CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing Nassau County and how do you plan to address it?
Public safety is at the forefront of any county's success. If we are not safe, nothing else matters. Safe roads, adequate pay for our officers, safe schools, safe busses, safe neighborhoods, safe employment. To keep us all safe we have to have the bodies in place. This leads to the conversation of workforce challenges. As a thirteen-year education veteran, no one has seen our workforce change more than those of us on the frontline. In Nassau County, we have the opportunity to grow manufacturing, which is one of the top five most STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) intensive sectors in the United States, with 30 percent of the jobs in this sector requiring a high level of STEM knowledge. Working with existing UF Cooperative Extension, our School Board, and private funding, we can commit to growing an unprecedented workforce in Nassau County.
What does “smart growth” look like to you?
Smart growth means reinvesting in our county. It means not building a 15th tire store when we have abandoned strip malls. It means creating moratoriums until we have a balance of infrastructure and the resources to handle the influx of rooftops. Smart growth means creating homes for families of all income levels alongside one another in locations where daily needs are close by. Smart growth means building streets that are safe for people walking, bicycling or using any sort of assistive device, as well as driving. I believe in protecting our open green spaces for generations to come.
Above all, it’s about helping our county be a more economically prosperous, socially equitable, and environmentally sustainable place to live, helping everyone flourish.
Should the county government do more to create affordable housing? If so, what steps would you take as commissioner to make this happen?
PUBLIC AGENCIES AREN’T DESIGNED TO BE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS. Affordable housing has become quite the controversial topic in a skyrocketing housing market. For my husband and I affordable housing is our ten-year-old manufactured home, but even in today’s society that is unattainable for working families. Our county's hands are tied with “affordable housing” because we can not subsidize, leading our property taxes even higher. Where people live—and especially where children grow up—is critical to long-term well-being, including life expectancy, health, and income. Nassau County has to proactively allow homes to be built and managed by specialized nonprofit or for-profit developers. Increasing funds for housing vouchers or for the acquisition and rehabilitation of existing apartments through the National Housing Trust Fund would stretch subsidy dollars to cover many more households more quickly, and often in higher-opportunity neighborhoods. Shoring up the long-term physical and financial viability of existing subsidized properties—such as through HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program—would also be more cost-effective than new construction.
How do you factor in conservation when so many new businesses and developments are being built?
As the state of Florida Agriculture Advocate of the year I can ASSURE the voter that conservation is a top priority for this campaign. We don’t need to start something new every time there is a problem - we need to look at the resources that we have and figure out how to best use them. Can an old strip mall be resurfaced into multi-family use? Can certain land be rezoned for tiny home communities? Can we look into camper villages? We are fixing to be in some hard times and we need to be the most resourceful county that we can for the benefit of our hard-working families. Local Foods, Local Places. Local Foods, Local Places: Using our local foods to protect the environment, improve access to healthy food, revitalize neighborhoods, and boost local economic opportunities. That’s what smart growth looks like sustainably, practically, and to the best benefit of ALL of our residents. Our infrastructure, schools and first responders are bursting at the seams. We have to revitalize existing structures and refuse to allow Nassau County to become a strip mall haven.
As a county commissioner, how do you intend to engage with commercial and residential developers, especially when community members voice concerns?
As an agriculture advocate, I'm a fresh voice of reason on the commission. Never before have we had representation of a true grassroots representative of the people. What stays in line with our 2030 vision? What protects our pine trees? What conserves our communities? What ensures property owner rights? I believe our lack of diversity on the commission is evident in the uncontrolled explosive growth around us. It’s time to pull our irons out of the fire and focus on our existing residents and protecting the Nassau County We Know and Love.
Who do you think should be financially responsible for recreation and infrastructure costs in new developments?
