I wish everyone could listen to Parkland mayor Christine Hunschofsky share her story of leadership during and after the horrific attack on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February. As one of hundreds of attendees at the annual Florida League of Cities conference in Hollywood, we were blessed with her message of hope and inspiration.
Hope, because as locally elected officials, we have the unique privilege of serving closest to our friends and neighbors. Many of our constituents are our closest friends. Parkland is a small town like ours, and - like Mayor Hunschofsky - when we go to the grocery store, we have candid conversations in the coffee aisle. We cheer for our neighbors kids at sporting events. We attend churches and fellowship with one another. And so much more. We live local.
Inspired, because as mayor of her small town, as facts were made available, Mayor Hunschofsky went to work. She did the next thing she needed to do to advocate for her neighbors and friends. She went to a funeral. She made calls to elected officials. She interviewed with the media. In essence, she went to work.
Every day, she showed up and she went to work. She did the next thing.
While listening to her, I felt she intuitively knew the role she must play for the people of her town. She was calm. She was resolute. She was confident. As I go about the business of being the mayor of the City of Keystone Heights, it's inspirational to hold the spirit of her message close to me.
Go to work. Do the next thing.
I want to share a few thoughts about Home Rule. Last year in the legislature, there were 50 bills which tried to take away Home Rule powers of local communities. Of those 50 attacks, none were successful due to the efforts of the Florida League of Cities and its lobbyists.
Earlier, I used the phrase "live locally." Let's think about the ways, "We live locally."
We eat local.
We shop local.
Many of us, work local.
We give local.
We serve local.
This year, there will bound to be more attacks on Home Rule. We need to remember and communicate with our legislative representatives that trying to usurp Home Rule would erode what makes Florida so unique.
Down in Hollywood, I went to dinner on the Hollywood Boardwalk. It's a cool place. I loved people watching but it's not Keystone Beach, where I take my grandkids to play or attend an Easter Sunrise service.
In Hollywood, I enjoyed the diverse population and urban vibe of South Florida. Multiple languages. Different cuisine. It's cool.
It's not walking into my favorite restaurant in Keystone Heights and giving three or four hugs to people I know and love.
The Florida Legislature needs to understand that there is a place for all of us to express who we uniquely are. Why?
We live local. We should decide local.
Y'all, as a side note, I met Mayor Lake, too.
He's lives in Lake Alfred (true story). We had a ton of fun. We're both gonna move to Lake County and take over the world.