Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you as your County Commissioner for District 5 from 2012- 2020, and once again, I am asking for your support and vote. I will continue to work hard for you to support the economic growth in Madison County and be a good steward of your funds as we manage the county budget, and the services provided to our citizens. Madison County has seen and will continue to see many changes and challenges in the years to come. I believe that my experience, training, and education spanning 42 years of public and community service here in Madison County gives me the ability to best serve as your representative as County Commissioner for District 5.
I am married to Lisa Ward Davis, and we have three children, Demi, Nicole, and Cody. We own a small family farm in Lee where we raise cattle and hay. My family and I have seen firsthand the incredible potential of our community, and I believe that with the right leadership, we can achieve even greater things. We are members of the Lee Methodist Church.
My work experience includes twenty-eight plus years of law enforcement service with the City of Madison Police Department serving the citizens of Madison County, where my last 13 years I served as the Chief of Police. I currently serve as the Director of Public Safety at North Florida College in charge of the Law Enforcement, Corrections, and the Cross-Over Programs. I also continue to serve in law enforcement as a part-time Deputy Sheriff with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.
I hold a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, and Bachelor and Associates Degrees in Criminal Justice. I am a graduate of the 207th Session of the FBI National Academy, and a graduate of the Florida Chief Executive Institute.
As your commissioner, I am committed to working with the other Commissioners to foster cooperation and unity. I will focus on several key areas to ensure that our county is better prepared to meet the needs of a growing county.
Question 1. Where do you see wasteful spending in county funds and how would you better appropriate or save these funds?
Answer – As your County Commissioner, it will be my priority to ensure that Madison County’s Funds are used effectively and responsibly. Wasteful spending can limit our ability to invest in critical areas like infrastructure, public safety, road department, solid waste, and other essential services.
Having served as your County Commissioner for 8 years, I have seen the hard work and dedication of the Constitutional Officers, Administrative Employees, and Department Heads. I have seen what is done to operate within the county’s approved budget and provide the services to the public they are tasked to perform.
As you know, although the Board approves the Constitutional Officer’s budgets annually, they are autonomous to the Board of County Commissioners in managing their operations. From what I have
witnessed, they operate within their purchasing and spending guidelines, as evidenced by annual independent audits with little to no findings.
While I will need to fully review the current county’s budget and spending in detail, there are some common areas where one could control and manage better/wiser spending.
Streamlining County Operations: Various departments may perform overlapping functions, leading to inefficiency and duplicated efforts. The Board could thoroughly review our county operations to identify where we can streamline services and eliminate unnecessary redundancies.
Contractor Oversight and Competitive Bidding: Review contract services to ensure that contractors are held accountable, with detailed performance reviews, to avoid waste and ensure we get the best value for our taxpayer dollars. When seeking outside vendors for county services, it is important to foster a competitive bidding process to ensure we are getting the most cost-effective and high-quality services. I would push for more transparency and competition in how we award contracts.
Vehicle Fleet Management: County vehicle fleets are another potential source of waste. I would explore options for reducing the number of county vehicles, optimizing usage to reduce fuel and maintenance costs.
Procurement Review: Conducting a review of county purchasing policies can help eliminate unnecessary or overpriced purchases. This includes reviewing bulk purchasing agreements, renegotiating contracts with vendors, and encouraging cost-conscious purchasing across departments.
Seeking More Grants: I will actively pursue state and federal grants to fund county projects, reducing the reliance on local tax dollars. By exploring partnerships with state agencies and private organizations, we can bring additional resources to Madison County without increasing the financial burden on taxpayers.
Special Assessments: Other than property taxes, Madison County has two Tax Assessments placed on property and businesses for Solid Waste and Fire Protection. In the past, the county has paid for a study to determine the operating cost for these services in five-year terms, and the Board would hold public meetings and vote to adopt the assessment fees for a specified number of years. With our growing county, and new properties under development, I believe we must do a better job in managing the Special Assessments. The County should make diligent efforts to ensure that those utilizing the services for fire and solid waste are identified and properly assessed. Doing so can help keep the cost of assessments down and continue to provide the services the public requires. Furthermore, the Board should review the assessment fees on an annual basis during the budgeting period requiring the department heads to provide real-time expenses and cost projections for their department for the following year. This may create tax cost savings for the public.
Finally, I will ensure transparency and accountability in budgeting and spending. By involving the community in budget discussions and providing regular updates on county spending, we can work together to ensure every dollar is spent wisely.
In summary, my approach to addressing wasteful spending is grounded in careful oversight, efficiency, and transparency. With smarter fiscal management, we can free up resources to invest in the areas that matter most to our residents—without increasing taxes.
Question 2. If elected, what strategies do you propose to attract new business to the county and support growth of existing ones?
Answer – Our county deserves a thriving local economy that provides good-paying jobs and opportunities for all residents. I will work tirelessly, along with our Board of County Commissioners, to attract new businesses, support existing ones, and create an environment where entrepreneurship can flourish. By fostering economic growth, we can improve the quality of life for everyone in Madison County. If elected, I would focus on several listed strategies to attract new businesses and support growth of existing ones in Madison County.
