A MESSAGE FROM THE PINE RIDGE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

July 20, 2026

On July 20, 2026 the Pine Ridge Property Association Board of Directors (PRPOA BOD) met to provide their thoughts and selections regarding candidates interested in representing Citrus citizens at both the State and County level. Of particular concern to the Association is how the BOCC, now and in the future, will comport on behalf of matters important to Pine Ridge residents. Your vote matters.

Pine Ridge is within the boundaries of District Three, and our elected Commissioner Janet Barek has been a visible supporter on matters important to both Citrus Springs and Pine Ridge. We should be proud of our choice as she has delivered. In 2024, 850 votes were the difference in a very close election. This shows Pine Ridge voters can make a difference. If as few as 426 votes went the other way, it’s a different story.

If you read the President’s Message of July 1, 2026 you learned the PRPOA found it necessary to engage in the political process to defend our way of life. The first official Pine Ridge Candidate Forum was in 2022 followed by 2024 and the current 2026. There is never a guarantee a preferred candidate will deliver but this BOD thinks it’s prudent to continue vetting candidates in order to provide relevant information to Pine Ridge voters. As we continue to improve this due diligence process, we will be stronger together.

It should be understood by every Pine Ridge voter that although Commissioners qualify in their homesteaded District, they run at large. This means Citrus voters (outside Pine Ridge) have been electing Commissioners beyond designated boundaries for years. This is significant because matters important to Pine Ridge don’t always align with county wide voters. When examining past voting patterns it is clear Pine Ridge was frequently an afterthought. We encourage each voter to do their own examination and we expect they will arrive at the same conclusions as the BOD. We have now been through three cycles and have a deeper understanding of the local political process. Candidates can’t erase their record.

It would seem the special interests of developers and big business/money wins the day more often thannot. As much as we can appreciate the positives of the Suncoast and the need to build commercially, we can’t ignore the negatives: the impact to the Pine Ridge culture and character along with the further impact to the density and intensity directly affecting Pine Ridge which is accelerating all around. Matters important to Pine Ridge were subordinated in the last two decades. It just wasn’t all that noticeable—until it was.

Based on our individual review of Candidate Responses, various interactive forums, their visible social media and news media positions along with their records (where applicable) the Board of Directors is recommending two incumbents and one newcomer as follows:

Florida House of Representatives

District 23

JJ Grow, Incumbent – Response

Board of County Commissioners

District 2

Diana Finegan, Incumbent – Response

District 4

Dr. Holli Herndon, Newcomer – Response / Response 2

You are now invited to build your awareness regarding each candidate. Below this message is the process and the package each candidate received followed by their response. On behalf of the BOD and the residents we serve we thank all candidates for their participation in this new and unique Candidate Forum.

Early voting begins August 7, 2026. Primary voting day is August 18, 2026.

The Pine Ridge Board sent the following letters to Candidates for Citrus County Commisioners and State Representive positions as well. The letters as well as there responses is included below

Letter sent to County Commissioners

Responses

Rebecca Bays – Response / Response 2
Diane Finegan – Response
Jennifer Holly Grogan – Response
Holli Herndon – Response / Response 2
Stacy Worthington – Response / Response 2

Letter Sent to House of Representative Candidates

Responses

Tod Cloud – Response / Response 2
JJ Grow – Response

PDF Version of Letter Sent

Dear Candidate:Whether a first timer or incumbent, we know it takes a special person to step-up on behalf of the people. In the matter of Pine Ridge Estates, the largest Citrus sub-division, “the people” number 12,000 (+/-). The Citrus County Property Appraiser documents the 2025 Pine Ridge Taxable Just Value at $1,440,895,295.00. These are not small numbers and your attention is requested and required.There have been some difficult lessons in recent years but the most important takeaway is this: going forward the Pine Ridge Property Owners Association (PRPOA) will be recommending candidates who have or will support matters important to Pine Ridge property owners. It is a fiduciary duty.Whereas, in previous election cycles, the PRPOA has facilitated interactive candidate forums in the Community Center, we came to understand many residents could not attend. In this election, mindful of those who couldn’t attend, we are providing the unique opportunity for candidates to express themselves in written form. This new format provides a transparent process and the opportunity to respond directly.

