To the editor:

First, I would like to thank the 7,793 voters of Lehigh Acres that vote for change.

Second, as the owner of the Lehigh Acres Gazette one of my promises to the voters of Lehigh Acres was if I win the seat on the Lehigh Acres Fire Board I would give up being the editor on the Lehigh Acres Gazette.

Since the voters have spoken and I’m very humbled that 7,793 voters voted for me.

I have hired a new editor, Jemzee Martisa Barrett. She has already started the transition to her new position at the Lehigh Acres Gazette. She will by handling day by day operations and especially fire board content.

I will remain in my ownership role and as publisher of Lehigh Acres Gazette.

Third, I have a five-point plan for the first 60 days of the new Fire Board.

– 100 percent transparency – the elected board of fire commissioners will review of “all” contracts with the Fire Department.

– No more check register in the commissioner’s Monthly Packet, it needs to be 100 percent transparent to the commissioners, they should know and have the who, what, and why the check was cut and processed and who authorized it.

– Setup a Citizens Advisory Panel: 10 voters/resident or business owners in the fire district – two chosen by each commissioner and one commissioner to listen – charter them with reviewing the Fire Fee Assessment and handling future recommendations and the panel reports back to all five commissioners.

– Set commissioner responsibilities maintenance & buildings, finance, employees, administration and public relations. Each commissioner will rotate every quarter and report back monthly.

– Setup a Citizens Budget Advisory Panel: 5 voters/resident or business owners one chosen by each commissioner and one commissioner to listen plus the Fire Districts Finance personnel – charter them with reviewing the budget and audit and handling future recommendations, the panel reports back to all five commissioners.

It’s time to heal the wounds and work together to make Lehigh Acres Fire Department a department we all in Lehigh Acres can be proud of.

Robert “John” Anderson

Lehigh Acres