Pasco Watch

We are a group of citizens who believe in holding our elected officials accountable to the FL Constitution. We support transparency and community involvement.

[Wilton Simpson @WiltonSimpson]

No better way to spend my birthday than with this crew!

[Wilton Simpson @WiltonSimpson]

Governor Ron DeSantis signed the state budget this week and I am please to report the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program received $425 million to support its unprecedented efforts to save Florida’s working farms and ranches — and the Florida Wildlife Corridor — from development. Since its inception, the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program has permanently preserved over 224,000 acres of working agricultural land from development, with over 168,000 acres preserved since I first became Commissioner.

[Pasco Watch @PascoWatch]

@RightScopee Yes

[Matt The Welder @Matt_The_Welder]

Last year, the Florida Cabinet approved spending $9.8 million on a conservation easement.

This year, records show the Enrique Tomeu Trust and Siboney Ranch, LLC, owned by Enrique Tomeu, each contributed $100,000 to the Friends of Wilton Simpson PAC.

Commissioner @WiltonSimpson was one of the Cabinet members who voted to approve the $9.8 million deal.

Floridians deserve transparency. Where’s Florida’s CFO? @GovGoneWild

Watch the video, review the public records, and decide for yourself.

[Pasco Watch @PascoWatch]

Matt The Welder speaking in Dade City

[Matt The Welder @Matt_The_Welder]

Every Floridian should check out the Florida Department of State website below. It’s a great resource to see which candidates and political committees have received contributions from corporations like TECO, NextEra (FPL’s parent company) and Duke Energy.

Perhaps utility companies wouldn’t need so many rate increases if they spent less on political contributions to PACs and more on serving their customers.

https://t.co/PBpQhOlzia

[Matt The Welder @Matt_The_Welder]

New text messages from a Tallahassee insider show @mearKat00 (Kathy Mears), @FDACS assistant commissioner, involved in efforts tied to a last-minute amendment to the Florida SAVE Act.

That amendment ultimately forced my campaign to retain legal counsel just to remain on the ballot during the primary.

Too bad @WiltonSimpson and his staff won’t work this hard for Floridians.

[Matt The Welder @Matt_The_Welder]

🚨New text messages from a Tallahassee insider are raising serious questions about how ballot access fights are playing out behind the scenes.🚨

According to the messages shown in the video, @fdacs assistant commissioner @mearkat00 (Kathy Mears) reached out to Don Gaetz about a proposed amendment to the Florida SAVE Act, with the apparent goal of shaping who could remain on the primary ballot.

The messages also reference involvement from @eringrall and @allisontantfl, suggesting coordinated efforts tied to keeping @WiltonSimpson primary opponent off the ballot.

The video shows what appears to be a last-minute amendment effort designed to benefit an establishment swamp creature. Too bad these elected officials won’t work this hard for Floridians.

[Pasco Watch @PascoWatch]

@spincycledAF Tooth gapped? Who would that be?

[Pasco Watch @PascoWatch]

@spincycledAF funny Adriane Rogers & Sherrry Burroughs both applied to work at Beach, neither were hired.

Wonder if all of the employees at the PCMCD know their "boss" and new "boss" know that they are both looking for new opportunities.

[Pasco Watch @PascoWatch]

@JTaadaa2nd @trumplicans2024 like islamists would have?

[Pasco Watch @PascoWatch]

@robertmblakejr1 @trumplicans2024 exactly what I was going to say.

[Pasco Watch @PascoWatch]

https://t.co/OsBJwbdtY4

[Pasco Watch @PascoWatch]

Matt the Welder for Ag Commissioner. We don't need the Developer who identifies as a Chicken Farmer any longer.

[Pasco Watch @PascoWatch]

@RLCPasco bad news today. Here is my response

https://t.co/p4uBFkXhfy

[Pasco Watch @PascoWatch]

Today HB 4037 : Concerns Regarding Pasco County Mosquito Control District Governance and Proposed Term Limit Extension was passed through committee with no discussion or public comment.

I sent an email asking that the House Members reconsider this bill. Below is a copy of my email

Dear Members of the Pasco Legislative Delegation,

I am writing to express my serious concern regarding the proposed legislation extending term limits for commissioners of the Pasco County Mosquito Control District HB 4037.

In my view, this bill should not move forward. Extending the number of terms allowed for elected commissioners, particularly while there are unresolved concerns about statutory compliance and governance practices, sends the wrong message to taxpayers. If anything, term limits should remain at two terms, and any change should be carefully scrutinized rather than expedited.

