“Ocala Gazette” Q&A with candidates for County Commission

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Posted April 28, 2026 | Staff report

There are three candidates running for the District 2 County Commission seat (Matthew Cretul, Mike Crimi and Brien Weidemiller) and six for the District 4 seat (Randall Alvord, Jeff Bairstow, Clint Barkley, Anthony Barriner-Massa, Wanda Wimberly Lasher and Sherri Meadows).

The “Gazette” will email a different question each week to all of the candidates, for a total of nine questions over nine weeks. The candidates are given a week to respond in writing and we do not edit their answers. The answers from those who chose to participate are presented below in the order in which they were received.

QUESTION FIVE: What role should county government play in attracting new businesses and supporting local employers, and what types of economic development should Marion County prioritize or avoid?

County government plays an important role in creating the conditions for a strong local economy, but it should do so with discipline and a focus on long-term sustainability.

Our role is to provide the fundamentals businesses need to succeed — reliable infrastructure, efficient permitting, a skilled workforce and clear, consistent policies. When government is predictable and responsive, businesses are more likely to invest and grow here.

We should prioritize economic development that brings quality jobs — jobs that provide livable wages, opportunities for advancement and long-term stability — so families can build a future here in Marion County. That includes supporting local small businesses and encouraging industries that fit our community, such as healthcare, skilled trades, agriculture, logistics and light manufacturing.

It also means supporting small businesses and local employers, who are the backbone of our economy. Many are ready to expand and hire, but need a more predictable environment, better infrastructure and a workforce pipeline to do so.

At the same time, not all growth is good growth. Projects that strain our roads, water resources and public safety services without meaningful economic benefit should be carefully evaluated. Growth should align with our infrastructure capacity and protect the natural resources that define our quality of life.

Economic development should strengthen our community — not outpace our ability to support it. 

—Sherri Meadows

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County government should set the table, not pick winners and losers. Our role is to create an environment where businesses want to invest. Predictable regulations, fast and fair permitting, strong infrastructure and a workforce pipeline that actually meets employer needs. Just as important, we need to support the businesses already here because they’re the ones creating jobs today.

Marion County should prioritize high-wage, sustainable industries like healthcare, advanced manufacturing, logistics and technology sectors that grow careers, not just population. And we should avoid overreliance on low wage growth that strains our roads, schools and public safety without strengthening our economy. Growth is coming either way. The question is whether we shape it or let it shape us.

—Mike Crimi

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County government should be doing blue collar and white collar job fairs, we could also do workforce development programs.

As AI continues to expand, the county should explore legal ways to ensure that large businesses receiving land sales, leases or incentives maintain a reasonable level of local employment so economic development directly benefits Marion County residents.

We should prioritize economic growth that brings stable jobs and supports families without sacrificing the communities long term wellbeing. So, the county should avoid industries or developments that threaten our aquifers, air quality and surrounding land. 

—Anthony Barriner-Massa

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Marion County should provide more than just money. We should provide some degree of certainty that prospective businesses can be successful. By ensuring that roads are built, permits are predictable and workers are trained, they reduce the risk for a business looking to make a multi-million dollar investment.

We should build upon the recent types of industry that have made Marion County home. Such as the transportation hubs and warehousing facilities that are now along the I-75 corridor. Just as important though are the small businesses with 25-50 employees. Making sure we have the training programs in place to supply all businesses with ready to work employees. The costs for these programs should be funded by all. Balancing just how much the county, new business, state/federal grant money and the future workers will be the trick. It will take a consensus of all parties involved for our county to grow the workforce, industry and the wellbeing of all citizens.

—Wanda Wimberly Lasher

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Business development is vital to a community’s success. It brings jobs, expands the tax base, and provides other opportunities that allow communities to grow. Marion County found itself at a crossroads during the Great Recession, with the housing crash leading to a local unemployment rate hovering around 14%. The county recognized the dire situation and leveraged our location in the state, proximity to major transportation corridors and available sites to expand into the logistics and distribution space. This turned out to be a beneficial shift, and now we’re home to international companies like Auto Zone, FedEx, Chewy, Amazon, Dollar Tree International and more.

I believe Marion County could expand our business footprint once again. Sectors such as biomedical engineering, aviation and aerospace, and technology are growing around the state, and we should work to attract them to our county. This is done by applying for grant programs such as the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund (FJGGF) that can be used for infrastructure improvements and other projects that bring jobs. Florida is the #1 state in the nation for attracting a skilled workforce. We need to make sure we’re positioning the county to bring those skilled workers by attracting the careers they’re looking for.  

Data centers are a hot topic. I believe that before Marion County even considers housing data centers, we need to ensure that local ordinances, zoning and resolutions are in place that will tightly regulate any potential centers. Otherwise, we run the risk of allowing something that has the potential to harm our county more than benefit it.  

—Matthew Cretul

These candidates did not reply by the stated deadline of 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 28: Randall Alvord, Jeff Bairstow, Clint Barkley and Brien Weidemiller.