It’s his businesses sense, including knowledge of how to stretch a dollar, that Scott Ricci says makes him a good candidate for the West Manatee Fire Rescue District commission.
Ricci, 66, has lived in Holmes Beach 16 years. But it’s the experience he gained from two businesses away from the Island that he says would help him make the district an efficient one if he were elected Nov. 2.
Ricci said his last career before retirement was at Woodlands Golf Course in Ellenton, which he designed and owned for seven years, until selling the property in 2005. “It was sold at the height of this development craze,” Ricci said. “Unfortunately, the folks who bought it, bought it at exactly the wrong time.”
But exactly the right time for Ricci.
“I think luck had something to do with it,” he said.
Ricci said he learned how to get the most out of a dollar in Chesterfield, N.H., where he founded Chesterfield Cable Vision in 1972 and sold it in 1988.
“It was never going to be much more than a reception service in that small town,” Ricci said. “Then along came HBO and ESPN and Ted Turner and changed cable TV from a reception service to something that made a lot more sense.”
At the Spofford Fire Department in New Hampshire, Ricci said he was a volunteer firefighter for 13 years and a Spofford Fire Department commissioner for six years.
“But that experience doesn’t really translate into what I’d be doing (at WMFR),” Ricci said. “We had a $50,000 budget, and they have a $5.5 million budget.”
What Ricci said would translate into making him an effective WMFR commissioner is the experience from his two businesses.
“In both cases, I was, by most standards, under-capitalized,” Ricci said. “So it was about finding ways to stretch a dollar and work within a tight budget. And I made both businesses successful. I think that’s a useful attribute even to something that has taxing authority.”
But Ricci said he has not yet determined if any changes are needed in the WMFR district.
“I’m on the outside looking in,” Ricci said. “I’m sure there are improvements that could be made. I’m real fiscally conservative. I’m sure there’s a way tax dollars could be saved, but without being involved in the operation, I really would be hesitate to pinpoint everything.”
And he needs something to do.
“Frankly, I’m bored to tears sitting around and not doing anything,” Ricci said. “I’m in a financial position that I really don’t have to generate any income and I think I can help with the fire district.”
Biography:
RESIDENCY: Holmes Beach, 16 years.
OCCUPATION: Retired.
OFFICE SOUGHT: West Manatee Fire Rescue District Commissioner, Seat No. 2.
FAMILY: Wife Anne, four children, eight grandchildren, one great-granddaughter.
INTERESTS: Boating/fishing, golf, music, cooking, the Rays and sports in general.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: I was very involved in our community of Spofford, N.H., while we lived there, but constructing and running the Woodlands Golf Course after moving to Florida didn’t leave me time to be involved in much of anything outside of work. That chapter of my life is now behind me, and running for this position is an attempt at becoming more involved in the west Bradenton and Anna Maria Island communities.
CAMPAIGN MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS (as of Sept. 15): None.
QUOTE TO LIVE BY: “I try not to do anything that will keep me awake at night. Please note that I don’t always succeed.”
CAMPAIGN MOTTO: “It’s time for new blood in the West Manatee Fire District board room.”
Questions:
An Islander Q&A with Scott Ricci, seeking election to the West Manatee Fire Rescue District commission in the Nov. 2 general election.
The Islander: Why did you decide to run for office in November?
Scott Ricci: It’s time for new blood in the West Manatee Fire District board room.
The Islander: What are your qualifications for this office?
SR: I’m a successful businessman, a volunteer firefighter for 10-plus years; fire commissioner in the New Hampshire town we lived in for four years; chair of that group for the last two years. I was a member and chair of the Chesterfield, N.H., Planning Board for a total of eight years. Note that planning boards in New Hampshire are judicial boards with enforcement powers. I’m a fiscal conservative in my business and personal life and can work within a budget.
The Islander: What are the three top goals/positions in your platform?
SR: I feel that the district could use some outside input into the process by which policy and decisions are made.
The Islander: What is your understanding of Florida’s Sunshine/Public Records laws?
SR: I’ve read articles and some of the statutes and I’ve watched videos by the attorney general’s office and have what I think is a pretty good feel for the basic tenets of these laws.
The Islander: From time to time there is talk of consolidating local governments and/or local services. How do you feel about consolidation?
SR: Ultimately I’d like to explore the idea of consolidating some or all of the 10 fire departments serving Manatee County. The potential for savings in dollars and improved service to the county is huge, but it’ll be a hard sell.
The Islander: Characterize the direction of the locality. Right track? Off track? Wrong track? Explain.
SR: As right as I can hope for. It’s constantly changing, most of the time for the better. You can’t go back!
The Islander: Why should voters cast their ballot for you over your opponent?
SR: I’ll be a set of budget-minded fresh eyes on that board. I feel that I have a lot to offer.
The Islander: What is the most significant issue facing the electorate at this time? How will you handle that issue?
SR: The short-term issue might be the public’s perception of this fire department. I’ll try to help the department/district save tax dollars and help them educate citizens about their roll in the community.
The Islander: Local governments are beginning a new fiscal year. What is your view of the local budget/tax situation? And how do you approach government finances?
SR: Until I know a lot more, I don’t have an opinion.
The Islander: Is there a promise you want to make to voters?
SR: All that I can promise is that I’ll do my best to save tax dollars while not compromising the fine performance of this department.