Mosquito board hopefuls agree: Race is about money
Brandhorst, LeBlanc differ on where to cut
By JENNIFER EDWARDS
Both candidates for Seat 5 on the Anastasia Mosquito Control District board say they want to save taxpayers money, but they differ on how they'd do that.
Cathy Brandhorst wants to accomplish that goal by reopening a closed substation, purchasing rather than renting a Hastings substation location and considering layoffs.
Gina LeBlanc says layoffs aren't the answer, but consolidation is. She said the district should use its reserves to construct a new building on land it owns at State Road 16 and Interstate 95 and close down the other stations, saving on utility and communications bills.
Both agreed the most important topic for residents is the budget.
"Money, money, money -- nobody wants to spend any money," Brandhorst said. "I think we have one of the best programs in the country, (but) I think we should constantly be thinking of new and better ways to do our job."
The district this year will operate on 15 percent less than last year, district documents show.
Brandhorst said she would reduce operating expenses by still more -- as much as 10 percent -- in part by reopening the closed Ponte Vedra Beach substation. That would save on gas for the vehicles that now travel from Anastasia Island to get to the area, she said.
"I know you can scrimp a dollar here and scrimp a dollar there," Brandhorst said. She said reopening the new station would save trucks the drive from the main station on Anastasia Island.
"I think routes could be looked at and run more efficiently," she said.
The district now assigns more routes to its staff than it did before, and Brandhorst said that shows "they were obviously not using their time wisely before that."
LeBlanc said she would cut costs by training staff to perform functions the district now contracts out, like testing and surveillance.
"I do not agree with layoffs," she said. "The district is short currently. Laying off ... you're going to see a lot of problems with the service."
LeBlanc said it makes sense to use $2.5 million of the district's more than $4 million reserve to build an energy-efficient central location.
She said that would bring an immediate savings by eliminating the need to pay "four electric bills, four phone bills, four computer lines."
"If you take that away, there's going to be a savings," LeBlanc said.
She said the district could also make money by selling off the properties that now house its substations.
Both candidates are running for Commissioner John Sundeman's seat, the board member most vocally opposed to consolidation.
Brandhorst also opposes consolidation.
"I don't see the logic ... when you have all of your trucks in one spot to cover an area the size of St. Augustine," Brandhorst said.
But she does see the logic in purchasing a property in Hastings so the district wouldn't have to continue paying rent for its current station.
The property Brandhorst has in mind has an airplane hangar that could be converted to storage and office space and a purchase price last set at $250,000.
The hangar, she said, "would be big enough in the event of a disaster for us to store all of our equipment and all of our chemicals."
Each candidate says her experience would be an asset to the board.
Brandhorst said she has owned two pest control companies and is familiar with pesticide.
That's important, she said, because "There are so many changes coming through ... for the use of pesticides."
LeBlanc worked for the district for three years as an education specialist and said she would be the only person on the board with a mosquito control license.
"My No. 1 goal is to protect the public from mosquito-bourne illnesses," LeBlanc said.
"They need someone on the board who has (direct) knowledge" of how to do that.
When it comes to campaign dollars, Brandhorst is leading.
She's mustered $2,705, and her biggest donors by far are Sundeman, who gave $1,000, and Carol Eklund, who also gave $1,000. Eklund is listed in LinkedIN, a business-oriented networking site, as a senior accountant with John Sundeman CPA.
LeBlanc has raised $1,320, with the biggest chunk coming from former mosquito board member Mary Willis, who gave $500.
For more on the candidates:
Cathy Brandhorst: cebrandhorst.com
Gina LeBlanc: ginaleblanc.blogspot.com
About the candidates:
Cathy Brandhorst
* Retired
* Owned two pest control companies.
* Expert witness in pesticide compliance
* Lives in St. Augustine Beach
Source: Candidate information
Gina LeBlanc
* Retention specialist at St. Johns River Community College
* Former education specialist for Anastasia Mosquito Control
* Has her mosquito control license
* Lives in Elkton
Source: Candidate information
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