LETTERS

TO THE EDITOR

Recusing reason

To the editor:

In response to the “Anne Smith” letter to the editor last week, sent by County Commissioner Clarke Dirks to all county commissioners and planning and zoning commissioners:

First, I am not a “widely known paid spokesman and representative for wind energy.”

Enel asked me to be the landowner liaison during construction of Diamond Vista in 2018 and 2019. Wanting that person to be someone living in the area once construction was done, I agreed.

My job was to work with landowners and make sure their concerns were fully addressed by the company. Otherwise, I receive lease compensation based on the same factors and rates as all my neighbors.

My positive opinion of Diamond Vista is due solely to direct benefits I’ve seen for my community and neighbors. The company has been responsive, generous, and a great neighbor.

The definition of hypocrisy is saying a person who has a neutral or favorable view of wind energy must be excluded while members of “no more wind in Marion County” are seated front and center.

If being a recipient of wind lease income is a conflict of interest, then commissioners with oil or gas leases or stock should also be considered to have conflicts of interest.

Commissioner Dirks, corporate agent for No More Big Wind LLC, should be recused.

So, let’s get to the point: The issue is the bullying, intimidating, and unethical behavior of Commissioner Dirks.

The harassment and treatment of director Sharon Omstead and planning commissioner Derek Belton is unwarranted and an embarrassment to Marion County.

They are outstanding, intelligent, and ethical individuals whose only crime is following the law and regulations, not bending to the will of a bully.

Director Omstead has defended and won seven suits against Marion County. Not surprising, the people who are out to get her were the ones who sued Marion County and lost!

Can anyone else smell corruption?

I challenge commissioners to stand up to hypocrisy, bullying, and true corruption. Get back to the business of Marion County.

David Mueller
rural Tampa

Editor’s note: The author’s insinuation that last week’s letter might have been written under a pseudonym is not without merit. The Record asked the author to provide her hometown but received no response. If we had not been overwhelmed by multiple staff absences because of illness on production day, we would have removed the letter from our editorial page since we normally do not publish letters whose authors do not fully disclose their identities.