To the Editor,

David Deetscreek and Steve Knott filed papers with the Lee Board of Elections on Friday to run for election to the East County Water Control District –ECWCD.

Mr. Deetscreek will run against Neal Horrom who has been on the board for 12 years and Mr. Knott, who will who will run against John Boardman who was appointed to fill a vacant seat and also will run for the first time.

Both Dave and Steve are certified public accountants practicing in Lehigh and if they are elected there will be three CPAs on the board. Their platform will be not to raise taxes as a primary point and more positions will be made public as they are developed for public consumption.

Two other unannounced candidates Dewey Tyler and Mike Bonacolta, but they have not filed to run against Boardman as yet.

Last Wednesday night supporters of Dave Deetscreek attended his announcement gathering torun for theECWCD against Neal Horrom who is seeking his fourth term which would be a total of 16 years in office. Deetscreek has said that is too long to be in office and a fresh face is needed.This reported having noted the recent failed attempt by Horrom to spend $4 million of taxpayers money purchasing an orange grove then leasing it back for seven years to be run without paying taxes to Hendry County killed the deal.

Mr Horrom is supporting the selling of bonds (because the banks turnedECWCD down as a bad risk) to buy a building and adding another $7 million to the current debt now making it a total of $13 million ofdebtmess that the four members on the current board have gotten us into.

This new mess was lead by Horrom. He did vote to raise the assessment to $102 from $89. Endorsements by Rep. Kreegel, Sen. Bennett and Commissioner Tammy Hall, among other notables, gaveDeetscreek a good start and no doubt it’s what the taxpayers of Lehigh have been waiting for and that is candidates who will not increase their taxes.

Frank Lohlein

Lehigh Acres