Watkins for FKMC District 1 oppose the GM Mosquito trial
As election day closes in, I can’t help but think about why I decided to run for FKMC, District 1. I started out this campaign because of the open rebellion going on in my own neighborhood in reference to the GM Mosquito referendum. I strongly oppose the GM Mosquito trial for several reasons and here are just a few.
- Over 30 of our local Doctors have signed a petition for a simple and cheap test to be given to see if the GM Mosquitoes will be promoting resistant bacteria. Oxitec refused the test and instead hired a PR firm with over $100,000 to persuade American voters. These concerns are not about GM, but they simply ask; “Show us you have not created a new means of spreading resistant bacteria.”
- There are no long term studies of the effects of any person being bit by a female GM Mosquito. Oxitec claims only males are released when in fact the FONSI indicates 62 females per person in the trial area will be released.
After doing research and attending the FKMC Board meetings, I’ve learned there is a lot more going on than just the GM Mosquito controversy. My opponent is one of the chief architects of the financial crisis that Mosquito Control is currently in. When she was elected, the previous Board had 8 million in reserve to afford future expenses such as the complete Big Coppitt facility. She continues to proudly state, “we are not a bank” and blames the rest of the Board for the decision to cut the reserves. This, despite 2 members of the Board who objected on many occasions. My opponent also serves on the Lower Keys Hospital District Board. With her financial background, many of us had hopes for a brighter future for Mosquito Control but she chose to “SWAT” away our money and risk our safety by placing the lower keys operations facility into trailers. Putting trailers in a low lying hurricane zone could be like placing an igloo next to a volcano. If a hurricane such as “Wilma” strikes we know that there is a possibility that two of the facilities could be damaged and may be not usable for an extended period of time. It is important to diversify our resources and have a strong operations facility in case of an emergency. How will trailers be expected to hold up? The builder of the project stated they might not be permitted by the County to even place trailers on that land. It will likely cost another $500,000 dollars in fees and new expenses. They voted to waste the $1,000,000 (their estimate) spent already on architects, fees, etc. When the builder asked what would the commissioners do if the County refused the permits? Commissioner Cranney-Gage proposed spending more money to rent even more space. That is poor planning and poor leadership.
It is also important for a FKMC commissioner to attend county, state, and national conferences to learn how other departments run their operations and protect it’s citizens. I look forward to doing this to better protect our community. One of the possible reasons my opponent has performed so poorly is that in 4 years I cannot locate where she has participated in any annual mosquito control training courses to learn the job better. She also did not attend our Key Haven community meeting with Oxitec last Spring. I want to represent our community in the best way possible and I commit to doing so responsibly. I am committed to making wiser budget decisions and protecting the health and safety of our community and the environment. VOTE WATKINS, for the Responsible FKMC, District 1 Representative. Thank you.
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If you’d like more information on this topic, or to interview Candidate for FKMC District 1, Kathryn Watkins, please contact 305-587-1964 or WatkinsforFKMCDistrict1@
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