Elizabeth Belcher is running as a Democrat for the District 2 seat on the Hillsborough County Commission.

1. Why are you running for this office?

I became involved in community issues before I retired as a Criminal Investigator with the IRS.  After I retired it was just natural that I became a community activist. 

As a retired criminal investigator, I follow the money. The way our tax money is being spent, with little to no oversight, is unacceptable. 

As a community activist, I find the county commission is not listening to its citizens.  I cannot sit by and accept the mismanagement of our county.  That is why I am running.

2. Why do you think you are the best qualified candidate for the office?

I am the best candidate because I am a community activist, not a professional politician. 

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein. 

Professional politicians must answer to their deep pocket donors and do not represent the best interests of our citizens.  I answer to the citizens of my district. 

For example, the community plans were written by our citizens and are ignored by our county commissioners.  I will follow the local citizens’ vision of their community development. 

3. If you are elected, what will be your top priorities?

When elected, I will follow the money and ensure our tax money is being spent for the benefit of our citizens, not deep pocket donors.  I will not give away $6.25 million of our tax money to big box retail developers for the benefit of Bass Pro.   Why make taxpayers and small businesses pay for Bass Pro’s private retail road? 

Our county commission gives money away with no oversight. Money was given to a private firm to maintain soccer fields.  The fields were not maintained.  Now we, the citizens, must pay additional tax money to repair the soccer fields.  That is unacceptable. 

If a small business owner or a customer pays for a service they do not receive, they demand a refund.  Our county did not.  I will require oversight to guarantee our tax money is being spent correctly.