Stan McClain failed to represent citizens wishes as a member of the Silver Springs Advisory Group and as a Marion County Commissioner.
Since McClain failed to represent his constituents wishes and take action to make sure Wild Waters was preserved for the Families and Children of Marion County Florida, he doesn’t deserve ANYONE’S support or vote.
Here’s the details and facts…
Marion County Florida Commissioner Stan McClain is a member of the Silver Springs Advisory Group who supported eliminating Wild Waters.
On May 6, 2014, a member of the Save Wild Waters Group took the “Save Wild Waters” petition to the Marion County Commissioners (all are Republicans) and asked them to make sure Wild Waters was preserved for citizens in Florida. They were also asked to put a referendum on the ballot so the people of Marion County Florida could vote on keeping Wild Waters.
The request to make sure Wild Waters was preserved and the request to put a referendum on the ballot so citizens could vote on keeping Wild Waters was ignored.
Marion County Commissioners failure to allow a vote violated Democracy.
The Star Banner article “Wild Waters days are numbered” stated “County Commissioner Stan McClain, a member of the task force and the commission’s main champion for refocusing the facility toward ecotourism as a way to help the springs and create jobs, said the plan has provided a framework for accomplishing the county’s objectives“.
That statement indicates that Mr. McClain represented the wishes of 5 people, the Marion County Commissioners, not the citizens of Marion County. Claiming these plans represent the “county’s objectives” is a false claim. The petition which was signed by over 3,000 people proves the people of Marion County do not support Marion County Commissioners plans.
Also, eliminating Wild Waters cost 60 jobs.
In June, 2014, a member of the Save Wild Waters Group asked Mr. McClain in a letter, in view of the fact that over 3,000 people signed a petition to save Wild Waters if he would change his mind about supporting plans to have Wild Waters demolished in 3 – 5 years.
Mr. McClain stated that he would not support any plans which include saving Wild Waters stating cost to taxpayers as a reason. That proves that he was not representing citizen’s wishes as a member of the Silver Springs Advisory Group.
The statement McClain made regarding cost to taxpayers is an invalid excuse because “taxpayers” signed the petition and stated they want Wild Waters to be preserved.
Above is a typical comment about Wild Waters found on the Silver Springs facebook page. Click here to view more comments.
As mentioned in the Star Banner article “Wild Waters days are numbered”, the proposed changes to Silver Springs would run between $15 million and $20 million, so if there’s that kind of money available for Silver Springs, then there is plenty of money available to restore and preserve Wild Waters.
McClain and Marion County Commissioners failure to allow a vote and failing to do as their constituents want prove they are anti-democratic authoritarians who believe in “ruling over their constituents” rather than “serving”.
It seems that Mr. McClain had no problem spending tax payers money as long as it’s being spent the way HE and Marion County Commissioners want.
McClain and Marion County Commissioners are paid to do what the taxpayers who pays their salaries want them to do, not cram what they want down people’s throat.
Since the State of Florida took over Silver Springs park, we have suffered a considerable downgrade in services and entertainment. They eliminated the small zoo, the animal shows, rides like the safari ride, boat rides, kids attractions and more. As a result, there is barely anything left worth going to Silver Springs to see.
Eliminating attractions from Silver Springs and “refocusing the facility toward ecotourism” is NOT what Florida citizens want. We already of TONS parks and trails. This is example of the poor planning and management within the Florida Park System and Marion County Commissioner’s who support such a plan.
Want to tell McClain what you think? Here’s his Florida Senate contact page;
https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S9
McClain on TWITTER: @StanMcClain #StanMcClain
McClain has proven he doesn’t care about “serving” his constituents and isn’t fit to hold ANY position in public office. Those of us who wanted Wild Waters preserved will NEVER forget.
MORE COMPLAINTS POSTED ABOUT STAN MCCLAIN REGARDING OTHER ISSUES;
Do you approve of Stan McClain as Commissioner? http://topix.com/forum/city/ocala-fl/TDPLQHAU2V97EV5NJ
Opposition to Senator Stan McLain’s Bill on Land Usage and Zoning Regulations in Marion County, Florida
“Senator Stan McLain has introduced the bill again this year that would circumvent local government’s land usage and zoning regulations and would allow developers to essentially develop all land. Stan McLain is a developer and was developer of the year two years ago. This bill would have a devasting effect on land usage and would negate county zoning regs. ( and yes…Stan McClain’s son is on the Marion County BOCC.)” Article link:facebook.com/groups/wordofmouthocala/posts/9544510242277562
Local bipartisan opposition forms against FL Sen. McClain’s SB1118
“In response to what some call an “attack” on home rule, local bipartisan opposition has formed against Senate Bill 1118 filed by State Sen. Stan McClain, R-Marion, and its identical House Bill 1209 filed by Rep. Kevin Steele, R-Pasco. The bills would wrest local control of development from cities and counties across the state and open up hundreds of thousands of agricultural acres to developers without review from local governments. If passed, the new laws would supersede any local overlay zones of protection, including Marion County’s revered Farmland Preservation Area.