The questions and responses will then be transmitted to members electronically and be available on the PRPOA website thereafter. This also takes into account residents already generally learn about candidates via public forums, meet and greets, regular media coverage, social media exchanges (and the like), allowing the PRPOA to facilitate on behalf of candidates to a greater number than before. This new process provides candidates thirty days to respond and residents thirty days to review through election day.

Attached are the questions (as previously provided by residents, refined and updated) for perusal and written response. Each candidate submission will be reviewed by the Board of Directors to ascertain harmony with goals and objectives on behalf of PRPOA members. Once done, the Board will provide their consensus endorsement of candidates. Whereas, it’s anticipated each member, resident or owner will vote their conscious regarding their concerns, the PRPOA will have done their due diligence regarding the proposition of each candidate for the matters residents brought forward.

On behalf of the Pine Ridge Property Owners Association (PRPOA) and the residents and owners we serve, we thank you in advance for your commitment to public service.

We now invite you to the following pages for questions and guidance to include the timeline and deadlines.

Sincerely,

John Hyde

John Hyde, President
C Board of Directors (5)
Attachments (2) Timeline and Questionnaire

CITRUS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE

In a brief one-page opening advisement please explain why you are seeking office.

Please limit answers to no more than one type written page.

Campaign ContributionsHow much affect do/should campaign contributions have, considering regular everyday citizens don’t have the wherewithal to make significant contributions and how will you/have you balance(d) those interests?
Serving Both Seniors and Younger ResidentsGiven the varied and changing Citrus County demographics, how will you oversee essential services for seniors while younger workforce residents are attracted?
Protecting Foundational TaxpayersHow will you protect the interests of long-time taxpayers and residents as development accelerates throughout Citrus County?
Growth Management and OversightHow should/could/will the BOCC improve oversight of planning and land-growth management to ensure residents’ interests get earnest consideration as long time foundational taxpayers?Incumbents:Explain why developers have been allowed to solicit Land Growth Management for whole sale changes to the Land Development Code thereby modifying community master plans?
Why is the authorized Land Development Code, enacted by BOCC predecessors to protect the interests of property owners, viewed as a document to work around?
Increasing Traffic and Public Safety IssuesHow will you/have you work(ed) with the Sheriff’s Office to ensure enforcement and public safety in Pine Ridge, taking into account increasing traffic generated by Suncoast interchange at CR 486?
Equestrian SafetyExplain what a collaboration between our State Representative and the BOCC looks like to improve safety at major equestrian crossings, especially on Pine Ridge and Mustang Boulevards?
Road Paving ImprovementConsidering the Taxable Just Value attributed to Pine Ridge, how will you provide oversight to the county road paving process ensuring the current ‘low density variable’ is deprioritized?
Preserving Pine Ridge Natural Resources, Bird Sanctuary and EcosystemExplain how to shape a collaboration with the Pine Ridge POA and the State of Florida to further identify and preserve unique natural resources and their protected status within this subdivision?
Water Resources and GrowthHow will you/have you exercise(d) your BMAP stakeholder role protecting aquifers, springs, and long-term water supplies (and how should developer impact fees be integrated)?
Funding Essential ServicesGiven the expected Citrus population increase, how will the expansion of police, fire, EMS, healthcare, and education services be funded into the future (and what portion should come from taxpayers versus other sources)?

June 19, 2026State of Florida-District 23
House of Representatives Candidates
Via electronic mail only

Dear Candidate:

Whether a first timer or incumbent, we know it takes a special person to step-up on behalf of the people. In the matter of Pine Ridge Estates, the largest Citrus sub-division, “the people” number 12,000 (+/-). The Citrus County Property Appraiser documents the 2025 Pine Ridge Taxable Just Value at $1,440,895,295.00. These are not small numbers and your attention is requested and required.

There have been some difficult lessons in recent years but the most important takeaway is this: going forward the Pine Ridge Property Owners Association (PRPOA) will be recommending candidates who have or will support matters important to Pine Ridge property owners. It is a fiduciary duty.

Whereas, in previous election cycles, the PRPOA has facilitated interactive candidate forums in the Community Center, we came to understand many residents could not attend. In this election, mindful of those who couldn’t attend, we are providing the unique opportunity for candidates to express themselves in written form. This new format provides a transparent process and the opportunity to respond directly.