A former elected official in Pennsylvania has filed paperwork to enter into the race for a Sumter County Commission seat.
Gary Search of the Village of Amelia has indicated he will run as a Republican for the District 1 seat currently held by Al Butler, a resident of the Village of Bridgeport at Lake Sumter.
Search, who moved to The Villages in 2008, has attended Sumter County Commission meetings in the past, but felt his questions were not being addressed.
The “final straw” came when the commission voted last month to impose a 25 tax increase on homeowners to pay for infrastructure in the newest areas of The Villages. Many county residents have complained that these costs ought to be borne by the Developer.
“You are either part of the solution or you are part of the problem,” Search said.
He served for 13 years as a township commissioner in Pennsylvania. He is an active member of New Covenant United Methodist Church in The Villages.
Last month, two Villagers announced they would be challenging incumbent Sumter County Commissioner Steve Printz, who has filed paperwork indicating he will be running for re-election. Butler has not yet filed to run for another term.
