Bob Cole said after being a county commissioner for 12 years, he’s most proud of the projects he’s started, planned and finished, including the Avalon Boulevard improvement project.
“Avalon was the first road to receive stimulus money because of where it was in the process,” he said. Cole said it was his idea to fund ‘long’ roads for improvements and repairs, like Avalon, in sections. Being able to do this, he said, enables the state to get the project finished in a timelier manner and it puts more people to work, especially small contractors. Cole said the state adopted this practice after he lobbied Florida Department of Transportation to do so.
Bob is up for re-election for Santa Rosa County Commissioner for District 2.
“I like to get things done,” he said.
Redefining economic development in the county is important to him, he said, because quality of life within the county is precious.
“I worked diligently with the economic development director to expand current business and seeking out new businesses. Today, Goldring is building a new facility and Navy Federal is bringing 500 new jobs to Santa Rosa County. Even though it’s a temporary facility, I have hopes Navy Federal will grow and have Santa Rosa County as a satellite facility,” he said.
“I use common sense and save money by looking to stop redundancy within county operations,” he said, “and picking up the phone and asking for help, such as the $1.5 million savings with the demolition of the county jail. It took me two weeks to remove the derelict Sea Ray cabin cruiser which was abandoned in Navarre Sound for two years and cost the county nothing,” he said.
In the future, Cole said he wants to take a strong look at building codes and ordinances, making it easier on new and established small businesses to build and expand in our local economy. He also wants to establish a funding source for storm water management.
“We can plan and master plan all day long but we haven’t gotten anywhere. It’s time to put money aside for projects needed in the future. If you don’t it won’t get done,” he said
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: SRC Commissioner Bob Cole seeks re-election for District 2