Despite facing perhaps the muckiest challenge among the Republic primary races in August, District 5 incumbent Frank Mann easily strode to victory on his past accomplishments and his plan for the future.

We agree both are worth noting and their cumulative effect have earned Frank Mann our endorsement in the Lee County Commission race for District 5.

On the accomplishments side, Mr. Mann took a leadership role in Lee County’s quest to preserve heritage sites and environmentally sensitive areas while retaining local control of land-use related decisions.

He took on the big dawgs at the state level and feistily staved off an attempt to usurp the county’s ability to decide whether mining should be allowed in areas local officials believe should be preserved.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mann’s plan for the future — the “Mann Plan” — outlines, not “goals,” not “objectives” not any other fussy, fusty, politically correct term, but demands: the demand for significant tax reduction, the demand for proper growth management planning, the demand for growth paying for growth, the demand for protection of rivers and waterways and yes, the continued demand for protection of Lee County’s water recharge areas where some would so love to mine.

With a public service background that dates back to 1974 and includes stints in both the state House and Senate, as well as previous tenure on the Lee County Commission back in the ’90s, we have no doubt he will fight to bring his “demands” to fruition for, in addition to saying what he means, Mr. Mann has a rare knack for building consensus.

Mr. Mann has earned our vote and we endorse Frank Mann in the Nov. 4 general election race for the Lee County Commission, District 5.



— Also running: Steve “Sonny” Haas, no party affiliation, and Dick Kuhn, no party affiliation.