Largo City Commission Candidates on Business Development

Question: We hear from businesses and citizens each day about the many empty businesses and storefronts across our community. What would you propose to promote business development in the city, and how would you work to "jumpstart" redevelopment?

Robert Hunsicker: Sometimes the best thing government can do is get out of the way. Would manage the system better, assign a mentor to shepherd applicants through the community development process. Shared responsibility (of helping applicants) means no responsibility. Would loosen up the sign ordinance. It's the small restaurants, antique stores, if they are invisible they will fail.

James Robinson: The community redevelopment department has just redone the process. Believe the city is doing as much as they can to bring businesses to town. They are taking realtors around town and showing them redevelopment options. The community development department is doing a good job with what they have.

Editor's Note: Candidate answers are paraphrased, if you would like the City of Largo will televise and stream the complete debate starting the week of Oct. 1.

Here's a look at some current redevelopment in Largo and more of the discussion at last week's candidate forum.