I watched the committee presentation by Representative Maggard, and the bill appeared to move forward in less than two minutes with little substantive discussion. Given the importance of accountability in a taxing authority, I respectfully ask why additional time in office is being granted without addressing existing concerns about transparency and statutory compliance.

There are several issues that warrant closer review:

• A recent budget amendment increased the district’s budget by approximately $2.4 million against roughly $12 million in annual tax revenue. I was denied a copy of the amendment prior to and during the meeting in which it was considered, though not discussed.
• I have been informed that this may have implicated state statutory requirements, yet when I attempted to pursue the matter, I received conflicting explanations from different agencies.
• Expense classifications have raised questions, including items categorized under unrelated expense codes.
• Compensation and benefits practices, including PTO accrual and vehicle use reporting, appear to merit independent review to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal law.
• At a recent public meeting, I was threatened with removal simply for raising my hand to participate.
Individually, some of these items may appear minor. Collectively, however, they reflect a troubling pattern of opacity and disregard for public confidence. When a taxing authority appears resistant to transparency, taxpayers lose trust.
I am also concerned about the role of outside advocacy in advancing this legislation. If lobbyists are involved in promoting this bill, full transparency regarding their participation would be appropriate and required.
I respectfully request that the delegation pause any expansion of term limits until an independent review of governance, budgeting practices, and statutory compliance is conducted. Public trust must come before political protection.
As taxpayers, we expect adherence to state statute, proper classification of expenditures, and open access to public records. Extending terms without resolving these concerns undermines accountability rather than strengthening it.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.

[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected]

[Pasco Watch @PascoWatch]

Today HB 4037 : Concerns Regarding Pasco County Mosquito Control District Governance and Proposed Term Limit Extension was passed through committee with no discussion or public comment.

I sent an email asking that the House Members reconsider this bill. Below is a copy of my email

Dear Members of the Pasco Legislative Delegation,

I am writing to express my serious concern regarding the proposed legislation extending term limits for commissioners of the Pasco County Mosquito Control District HB 4037.

In my view, this bill should not move forward. Extending the number of terms allowed for elected commissioners, particularly while there are unresolved concerns about statutory compliance and governance practices, sends the wrong message to taxpayers. If anything, term limits should remain at two terms, and any change should be carefully scrutinized rather than expedited.

I watched the committee presentation by Representative Maggard, and the bill appeared to move forward in less than two minutes with little substantive discussion. Given the importance of accountability in a taxing authority, I respectfully ask why additional time in office is being granted without addressing existing concerns about transparency and statutory compliance.

There are several issues that warrant closer review:

• A recent budget amendment increased the district’s budget by approximately $2.4 million against roughly $12 million in annual tax revenue. I was denied a copy of the amendment prior to and during the meeting in which it was considered, though not discussed.
• I have been informed that this may have implicated state statutory requirements, yet when I attempted to pursue the matter, I received conflicting explanations from different agencies.
• Expense classifications have raised questions, including items categorized under unrelated expense codes.
• Compensation and benefits practices, including PTO accrual and vehicle use reporting, appear to merit independent review to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal law.
• At a recent public meeting, I was threatened with removal simply for raising my hand to participate.
Individually, some of these items may appear minor. Collectively, however, they reflect a troubling pattern of opacity and disregard for public confidence. When a taxing authority appears resistant to transparency, taxpayers lose trust.
I am also concerned about the role of outside advocacy in advancing this legislation. If lobbyists are involved in promoting this bill, full transparency regarding their participation would be appropriate and required.
I respectfully request that the delegation pause any expansion of term limits until an independent review of governance, budgeting practices, and statutory compliance is conducted. Public trust must come before political protection.
As taxpayers, we expect adherence to state statute, proper classification of expenditures, and open access to public records. Extending terms without resolving these concerns undermines accountability rather than strengthening it.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.

[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected]

[Pasco Watch @PascoWatch]

@MilaLovesJoe Yes i did!!

[Pasco Watch @PascoWatch]

🍁 🍂 🎃 It’s Fall, Y’ALL! 🌾 🧡 👻

Now that I have your attention…

My beautiful granddaughter has a great question that I’d love some insight on:

Can a Special District Board pass a new policy without publishing it for public comment before the meeting where it gets approved?

Seems like something that should have been posted publicly ahead of time, right? 🤔

Transparency and all that jazz…
Anyone have thoughts or experience with this?

Local government folks? Policy wonks? 🦟💰😜

[Pasco Watch @PascoWatch]

@1Nicdar How many did Biden remove for refusing the Vax?

[Pasco Watch @PascoWatch]

No Kings Rally, Pasco County Florida, one brave guy supporting Trump!