Jason Bashaw

Suwannee County resident and businessman Jason Bashaw has announced his candidacy for the office of Suwannee County Commission, District 1.

According to Bashaw, the encouragement of others has led him to seek office.

“I want to bring a can-do attitude in promoting business in the private sector,” Bashaw explained. “It’s easy to say it, but if you’ve lived it, you have the backbone and I feel that I have the backbone.”

Bashaw stressed that as a business owner in Suwannee County, he has invested considerable time into running businesses.

“As an entrepreneur, you’re also a crisis manager,” Bashaw added.

One of Bashaw’s goals is to see our local government ran as a business.

“It’s a $55.4 million business and it should be ran like that,” Bashaw emphasized.

Bashaw’s greatest concern at this time for Suwannee County is bringing that can-do attitude to the table to help attract jobs and a see our county become more pro-growth.

“We should create more revenue streams through the private sector and businesses, not on the backs of the residents,” Bashaw stated.

 As a proponent of business, Bashaw emphasizes the need to create a plan for our county and be proactive rather than reactive.

“This is done by creating certain rallying points in the community, such as our downtown area, the local hospital and perimeter road,” Bashaw said. “We have four agencies created by our local government to attract businesses. Theses agencies include the Chamber of Commerce, the Council for Progress, the Tourist Development Authority and the Economic Alliance. We must allow them to offer incentives for new businesses when they want to come here, as well as our existing businesses.”

Pledging to reduce taxes on residents wherever possible, Bashaw promises to bring a conservative and business like approach to our local government. He also voices his commitment in preserving the agricultural and environmental feel and rich heritage that Suwannee County offers.

As a proponent of less government and more personal freedom, Bashaw acknowledges that he has a vested interested in the community through his farms and family.

“I am locked in and grounded in this community,” the Suwannee County native said.

According to Bashaw, he wants to be a full time county commissioner and involved in bringing about economic development through a pro-business approach. However, he recognizes a need for specific growth.

“To preserve our agricultural feel, we should concentrate such growth in municipal areas and interchanges, preventing urban sprawl,” Bashaw explained.

As a supporter of perimeter road, Bashaw envisions the project alleviating downtown traffic and promoting a village like atmosphere in the downtown area.

The current issue that Bashaw finds most important and that has the greatest impact on Florida and Suwannee County at this time is water. According to Bashaw, we must rely on data and he recognizes a need for more information than we have now.

“We need to join with other counties to work toward resolving water issues in North Florida,” Bashaw explained.

Bashaw emphasized his support of “Project Christmas” for the catalyst site north of Live Oak, the local hospital and term limits in local government. He also shares the concern of many about garbage on the roadsides and believes the problem can be enforced and remedied on the county level.

As a family man with two daughters, Bashaw feels a sense of accomplishment and is pleased to be able to fit an education into his life at this time.

As an accomplished businessman, Bashaw wants to help plan for better times for Suwannee County.

“There is opportunity in every market,” Bashaw stated. “Rather than being pessimistic, we have to be optimistic about the county’s future.”

With his business experience and intimate working knowledge of the community, Bashaw stressed that he is not bound by the politics of the past and will bring a can-do attitude to the table.