Business-Friendly Environment: Streamline the permitting process and reduce bureaucratic hurdles to make it easier for businesses to start or expand in the county. Offering incentives like tax breaks or grants for small businesses and startups can further enhance the appeal.
Workforce Development: Strengthen partnerships between local businesses, schools, and training centers like North Florida College to develop programs that address current and future labor market needs. A well-trained workforce is a significant draw for new industries and helps existing businesses thrive.
Infrastructure Investment: Invest in modernizing infrastructure, including transportation, high-speed internet, and utilities. This will make the area more attractive for businesses, especially in industries that rely heavily on technology and logistics.
Targeted Industry Recruitment: Identify and actively pursue industries that align with the county’s strengths—such as agriculture, logistics, and renewable energy—and focus on recruiting companies in these sectors. Offering location-specific incentives and marketing the county’s resources can help attract targeted businesses. This is a tool utilized by our Economic Development Organization.
Small Business Support: Enhance support for local small businesses through access to grants, mentoring programs, and networking opportunities. Encouraging local entrepreneurship will diversify the economy and create jobs. Our Chamber of Commerce actively supports our local and small businesses.
Public-Private Partnerships: Encourage collaboration between local government and private enterprises to boost economic development efforts. Public-private partnerships can lead to innovation and funding opportunities for larger projects that benefit the community.
Promote Tourism: Invest in promoting Madison County’s historical and natural assets to increase tourism, which will, in turn, support local businesses and generate revenue for the county.
By implementing these strategies, we can foster a thriving business ecosystem in Madison County that supports both new ventures and the growth of long-standing local businesses.
Question 3. If elected, how do you plan to address environmental concerns in the county, such as waste management, conservation, solar fields, and the ongoing issue of waste coming from the Withlacoochee River into Madison County?
Answer – Addressing environmental concerns in Madison County is a priority for me as your County Commissioner. We must protect our natural resources, promote sustainable practices, and ensure that future generations can enjoy the beauty and benefits of our environment.
I will work with the Board to enhance waste collection and promote recycling programs to reduce landfill waste. This would result in cost savings for our regional landfill. Having our partner counties utilize the regional landfill and implement recycling programs can further reduce operating expenses of the landfill.
First and foremost, I strongly support the property rights of landowners who develop their land for economic development purposes. This question poses solar fields and as you know, solar fields are being constructed in Madison County. Many private homeowners and businesses are investing in solar energy contributing to energy independence and lowering their utility cost. As for commercial solar fields, we must encourage responsible development of solar fields to ensure they are placed in suitable areas and do not interfere with agricultural lands and natural habitats. This may be best addressed in the county’s Land Development Regulations with assistance of the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council. I served on this council for 8 years on the executive board and also served as chair.
The issue of Georgia waste spilling into the Withlacoochee River entering Madison County is a critical concern that affects our water quality and public health. I served as the Chairperson for the Middle and Lower Suwannee River and Withlacoochee River Task Force from 2018-2020. I was successful in implementing this Task Force consisting of County Commissioners in our region through the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council. As chair, I was invited to testify before the Florida Legislature addressing the safety and health of citizens in the Withlacoochee and Suwannee River basin. We hosted a public meeting in Madison with the Task Force, Senator Montford, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Congressional Representatives providing evidence of safety and health caused by the sewage spills from Georgia that included the City of Valdosta, City of Quitman, and other contributors of sewage into the river. The collaborative efforts of the Task Force and several face to face workshops with Valdosta’s City Council and department heads resulted in the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to issue and expand the City of Valdosta’s Federal Consent Order to plan/budget and repair their infrastructure, to issue immediate notification of sewage spills, a better line of communication with Valdosta’s local government, a database for the public to view and get early notice of water contamination. As of late 2020, the City of Valdosta has invested several million dollars repairing their sewage infrastructure.
Sadly, since 2020, the Task Force has been nonexistent, and direct lines of communication with Georgia, Valdosta, and other Florida regulatory agencies have ceased, leaving us at risk.
If elected, I will ask the Commission to appoint me to the Task Force. You have my commitment to revitalize efforts to keep our rivers and streams clean as hold those responsible accountable.
In closing, I would like to thank Greene Publishing for providing this opportunity for me to introduce myself as well as highlight my qualifications to serve as your District 5, Madison County Commissioner.
It has been an honor to serve our community for over 42 years, and I am eager to continue that service. I bring a wealth of experience from my roles in law enforcement, public service and management, workforce education, and various community organizations. My dedication to public service is driven by a deep commitment to making Madison County a better place for all of us.
Together, we can build a stronger, more vibrant Madison County. I ask for your support and your vote. Let us work together to create a bright future for our community!
I am Rick Davis, and humbly ask for your vote and support for County Commissioner, District 5
Thank you, and God bless.
Political advertisement paid for and approved by Rick Davis, Republican, for Madison County Commissioner, District 5.