Candidate: Cricinda (Cinda) Foster

Hello, my name is Cricinda “Cinda” Foster and I would like to tell you a little about myself since I am running for Suwannee County Commissioner in District 3.  My family history in Suwannee County, specifically the Clayland and Dowling Park area, dates back to over 100 years.  I can remember the ripples in County Road 250.  I remember spending many days at one of the beautiful springs in the District just like some of you.   

My parents are Buck and Dorothy Faircloth.  They have been married for 58 years. They were married right there at the Happy Home Maker Extension Club in the Clayland area. They raised me with traditional values and respect for God and Country. My mother attended Clayland School as Dorothy Richardson. She later graduated from Suwannee High School when Clayland School was closed. My grandparents were Loy and Shellie Richardson who were married for 50 years before we lost grandpa.  They both taught me the value of commitment, and that anything worth doing is worth doing well. Suwannee County has been my home for over 34 years. I also graduated Suwannee High School and was a Majorette in the Sound of Suwannee Band.  I met my husband, Mike Foster, on Homecoming night in 1986 while attending Suwannee High.  We raised 2 children, Allen Foster and Cierra Parker, in Dowling Park, and have been blessed with 2 grandchildren. We were married for 29 years before I lost him in a tragic accident. Our friends and neighbors came together during this heartbreaking time and I owe them many Thanks. Therefore, I have decided I want to repay the great people of Suwannee County and serve as a County Commissioner for District 3. I believe out of something bad, something good can arise.

I have been with Suwannee Valley Transit Authority for 7 years as a Deputy Finance Manager. This experience has given me a vast knowledge of Governmental accounting and the job of the County Commissioner.  Two Commissioners from Columbia, Hamilton, and Suwannee County sit on our Board of Directors. County Commissioners serve on many boards and I am prepared to accept that responsibility.  At work I am responsible for a biweekly payroll, entering and paying bills, and working with Grants.  These jobs allow me to work closely with the Commissioners and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) who has oversight over our transit operations.  I not only know how valuable grants are to the organization, I know that FDOT compliance is also a must for the agency. I have also gained the knowledge needed to balance a fiscal budget.  Before I worked for Suwannee Valley Transit, I was employed by the Live Oak Class III Landfill for almost 8 years.  There, I worked closely with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).  I was Landfill Certified.  While at the Landfill, I served as the accounts payable and accounts receivable clerk.  I also served as the scale house clerk.  I held a second job preparing income tax returns for H& R Block when I worked for the Live Oak Class III Landfill.  I was employed there for 12 years.   

I would like to continue the growth that the District has seen in past years. I know that we cannot drop the ball now.  We must continue to work hard so that our community continues to grow and thrive.  We need to develop jobs, repair roadways, and make a safe environment for our children and grandchildren. My husband had to work out of town because there wasn’t any work in his field available locally.  Therefore, I understand firsthand the importance of attracting and keeping employers locally.

If you give me the chance to prove myself, I will do my best to not disappoint you.  We need to leave a legacy for our children’s future so they too can continue to see Suwannee County blossom and grow.