Clermont Native

The three most important challenges facing Clermont are quality of life, public safety, and fiscal responsibility. As the city continue to grow resident’s quality of life is diminishing with increased traffic, rising cost of living, and attacks on natural resources. Crime also increase with growth therefore, to keep the public safe we must make sure the police and fire departments are adequately manned. With the loss of revenue due to COVID-19, fiscal responsibility is a must to help maintain customer service levels.

The fifth child of twelve children, I was born and raised in Clermont. I am a Gulf War Veteran who served more than 22 years in the U S Air Force. I retired from the U S Air Force in 1998 and began a second career with the U S Postal Service in Clermont in 1999. To make good on a childhood dream of returning to Clermont to give back, I moved back to Clermont in 2001 and became active in the community.

In giving back and making a difference in the community, I presently serve on Clermont’s Planning and Zoning Board, served three years on Clermont’s Code Enforcement Board, initiated the process to bring a

Boys and Girl Club to Clermont, serve on South Lake Boys and Girls Club Advisory Board, served on Lake and Sumter County Boys and Girls Club Corporate Board, serve as Vice Chair of New Jacob’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church Board of Trustees and Family Matters Food Program, served three   years on East Ridge Middle School Student Advisory Committee, two Citizens Advisory Task Force for Community Development Block Grant, President of Christian Men in Action Community Development Corporation, Vice-President of Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance, INC, member of South Lake Black Achievers, and member Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Every position or job has its own unique experience however, the experiences and skills I gained while managing various facilities and activities during my twenty-two plus years in the U S Air Forces will serve me well in this position. My hand on experience of preparing operating budgets, continuative plans, capital expense budgets, overseeing renovation/new construction projects, and daily operation of the facilities, will be valuable assets in this position. In addition, the experiences and skills I’ve acquired working with others in Europe, Saudi Arabia, and throughout the United States will be needed in this position when working with entities, clubs, organizations, developments, and people from various walks of life. By no means will I enter this position knowing all the details of the position, but I do know that I possess the experience, skills, and ability to perform and be effective in the position.

I currently reside in the community I grew up in with wife Kassier and 15-year-old stepdaughter Karissa. I am also the father of two, daughter Tiffany and son Timothy II. My education background includes three Associate in Arts Degrees, Bachelor of Science Degree in (Management/Human Resources), and Master of Business Administration. 

I am running for Mayor of Clermont to be the voice for sensible growth that focus on the needs of all residents. My vision for Clermont is one of continuous growth that enhances quality of life, public safety, and fiscal responsibility. I will work to bring living wage employment to Clermont to help reduce commuting traffic and provide our youth employment opportunities at home after college. I will work to increase workforce housing to help decrease homelessness and the number residents moving from Clermont due to rising cost of living. I will work with Clermont Police Department to improve relations between residents and police and stay ahead of crime that comes with growth. Working together, we will make Clermont the Choice of Champions. 

Sensible growth should include a mixture of homes, apartments, senior living, and affordable/workforce housing, to meet the needs of all the residents. Little attention has been given to affordable/workforce housing and there is a great need for affordable/workforce housing in Clermont. The lack of affordable/workforce housing is contributing to homelessness (to include veterans), a limited employee pool, and residents moving out of Clermont due to the rising cost of living in Clermont. It is time to increase the number of affordable/workforce housing in Clermont to help bring these conditions under control.    

It is time to expand city/public transportation to help reduce traffic congestion and increase quality of life for Clermont residents. Better public transportation can improve the quality of life for senior residents that do not drive by providing them a mean to independently move about the city. A better public transportation system will contribute to Clermont’s economy by providing residents without personal transportation a mean to patronize entities throughout the city.  

             With your support and your vote, we will make Clermont the Choice of Champions!!