Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/90018
Sarasota News Leader BOARD PERSPECTIVES Robinson was appointed to the commission by former Gov. Charlie Crist. A lifelong Re- publican, she says she disagrees "with some of the things he has done recently," especially his endorsement of Democratic candidates. Nonetheless, she says, "Reasonable people can agree to disagree." Because no other Republican filed to run against her in the primary, she says she takes that as a sign other members of her party have not held the Crist appointment against her. Asked about the collegiality among the coun- ty commissioners, Robinson says that derives from "mutual respect" and, as she noted with Crist, "an ability to agree to disagree." While she confesses she has been a bit impa- tient to see new County Administrator Randall Reid make staffing and organizational chang- es, she is pleased with the steps he has been taking. Referring to the Procurement Department scandal that led to the resignation of former County Administrator Jim Ley in May 2011, Robinson says, "We have a lot of privatization in contracts, which isn't necessarily a bad thing," because that can save the county a lot of money. However, some contracts fail. "As an attor- ney," she says with a laugh, "I can tell you it happens in private business, too." She adds, "Sometimes you have bad contracts. Sometimes you have an agreement that's not honored …" October 26, 2012 Page 25 The latter situation occurred earlier this year with the county's roadside mowing contract, leading to complaints from constituents about overgrown grass. Reid reported to the com- mission this week that yet another new ven- dor had been hired for the north district; that company had been on the job three weeks. The previous vendor, Reid said, had admitted he could not handle the work. When something goes wrong, Robinson says, "We have to correct it." Still, she says, the county has an $890 million budget, and it has a vast number of successful contracts. "The ones that get attention are the ones that don't work out." LOOKING AHEAD If she wins election, Robinson says, she also wants to focus on maintaining the strong quality of life Sarasota County residents en- joy. The county has had "really incredible achievements" over the past couple of years that reflect on that quality of life, she points out — from Siesta Public Beach's title as No. 1 in the United States to the recognition of the county's library system as the best in Florida to the county's being honored as one of the 100 top communities for youth in the nation. As the economy continues to improve, she says, "We need to make sure that we don't ex- pand [county government] too quickly." At the same time, though, she says, "We need to try to restore things where we see those needs. … People look at [it as] a pro or an- ti-government argument, and it's not," she says. "It's a balance argument."