My name is BOB GARCIA, 58 years old, contact address-101 Sunrise Blvd, DeBary,Florida,32713, Email address-garcianazario1234@yahoo.com, office sought Mayor of De Bary. 

I believe that my 41 years of service and community involvement, training, and leadership experience provides me with a strong foundation to be Mayor of De Bary. My major in college was Business and Law Enforcement.  I am Retired from the US ARMY Service-connected Vet. My personal experiences is in Personnel Management, Administration, Records, Finance, Public Relation.  In 1994 I ran for Mayor of Deltona.  I have resided in Deltona, Orange City and DeBARY.  For the past 14 years have been proactive in the City of DeBary.  Currently the Chairman for the City of Debary Public Safety Advisory Committee,Member of the West Volusia Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, President of the Moose Council of Higher Degree of Central Florida,Life member of the VFW Post 8093 of DeBary, Board of Director of the DeBary Little League and Past President,Member of the DeBary Art League, DeBary Knights of Columbus and Sir Knight of the Deltona Knights of Columbus, Life Member of the Four Towns Moose Lodge of DeBary,Past Governor and Chairman of the Community Service and Government Relations, Member of Saint Ann's Church of DeBary.  Volunteer helper and fund raiser for Debary Volunteer Firefighter Association, DeBary Hall Inc., Debary Christmas Parade, Youth Celebration, and Halloween Haunted Hike,Adopt a Highway,National Night Out(Safety Issues),Holiday Night of Lights and DeBary Community Emergence Response Team.  I have received the honor from the League of Cities as 2008 Citizen of the Year Distinguished Service Award. I have lived in Florida for 26 years and lived in Volusia County for 24 years. If You wish, I can provide You with a complete copy of ALL of my Community service and involvement the past 41 years.

  Now to answer your questions:

1).  The two most important issues which I believe are of the of concern to me are:

                                The Vision of DeBary and Water

  a). The Vision of Debary.  The most important issue to me is to establish a clear and defined VISION that will sustain DeBary now and in the future.  DeBary is at a cross road.  Do WE continue to live in the past. Or do WE look to the future.  This VISION must come from the PEOPLE in order to have a true meaning.  For far to long the system has empower themselves to have more rights then the people. They have excluded the people by laws which suppress them and serve there own interest first. The VISION must have direction, address the needs and wishes of the people, provide a better quality of life, include the people in the decision making process and prioritize those needs with a short or long range plan.  During my FIRST 100 days in office, I shall call upon the DeBary Civic Association to sponsor a forum with ALL the people of DeBary. The QUESTION that would be put before them will be" What is the MOST important need that YOU want for Debary.  They will be broken in to different groups of needs.  They will be able to put as many needs as they want. The second step is to have them pick three of the most important needs on each of the list.  After obtain that information I will review the list and request a second meeting and inform them of my findings.  This information will be used as a guideline to future planing, projects, direction and prioritizing the needs of DeBary.  Government believes they know more of what people need.  This also would be a good tool to use in indicating unnecessary spending, reduce cost and reduce taxes.  It can also be the means to a true form of government Who's grassroots are "By the People and for the People.

b).  Water.  My opponent believes that I should not stir up the people of Debary.  That until the day you go to the faucet and no water comes. Then is when we will address the issue. NO then WE have a emergence. It is easier not to address the issue. Then to confront it.  That is way WE are in the situation WE are now in America.  To have economic growth and continue to improve the quality life,create jobs and provide for the future We must address the water issue. Conservation alone can not solve this problem. MY plan is to form partnerships, networking,obtain grant money and work with other Cities that have the same concern. Develop alternative means of water supply. Develop objectives and goals. Develop a means to provide a sustainable amount of water to met the needs of growth.I would rather have a plan and never use it  Then to not have one and see people dying. Also to get WAV to become proactive and work to solving the problem. This is an issue that will not go away and it is a costly venture.

2.  My position on the State Legislature dictating local government taxation and Revenue. It appears that the State like always prefers to not address issues but  mandate policies that do not fund properly. By shifting the tax burden to the local level. They appear as if they are passing the buck or the lack of it.  I believe that the State has no idea on how to create an equitable taxing system that has a resonable solution.   That they do not take into consideration nor support the effect of the local economy on a tax system that does not provide an accurate property evaluation.  The state distribution of revenue or aid does not provide a proper or equal means to assist poorer communities.  It is of deep concern that Home Rule no longer is in the hands of Local Government.  The State legislatures  have no clear comprehensive budget system that can evaluate the cost and effectiveness of expenditures. This new and so called TAX REFORM or TAX RELIEF has placed many cities in harms way and could effect the quality of life in DeBary.  Certain basic services at Local Government level are mandated by the STATE and may have to be reduce. Like law enforcement, fire & recue service.  These are Public Safety services. Other areas that will be effected: reduce staff, cut Parks/Rec Programs and reduce services, Resurfacing of City roads, sidewalks and street lighting.  If the state continues in the direction it is going Local Government will have taxation with no local say nor local power. Dictatorship is alive and benefiting at the expense of the people. The State Taxation and Budget Commission provided little recommendation or true remedies nor measures on TAX REFORM. Their action provided the State with a means to tax services, increase sales tax, and continue to mandate without providing proper or fund funding.  Let put the burden on Local government 

 This will be our escape goat.

3. I support growth when it is in the best interest of the people.  Smart growth.  Continue to preserve the historical and natural beauty of Debary, Establishing Growth based on what the Community wants, address water supply, address schools, protection of sensitive land, comprehensive Plan, prioritize the needs, jobs for DeBARY residents, businesses the will sustain DeBary for the future, and businesses that can provide an increase in the tax base and not cause services to increase. Smart Growth is when the total impact on a community of a project is reviewed and planed, provides a need, and a higher quality of life.

4.  To accommodate and meet the current level of service for the City of DeBary.  I shall review the comprehensive budget which includes operating and capital budget. Based on the information and figures I have received. I believe that the even with the decease in the expenditures of the General funds and in the General Fund Departmental Expenditures that the current level of service can be maintain with some adjustments. By a well planned spending system of cost reduction and a review of operational cost. It may be possible to continue with a satisfactory level of service. Needed capital project can be readdressed when the economy improves.  Planning and developing ways to increase the revenues can be a means of assuring that the level of services can be maintain. Review ALL City contracts and cost. Ad valorem tax rate at 2.5 to 2.75 mils. Decease or delete funding for projects that are not service related. Review Capital Improvements from General Fund. Continue to apply for Grant money to increase revenues. With a continual review of operational spending, cost reduction and effective over sight management system of revenues and  expenditures.  I believe that the budget should not only be an annual issue to address but one that should be continually reviewed by City Council. This a means of providing direction, guidance, planning and prioritizing the needs of the people. To this end it is a means to be use also to inform the people on how and where their tax dollar is being spent. 

5.  Two specific issues that we have not addressed that many of my constituents feel are important is the Race Track and the Commuter Rail and the impact these issues will have on DeBary.