Underhill inaction speaks volumes

Previously posted in the Pensacola News Journal

http://pensacolanewsjournal.fl.newsmemory.com/publink.php?shareid=1690611d4

By Gene Valentino

I was disappointed to see misleading statements presented without rebuttal in a recent story about the Old Corry Field Road replacement bridge.

Following the devastating floods and jail explosion in April 2014, the entire Escambia County Commission and staff were neck deep in emergency measures to take care of all of Escambia County.

Several other bridges had washed out, including Bauer Road and Dog Track Road. The structural integrity of the Navy Boulevard bridge at U.S. 98 was also questionable.

I was thus surprised when Mr. Underhill spent his first six months in office killing every infrastructure project that was on paper or scheduled for District 2.

Between winning the August primary and assuming office in November, Mr. Underhill was in repeated communication with the Florida Department of Transportation to kill projects like multi-laning Sorrento Road and Perdido Key Boulevard.

Voters may want to ask why the Corry Field bridge project has not had a higher priority in the 3 1 ⁄2 years since Mr. Underhill came to office.

Of more basic concern, they may question why, almost four years into his term, he wants to blame his predecessor for his own failure to adequately plan and organize his constituents’ infrastructure needs more prudently. His inaction has spoken louder than his consistent reckless diatribe upon others.