Property taxes. Offshore drilling. Insurance. Education. Health care. Destin residents can voice their concerns about these and other state issues with Senator Don Gaetz on Thursday, October 9th.

From early morning until well into the evening, Gaetz will meet one-on-one with citizens, walk door-to-door, and visit with civic and school groups as part of his “Destin Neighborhood Day.” Since his election to the Senate in 2006, Gaetz regularly takes his Senate office to neighborhoods throughout Northwest Florida to hear citizens’ ideas and suggestions and discuss their problems face-to-face.

“Very few people have the time or opportunity to travel to Tallahassee to express themselves about state issues,” Gaetz (R-Niceville) said. “Neighborhood Day is a chance for me to spend a whole day in a neighborhood and listen to small business owners, moms and dads, veterans, teachers and taxpayers who live and work there. There’s no government office, no need to make an appointment, it’s all very informal and the coffee pot is on.”

“Neighborhood Day” kicks-off at 6:30 a.m. with Senator Gaetz live on WFTW News Talk 1260 AM on “The Wake Up Call” with hosts Ken Walsh and Elaine Tucker.

At 7:00 a.m., Gaetz will be a guest on “Good Morning with Jerry Melvin” on Fox Talk 1340 AM where he will discuss state issues affecting Destin.

Gaetz will speak to the Destin Kiwanis Club from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Kelly Plantation to share the good news of a $2.3 million state grant for preservation and park facilities for the Destin Harbor.

Beginning at 9:00 a.m., at Immanuel Anglican Church, Gaetz will meet one-on-one with anyone who would like to talk with him about problems with state agencies or offer opinions about energy, education, insurance, taxes or other concerns. If individuals want to meet with the senator at a specific time during the day, call toll free 1-866-450-4DON. No appointment is necessary, however. People can simply stop by the church, located at 250 Indian Bayou Trail in Destin, until 11:00 a.m. and, in the afternoon, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Everyone who comes by will have an opportunity to visit with Gaetz.

At 11:30, he will meet with the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors to listen to concerns affecting the business community. The Chamber is located at 4484 Legendary Drive.

His next stop will be Destin Elementary School, 630 Kelly Street, where the senator will spend time with students, parents and teachers starting at 3:30 p.m. Gaetz will award Destin Elementary Principal Marti Gardner and School Advisory Council members with a senatorial commendation for the school’s outstanding academic achievements during the 2007-2008 school year. Destin Elementary is one of thirty-three Okaloosa County schools earning the state’s highest scholastic ranking. This is the ninth year Destin Elementary has received an “A” award. Gaetz will also present the school with $74,299 as a state bonus for Destin Elementary’s exemplary academic performance.

Late in the afternoon and evening, Gaetz will walk door-to-door in Destin to meet with residents on their own turf. He has knocked on over 25,000 doors before and after being elected to the Senate.

The day will end with two other “A” award presentations to Destin Middle School Principal Tommy Britt and Richbourg Middle School Principal Bob Jones. Representative Marti Coley will accompany Senator Gaetz for the presentations which will take place at 6:15 p.m. as part of the pre-game activities at the Destin-Richbourg football game. This is Richbourg Middle School’s seventh “A” award and Destin Middle School’s ninth “A” award. Destin Middle and Richbourg will receive $48,617 and $58,553, respectively, in school performance bonuses from Gaetz and Coley.

Senator Don Gaetz chairs the Senate Education Committee, co-chairs the Joint Legislative Sunset Committee, and is a member of Senate committees with jurisdiction over banking and insurance, judiciary, environmental preservation and conservation, health and human services appropriations, and social responsibility policy and calendar.

Prior to his service in the Senate, Gaetz was the elected superintendent of schools in Okaloosa County, served on the Okaloosa School Board and was the first town chairman of Seaside, Florida.

Senator Gaetz and his wife, Vicky, live in Niceville.

For more information on “Neighborhood Day” or to make an appointment to meet with Senator Gaetz, contact Meghan Rice, Legislative Aide to Senator Gaetz toll-free at 1-866-450-4DON. To read about legislation Senator Gaetz has sponsored and supported, please go to www.flsenate.gov and click on his member page.