Governor Charlie Crist appoints PHCC trustees

Contact:
Lynn Rothman, director of marketing and public relations 727-816-3448
rothmal@phcc.edu

Pasco-Hernando Community College
10230 Ridge Road
New Port Richey, FL 34654-5199

Gov. Crist recently appointed Wilton Simpson to the District Board of Trustees for Pasco-Hernando Community College. Crist also reappointed Irvin Homer and Thomas E. Weightman to the Board. Both reappointed trustees have been on the Board since 2003.

Simpson, 41, of Trilby, is the president of Simpson Farms and Simpson Environmental Services, Inc. He is involved in farming, environmental protection, construction and local organizations. Simpson participates in the Boys and Girls Club and the Dade City Kiwanis Club. He is also a Pasco County native and a PHCC alumnus. Simpson succeeds Karen F. Wells of Dade City.

Irvin Homer, 83, of Spring Hill, is a retired school administrator. He is an active children’s advocate and serves on numerous boards. Thomas Weightman, 71, of Dade City, was the Superintendent of Schools for Pasco County for 22 years and the CEO of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents until his retirement.

Board terms for all three members run from August 20, 2007 to May 31, 2011. Trustee Homer will serve as chair and trustee Weightman as vice chair for the 2007-2008 academic year.

Pasco-Hernando Community College (PHCC) is a dynamic, learning-centered educational institution, with a faculty and staff who are dedicated to student success, teaching excellence and community service.

FOCUS MAGAZINE

Dade City/Zephyrhills Edition

Spotlight Interview
by Jeff Neely
Photos by Mike Floyd

A Good Egg for Pasco County

To say that Wilton Simpson is involved in the community of East Pasco County would be a bit of an understatement. At only 38, with contributions to local healthcare, the Boys and Girls Club, the Kiwanis Club, 4-H, and a myriad of other organizations, Simpson seems to be an integral thread in the fabric of the local community. This year Simpson also came on as President of the Pasco County Fair Association.

In business life, Simpson and family are involved in farming, environmental protection, and construction giving him an intimate familiarity with the balance of interests in promoting a positive community. I tracked Simpson down at his million-plus chicken egg farm in Trilby, where he shared some insights into what might possibly be in the works for the future of the fair, as well as himself.

FOCUS: You are the new President of the Pasco County Fair Association. How did you get that position?
SIMPSON: Elected. The board, each year we elect officers. Last year I was elected to be the vice president and then this year they elected me to be president.

FOCUS: Were you wanting to take more of the administration role with the fair?
SIMPSON: When I first joined the board, Cindy Waller, a good friend of mine, she was president of the board, and talked me into coming on to the board, then it just sort of progressed that way. Normally, when I get involved with organizations, I get really involved.

FOCUS: What inspired you to be a part of the Pasco County Fair?
SIMPSON: The fair is a community event. We have a lot of community events in Dade City. We've got a very small community with a lot of great things that we do in it and the fair is one of those great things. That's why I'm excited about being involved in it. It's one of those things that a small town needs. It gives part of the character that we have.

FOCUS: What sort of things would you say specifically that the fair provides to the community?
SIMPSON: The fair is an agricultural fair. A lot of school children work on projects, including my daughter, for four or five months, maybe all year, to bring those projects to the fair. So, it's an educational type situation. The Pasco County Fair also has a large display of artwork and projects that the children have been doing through the year. There are a lot of other things that happen at the fair, too. There's entertainment, and of course, you've got the rides and so on. We have pageants at the fair. We have a talent contest at the fair. When you put that package together, it is a large part of what the community is. Everybody's got something they can do at the fair.

FOCUS: Are there any things you're looking to do a little differently for the fair's future?
SIMPSON: Right now we're in the process of upgrading the fairgrounds themselves. We're going to be adding some new facilities to the existing facilities - restroom facilities, improving the buildings' electrical systems - infrastructure is what we're working on hard right now. We're attempting to upgrade our infrastructure and then be able to maybe expand in the near future.

FOCUS: You said the fair provides an opportunity for agricultural education for kids. Do you think that's a particular necessity for this community?
SIMPSON: Absolutely. Countrywide it needs to be done. A lot of people believe that you go to Publix to get your eggs, or milk, or cheese, and they don't realize what farming is really all about. The Pasco County Fair is a very good venue to keep these children interested in farming so they understand where their food comes from. It's very important.

