Is West Pasco Bringing the County Down?

This story was written by Patch Associate Regional Editor Sherri Lonon.

Pasco Commissioners have made it clear they want the county to be considered by residents and outsiders alike as a “premier” destination for doing business, living and vacationing.

For months, they’ve touted the moniker as the goal to strive for. That brass ring has guided decision-making on everything from setting library hours to selecting a new county administrator.

Hitting the mark isn’t so easy it seems.

Some say Pasco is never going to be “premier” until it cleans up problems that plague its west side: crime, poverty, blight. While Central Pasco has nice communities, the Shops at Wiregrass, a shiny new hospital and other perks, West Pasco's issues just can’t be swept under the rug.

Tampa Bay Times columnist Bill Stevens speculated West Pasco might be on the top of the list of reasons why Tommy Gonzalez turned down Pasco’s offer to make him county administrator. The Irving, Texas, city manager was the county’s first choice for replacing John Gallagher. When Gonzalez said no thanks, commissioners went with longtime assistant county administrator Michele Baker instead.

“Pasco has some lovely pockets, but the place where most of the people live and where Gonzalez would go to work every day is depressed,” Stevens wrote.

He also said being “premier” hinges on finding solutions to the west side’s problems.

Do you agree? Is West Pasco standing in the county’s way of becoming “premier?” What would you do to fix it? Tell us by commenting below!