The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
PAGE 3 - June 13, 2007
Squawk Box
Mike Gudis announces candidacy for
from page 1
need our business to feed their growing economy. It would make no sense to bamboozle or
Crystal River City Council
endanger your best customer. But China has different standards for their products and our
current administration in Washington has been unwilling to supply enough inspectors to
ensure that the products coming into our country are safe. It should be a given that Chinese
Crystal River resident Mike Gudis has announced his candidacy
goods should meet our standards to be sold at our retail outlets.
for seat 3 of the Crystal River City Council. Councilwoman Susan Kirk
The nonfood products coming from abroad, particularly China is forcing many American
resigned from the Crystal River City Council to run unsuccessfully in the
companies out of business. Retailers have had to stock goods made in China to stay com-
Republican Special Primary for the Florida House of Representatives Dis-
petitive with Wal Mart, who, by the way, is the largest importer of Chinese goods in the
trict 43 seat. The Special Election will be held on June 26, at which time
world.
Kirk will step down from the city council seat.
As a leader in the free world we cannot isolate ourselves. But we have taken a step
Gudis feels he is qualified for the position, as he is aware of
backwards in the import/export field and one of the major reasons for that reality is that we
issues facing the area, and he served on the Crystal River City Council for
are allowing unsafe and inferior product from other countries into our ports and into our
four years, from 1997 to 2001. He also served as a county commissioner in
markets.
the state of Maryland for 12 years, prior to relocating to Florida.
I think it is time for all of us to rekindle that old slogan we used to be proud to say: Buy
If elected, Gudis will work hard to clean-up the waterways and protect the area's
American. I would only change the concept to mean buy American as often as you can. Give
water supply. While serving as Crystal City Councilman, Gudis was instrumental in obtaining
the American product first preference when you can.
a state grant to take people off septic tanks and place them on the city sewer system. "We got
If we support our own products in the market place and provide customs enough inspec-
$10,000,000, but they're just starting to use the money now. Of course, that's one of the ways
tors to ensure that the products we accept in our ports are safe, our own food and hardware
to clean up the water, but not the only way." Gudis will make the cleanup of King's Bay a top
producers will at least be on a slightly more even playing field with China and other coun-
priority. "We've been talking about it for years, and it's time to lead the way to try to get federal
tries of the world. Editor's Note: The other factor that has contributed to the loss of American
and state agencies involved in helping us to clean up the waters," he said. "We can not afford
jobs to China is the unequal tarriff policy of our governemnt. The rate on Chinese goods
to wait much longer."
coming in is 2%. The rate on American goods going into China is 20%.
He is also determined to work on cutting property taxes and the waste out of the city
budget, while keeping local fire and police departments. He is not in favor of reducing the
Citrus County to receive $3.4 million for
police department or turning the fire department over to the county. He wants to insure the
city council will adhere to the Comprehensive Plan, in order to manage growth to protect the
drinking water improvements
environment. He cited the Pete's Pier Project that was introduced to the Crystal River City
CITRUS COUNTY ­ The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently
Council last year, as, "An example of the way we shouldn't operate, as for granting approval,
awarded a $3.4 million low-interest loan to Citrus County for drinking water system improve-
because it would change the rural setting of Crystal River, and it would damage the environ-
ments. The loan, part of DEP's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program, will fund
ment."
the construction of a new water distribution system.
Gudis, an advocate for the interests of children and seniors, is a founding member
"The Department is working with communities throughout Florida to upgrade water systems
and president of the Citrus County Boys and Girls Clubs, the president of the Friends of
and protect the state's drinking water supplies," said DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole. "The
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, and a founder and treasurer of the Citrus County
State Revolving Fund loan program offers substantial savings on project financing to con-
Veterans Coalition. He is also a member of the Crystal River Planning Board.
struct and upgrade systems to ensure communities have clean, safe and reliable supplies of
He is president of Michael L. Gudis Accounting & Tax Corporation, a Certified Gov-
drinking water."
ernment Financial Manager, an Enrolled Agent Before the I.R.S., state licensed in Insurance
The new water distribution system will be supplied with potable water by the Florida
and Securities, and earned a B.A. Degree in Accounting from George Washington University.
Government Utility Authority (FGUA) located to the east. The project will convert private
Gudis feels that local government needs to take a non-partisan approach to solving
potable water well systems in the area to a central distribution system, and consists of ap-
problems. "All elected city officials throughout the state are elected as non-partisan. Even in
proximately 1.5 miles of new transmission water mains and approximately 11 miles of distribu-
the big cities, there's no partisan elections for mayor and city council. A lot of people don't
tion system.
know that."
The Drinking Water SRF was established in 1998 to provide low-interest financing to
plan, design and build public water systems. Funds can be used for the rehabilitation of
Political Advertisement Paid for and Approved by Mike Gudis, Candidate for City Council,
existing facilities, the replacement of wells water lines or equipment, system expansion or
Nonpartisan for Crystal River City Council Seat 3
treatment and storage. Funded by federal capitalization grants, state matching funds, loan
repayments and interest earnings, SRF loans are generally offered at interest rates substan-
Port Inglis Restaurant
tially below current market rates and are targeted to help make loans affordable. Repayments
from earlier loans are used to make new loans, allowing the program to operate in perpetuity.
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