Every single developer. I think the fee in lieu of was a mistake in our county. We have no business playing developer. You want to come to Nassau county? Let’s look at what we have vacant that you can rehab or in writing we guarantee that every t is crossed and i is dotted prior to development to ensure it is not a burden on our existing homeowners. We as a county are in a mess of lawsuits. It is evident to the taxpayer we have had lack of accountability, back door deals, and unfair developments. Voting for the same people who have us in this mess surely won’t get us out.
How do you see Nassau County evolving as a tourism destination? Should the county invest more money in the tourism industry?
I believe we are adequately funded in tourism. We need to make sure our small businesses are able to stay open for our tourists. That our current restaurants have wait staff before we allow the next business to open. That our beaches are clean, safe, and accessible. We have to have the first responders in place for the influx of tourists, our streets have to be drivable and our employees have to have homes. Before we continue to grow I have to make sure my hometown people are taken care of first priority.
The recent retirement of County Attorney Mike Mullin highlighted the issue of public records. How will you ensure that you abide by Florida’s Sunshine Law?
Fortunately in public education, we basically abide by the same professionalism of the Florida Sunshine Laws. It is 2022. There is no secrecy. If there is one thing we have learned in this election it’s that social media is the devil's advocate. Professionalism, law-abiding, and tact are southern etiquettes that I don’t take lightly. With Mr. Mullin's retirement now is the perfect time to start fresh moving forward.
CANDIDATE STATEMENT
Editor’s Note: Alyson McCullough is running for County Commission, District 4. McCullough submitted the following for publication.
Thank you to the citizens of Nassau County. I am a proud graduate of West Nassau High School in 2006 and a thirteen-year veteran teacher in Nassau county. I am a wife, mother, and taxpayer. I’m not just a politician running for the interests of PAC’s and big donors, I am running for WE THE PEOPLE. I am running because I know I can bring the type of leadership to our County that is lacking in today's politics both locally and nationally. I have seen the progress that has been made in Nassau County but I also see what remains to be done for us to continue to not just survive but thrive. Government works best when it works for all its residents. I am committed to encouraging citizen participation, preserving our county’s character, and providing high-wage careers here that allow our residents to live, love and work in Nassau County.
The role of the County Commissioner is to provide not just their districts constituent desires but be the voice in county business for them. For too long the Westside of Nassau County has felt left behind and forgotten. Whether I go from South Fletcher or County Road 121 the message across the county remains the same. Our citizens want our roads, our resources, and revenues to reflect the taxpayer interest. We are longing for a better bang for our buck. Our desire is to have a transparent and efficient government that allows citizens protection of their freedoms and liberties.
The most important authority and responsibility of the BOCC is adopting a balanced county budget and monitoring the current and projected financial standing of the county through monthly financial reports and the annual audit process. We have heard the broken promise of controlled growth for one too many political cycles. I don’t just talk about hard work, I work hard. I see the financial opportunities that exist for the Westside of Nassau County. The national and state grants we can secure to give homeowners relief along Thomas Creek, the economic grants to stimulate job growth allowing citizens to work, live, and play in Nassau County. Nassau county roughly had a 3% population increase last year but we increased our budget by more than 20%. This continues to strain homeowners in tax increases. We all foresee and feel inflation impacts. It is time to reign our irons in the fire and focus on our current citizens.
As the State of Florida’s Agriculture Advocate of the year in 2021 it is evident that conserving environmentally sensitive land and our natural resources is a priority for me. From the years 2017 to 2019 I worked with agriculture advocates around the state to ensure sustainability education funding for all 67 counties in the state of Florida. I have written thousands of dollars in Grant funding for our career tech education students in Nassau County. I will work to provide fiscally responsible solutions to meet all our citizens' needs and support resilient police, EMS, and fire departments.
I am a mere concerned taxpayer looking to serve mine and my neighbors’ interests in the future of the Nassau County I love. I love our rural charm and way of life. My commitment to Nassau County is unquestionable. We don't need another good ol boy politician in Nassau County, we need one of us. With your vote on August 23, we can help to shape the future of Nassau County, so that every resident is part of the team. It is only together that we can keep this the Nassau We Know and Love.