CSUN University News Clippings

Business alum Molly Rose is candidate for Florida council seat

(March 5, 2009)

By Kathy Aber

Two incumbents, John Briggs and Burns Hovey, face two newcomers, Cecil Robinson and Molly Rose, in the Windermere Town Council election that will take place Tuesday, March 10. Both Briggs and Hovey are completing their first two-year terms on the council.

In this open election, the three candidates with the most votes will be elected unpaid, two-year terms. They will be sworn in at the next regular council meeting on March 24.

The West Orange Times recently asked each candidate to respond to a series of questions about their background and town issues, and their responses were used to compile the following article.

John Briggs

Briggs is an attorney and has been in commercial and construction mediation practice with Upchurch, Watson, White and Max in Orlando for the last 13 years. Prior to that, he was vice president and general counsel to a golf course design, construction and maintenance company in Kissimmee for a year and has been practicing law since 1973.

He graduated with a juris doctor degree from Florida State University and also holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Florida.

He served in the U.S. Army for three years, attaining the rank of captain. He was a helicopter pilot and served one tour of duty in Vietnam, earning many commendations,s including the Purple Heart.

He has been a Windermere resident since 1979, and he and wife, Dawn, have two children, Zac, 9, and Josh, 5.

Briggs said he first ran for election in 2007 because, as a longtime resident, he was interested in serving the town. He is seeking re-election to continue this service.

“The town has an excellent council now,” said Briggs, “but it is losing the only other attorney on the council, as Bob Sprick is not seeking re-election.”

When asked what skills he would bring as a council member, Briggs said his 35 years as an attorney would provide the council with a “very healthy mix of experience among its members.”

His goals, if elected, include keeping Windermere an attractive place to live and finding ways to increase revenues.

“My goal is to see that the town management continues in a thoughtful, intelligent manner through a council that has no agenda other than making Windermere a better place to live,” said Briggs.

“In addition, at a goal-setting seminar that the council attended last year, as a group we decided our No. 1 priority was to find ways to increase our revenues so that we can have the means to provide the services that our residents are expecting. I am committed to the council fulfilling that goal and exploring any options that will improve the financial viability of the town.”

Burns Hovey

Hovey is a residential building contractor and served on Windermere’s Development Review Board prior to his election in 2007. He has lived in Windermere for 15 years, having first moved to town with his family when he was a youngster.

He holds an AA degree from Valencia Community College in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Tennessee. He is a former member of the Rotary Club of Windermere and a current member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.

He has been married to his wife, Maureen, for 18 years, and they have two children, Cole, 15, and Amelia, 11.

Hovey told the Times he is running for re-election to continue to help preserve the town’s “great small-town atmosphere. Windermere is a wonderful town to call home.”

He said he would like to be involved in the decision-making process as challenges arise for the town “to make the best choices on behalf of the residents.

“As a current Town Council member, I have experience working with other council members and the town staff in reviewing proposed projects and making decisions in the best interest of the town and its residents,” said Hovey.

He said the town is facing a number of critical issues.

Hovey believes the top priority “is meeting the needs of our residents with decreasing revenues in this tough economic time.

“If re-elected, I will continue to work with committees and staff members to stay within the budget for expenditures. I believe any new expenditures will need to be reviewed for their merit and urgency before being approved by the council.”

He said other priorities include controlling stormwater runoff and managing the growth of the downtown business district.

“The stormwater runoff project has been started and continues to be a priority for many residents on streets that suffer during heavy rains. This project is also important to retain the pollutants and keep them from entering our lakes,” said Hovey.

In addition, he said managing growth to maintain the “small-town feel” is an important topic for many town residents.

Cecil Robinson

Robinson retired from Walt Disney World in 1998 as vice president of Facility Services. For 10 years he was employed in the WDW finance division.

He has been married to his wife, Virginia, for 43 years, and they have lived in Windermere since 1978. The couple has one daughter, Celia Anderson, a son-in-law, Douglas Anderson, and two grandsons, 10 and 7, who live in Jacksonville.

Robinson holds a degree in business administration from Auburn University. He has served on the Traffic Committee and was the chairman of the Long-range Planning Committee.

Robinson said no specific issues or concerns prompted him to run for the Town Council.

“I just have a desire to serve the town and citizens of Windermere after living here for more than 30 years,” he said.

Robinson said he attends the council meetings on a fairly regular basis and stays informed on the issues and problems that affect the town.

“My extensive experience in the private business world, managing people, issues, budgets and problems, will benefit the governing of our town,” Robinson said.

If elected, he said, his goals include listening to citizens to be a spokesperson for their viewpoints, preserving Windermere’s small-town character and improving the town’s working relationship with Orange County.

Molly Rose

Rose retired last year. From 1993, she was a project manager for Idle Time Network, a company that manages entertainment projects. Previously, she was employed by Universal and Walt Disney World.

She has lived in Windermere for 16 years and has been married to Bob Fleming for 14 years. She has two children, Chris, 37, and Saunders, 23, and has been a Windermere resident since 1993.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and management from California State University in Northridge. She is a member of the Development Review Board and has served on the Traffic Committee.

Rose said two issues, controlling future commercial growth and the ever-increasing traffic patterns within the town, prompted her to run for Town Council.

Her qualifications include more than 30 years experience in the area of project management, such as budgeting, contracting, scheduling and quality control for both new development and ongoing businesses. She said these skills are needed in working with the town staff and council to develop a balanced budget and in an ongoing review of how the money is actually spent.

“In addition, I have the ability to review drawing packages from concept through construction documents to ensure that the town guidelines are being followed for any construction that is being planned,” said Rose.

Her main goal, if elected, is to “make sure that residents’ voices are heard.

“I personally would like to keep the quaint quality of life that we have in Windermere, but I see this position as a representative of the residents and implementing what the majority wants,” Rose said.

Publication: West Orange Times - FL