FOCUS: What will some of your responsibilities be as president of the Pasco County Fair Association?
SIMPSON: Whatever the board tells me to do [laughs]. We have committees that bring ideas to the board. We have discussion and then vote on these things. So, as president my job is more or less to conduct the meetings and to make sure that we are living up to our financial obligations and our charter obligations. We are chartered through the state to be an agricultural fair and there are certain things we have to do to make sure we comply with that charter. A lot of board members have been there 10, 15, 20 years. They've been part of the history, know the history, and are very proud of the product we're putting out as the fair. As president, I'm lucky that all that experience exists.

FOCUS: When you say it's a state charter, what does that mean?
SIMPSON: We have to be permitted by the state to have a fair. We're an agricultural type fair, so we have to have a certain amount of agricultural events to be considered an agricultural fair. Then, we have to make sure money is accounted for properly. Part of our proceeds goes back into agricultural projects as part of our charter.

FOCUS: So, part of the money from the fair goes back into agricultural education in the schools?
SIMPSON: Absolutely. We do several things. We normally participate in buying some of the projects that the children raise. As a fair organization we add on [money] to those projects and, in addition to that, we also do a scholarship program. This year we are giving $2,500 to the Pasco County Education Foundation. During the fair the Land 0' Lakes High School Band does the parking. They earned $5,300 or $5,400 this year parking cars for us. We have several groups that we do those kinds of events with.

FOCUS: Where does funding for the fair come from?
SIMPSON: All of the funding is derived through events we have on the fair grounds. Our primary funding source is the fair itself. We rent our facilities and we have these fundraisers such as Bug Jam and Sparklebration. That's how we get our money.

FOCUS: How did the fair go this past year?
SIMPSON: It went very well. We had two rain days. Sunday was sort of washed out and Friday it rained up to about 7 or 7:30 p.m. The prior year was a record year and this one was just a few percentages less in attendance because of the two rain days.

FOCUS: There's some talk that you may be looking to run for public office. Is there any truth to that?
SIMPSON: (Chuckles). I have expressed some desires for that.

FOCUS: Is there any particular direction of public service that you're considering?
SIMPSON: We've got some great representatives in this area. Ken Littlefield is our current state representative in this area. He only has one more term. The district is East Pasco County and slightly part of North Hillsborough County - district 61. So, if I were to have to guess, that might be a natural fit [for me] initially. I've got a lot of things I think of all the time.

It bothers me that the Republican Party has ovelwhelming majorities in both houses and the governor, and we can't get some simple things done that we need done in this state. We can't get education right - haven't. Pasco County is way under-funded in its building process. I'm not certain that Pasco County is being properly funded by the state, at all. If we continue to let our State Constitution be ravaged by special interests, we're going to be California in ten years. That would be a disaster, in my opinion. I'm of the belief that there are some things that we need to scream a little louder about. I generally scream very effectively. I think I could have a positive influence on some of these types of things. I know that our governor and state legislature have made some progress. They are doing some great things. I don't think they're doing it quickly enough.

FOCUS: If you were to say there were major issues that you were looking to work on in public office, what would they be?
SIMPSON: Making sure our education is properly run and funded. Keeping our State Constitution from being special-interested to death. Our growth management and water resources. Healthcare - the way we deliver it to the elderly, the poor and the uninsured. And then protecting the rights of farmers.

FOCUS: Do you see Pasco County growing in the next few years?
SIMPSON: Absolutely. We're in the top 30 or 35, I believe, nationwide, as far as growth goes. I think Dade City should remain the hub of this northeast area. It needs to remain the city-center. Then you have the suburbs of Dade City, if you want to call it that, the farming and rural areas. I think that's a very important aspect for the environment. With that said, I'm a strong proponent of property rights. You can't let large property owners pay the cost of past sins of improper growth.

FOCUS: Why do you feel it's important to be civically involved?
SIMPSON: I believe strongly that when we have the resources, it should be a fundamental obligation to work in the community with what you're good at.

We couldn't agree more, Mr. Simpson. We really appreciate you taking some time from your busy schedule to talk with us.