well-maintained growth
He often says he’d rather vote for a quality development that will add value to the community
than to deny a development based on fear of what growth may bring
He criticized Kinnard for approving development plans to upzone property
providing more homes than what’s allowed by right
The District 3 candidates stuck to familiar themes
Barek focused on residential road resurfacing
She has long supported a sales tax increase to repave neighborhood roads
Schlabach campaigned on a record that included the Inverness Airport Business Park
a new animal shelter and pickleball courts in Beverly Hills
For Barek, the conversation often started and ended with residential road resurfacing. As a resident of Citrus Springs, which has some of the worst neighborhood streets in the county
Barek said she has seen infrastructure deteriorate
Republican Commissioner Holly Davis, completing her first term in office, goes up against Paul Grogan
a no-party candidate who spends eight months of the year at sea as a merchant marine
Davis has $85,000 in collections
including some of Citrus County’s biggest political contributors
Grogan has $5,189 in collections and all but $318 is his money
His biggest expense: a $2,929 ballot qualifying fee
He isn’t campaigning in any traditional sense. Grogan did not participate in the Citrus County Chronicle’s election events
And no no-party voter has finished with more than 41% in a Citrus County race
Grogan’s efforts might be dismissed as an attention-getter
Grogan doesn’t seem to have any specific platform
Grogan has received support from a diverse group of leaders and advocates across his jurisdiction
These endorsements reflect his commitment to equality
as well as his ability to build coalitions and effectively advocate for his constituents.”
Davis has spent only about $28,000 — a third of her contributor tally