The bill language only provides for protection of state-mandated protection areas and lists two: “The Wekiva Study Area, as described in s. 369.316; or 2. The Everglades Protection Area, as defined in s.169 373.4592(2).”
The bills propose no restrictions on minimum lot size and assume that maximum densities per any current land development code would be automatically put into effect. The city of Ocala and the Marion County Board of County Commissioners would lose their authority to restrict the number of units per acre in a housing project.” Article link: ocalagazette.com/local-bipartisan-opposition-forms-against-fl-sen-mcclains-sb1118
A look at the worst bills in the Florida Legislature this session
“Senate Bill 492/House Bill 1175 – Mitigation Banking
SB 1118/HB 1209 – Land Use and Development Regulations
SB 1388/HB 1001 – Vessels
SB 832/HB 585 – Former Phosphate Mining Lands
“And speaking of the worst of the worst: You may notice that Sen. Stan McClain, Republican of Ocala, sponsored two of the four bad Senate bills; he also sponsored another bad bill we’re watching, SB 1080, which places new deadlines on counties and municipalities in terms of responding to development proposals, basically rushing the process.
McClain in civilian life is a building contractor – go figure! – and is a periodic sponsor of some of the worst growth-related proposals each year. And in a hearing just this past week on SB 1080 and SB 1118, he came out and said, on several occasions, that the goal of the legislation is to make it easer to develop, to build more homes.
He is, in fact, the Chairman of Senate Community Affairs Committee (where this hearing was held). So: Rewarded for representing the Florida sprawl machine, the citizens’ wishes be damned.”
Article link: votewater.org/a-look-at-the-worst-bills-in-the-florida-legislature-this-session
Letter to the Editor: We thought he had our best interests at heart!
“I voted for McClain, so I, too, am heartbroken that he would betray his constituents: ranch and horse owners, businesses supporting the equine industry, small business owners, and homeowners like me, who came to Ocala because of its beauty, charm, and small-town qualities”. Article link: ocalagazette.com/letter-to-the-editor-we-thought-he-had-our-best-interests-at-heart
You can find more by doing a search for “Complaints about Stan McClain Ocala FL”
A letter was sent to each Marion County Commissioner in December 2014 asking them to stand up for the people in Marion County and make sure Wild Waters was preserved. They ALL chose to ignore the letter.
Voting for McClain or any of the Marion County Commissioners is essentially condoning and rewarding their failure to serve their constituents.
This isn’t about politics, it’s about Democracy and Marion County Commissioners failure to stand up for the citizens they are supposed to represent.
MARION COUNTY FLORIDA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LIST
(All received a copy of the petition. Ignored request to preserve Wild Waters and ignored request to allow citizens to vote on keeping Wild Waters)
Mr. David Moore
Marion County Commissioner
601 S.E. 25th Ave.
Ocala, FL 34471
Email David Moore
Ms. Kathy Bryant
Marion County Commissioner
601 S.E. 25th Ave.
Ocala, FL 34471
Email Kathy Bryant
Mr. Carl Zalak
Marion County Commissioner
601 S.E. 25th Ave.
Ocala, FL 34471
Email Carl Zalak
Mr. Earl Arnett
Marion County Commissioner
601 S.E. 25th Ave.
Ocala, FL 34471
Email Earl Arnett
MORE COMPLAINTS AND ARTICLES ABOUT THE MARION COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Ocala Post (Ocala News) – Marion County Board Of County Commissioners corruption/conflict of interest
It should also be known to Marion County Residents that all seven members of the planning board have ties to the construction industry, many are even…
Ocala Post (Ocala News) – More Marion County Corruption And Greed Is Raising Eyebrows
Marion County Corruption – Accepting campaign contributions of these types is something residents have expressed time and time again to be a conflict of
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