VOLUME 3 ISSUE 49
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Christmas parade on Saturday
DECEMBER 9 - DECEMBER 15, 2022
Page B3
Santa on the Square
Marciano files to run for Mayor
Left: Santa Claus holds Aubrey Hankins, 7 weeks, as Mrs. Claus and her parents, Carrissa and Cody Hankins look on on the first night of Santa On The Square on the Ocala Downtown Square in Ocala on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022
By Rosemarie Dowell rosemarie@ocalagazette.com
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political newcomer is hoping to unseat a longtime incumbent for mayor of Ocala in next year’s election. Ben Marciano, owner of Zone Health and Fitness, has formally filed paperwork to run against Mayor Kent Guinn, according to a press release issued Friday by Marciano’s campaign. Marciano said his campaign platform will focus on three issues: public safety, the mental and physical health of citizens and strategic growth. “I am confident with my business experience, my community heart, and get-it-done attitude, I will successfully serve our whole community – preparing for appropriate growth, while preserving the safety and spirit See Marciano, page A2
Below: Sophia Rodriguez, 6 months, begins to cry as she visits with Santa. Photos by Bruce Ackerman/ Ocala Gazette
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he City of Ocala is hosting Mr. & Mrs. Santa on the downtown square every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6-8 p.m., Dec. 6-15. All parents are invited to bring
cameras to capture the holiday magic. For more information, visit www. ocalafl.org/holidays or call the City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department at 352-368-5517.
Federal prosecutors charge State Rep. Harding By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
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ederal prosecutors have charged Marion County’s State Rep. Joe Harding with scheming “to defraud and for obtaining money and property by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses” in order to obtain money from the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). Harding, an Ocala Republican recently elected to his second term representing District 24, was released Wednesday on a $10,000 bond. According to a grand jury’s indictment, Harding applied for EIDL for two entities, The Vak Shack, Inc., an agricultural supply business in Williston, and Harding Farms,
LLC., a 46-acre horse and cattle facility in Williston. The indictment alleges that Harding falsely represented the number of employees and gross revenues for both entities and claimed they were active in 2019 and 2020 when they were not, and that Harding supported the false claims with “fraudulently created bank statements.” Prosecutors allege that the business entities had been dormant from May 2017 through Dec. 16, 2020 and therefore had no gross revenues for the 12 months prior to the COVID-19 disaster, a necessary element of qualifying for the EIDL. Federal prosecutors are seeking a criminal conviction as well as forfeiture of any property, real and personal, derived from the proceeds of the loan transaction.
Court filings show that Harding is represented by Peggy-Anne O’Connor, of Turner, O’Connor, Kozlowski P.L. in Gainesville. Harding issued a media release Wednesday afternoon indicating that he could not answer questions about the legal proceedings on the advice of his attorney. “Today, I pleaded not guilty to charges that state I improperly obtained and used an EIDL loan issued by the Small Business Administration. I want the public and my constituents to know that I fully repaid the loan and cooperated with investigators as requested,” Harding said through the release. “In the meantime, I will continue to work hard for the people of House District 24. Thank you, and may God bless you.”
File photo: Rep. Joe Harding on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.
Twins in government
Forest High School Student Government Association members work toward statewide change By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
J Twins, Jack, right, and Ryan Gorman, 17, left, who are both seniors, and Collin Scroggie, 17, a junior, center, pose together in the courtyard outside their SGA classroom at Forest High School in Ocala on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. Jack is the FASC State President (and Class of 2023 President at Forest) and Ryan is the Co-Vice President of District 2 for FASC, and also the Student Body Treasurer for Forest. Scroggie is the Co-Vice President for District 2 for FASC. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.
ack and Ryan Gorman, Forest High School seniors, spent their childhood days after school watching their mother volunteer at local homeless shelters. Now, years later, the 17-yearold twins have used their student government platforms at the district and state level to bring awareness and support for homeless students across Florida. “Florida has the third-
highest homeless population in the United States,” said Jack. “One of the main targets that I have with this project is to make sure that we’re reaching out to our student homeless population to sort of break the cycle of chronic homelessness and better equip our peers for success in the future.” As state president of the Florida Association of Student Councils (FASC), Jack chose the theme “Aid to Homeless Communities” for the project that every district in Florida will work in 2022-23. Jack also serves as the president for the
FHS Class of 2023. The project encourages each district to host food and clothing drives, volunteer at local shelters and put together care packages to “provide aid to low-income and homeless communities to provide equal opportunities to all students.” FASC splits Florida into six districts made up of student government chapters across the state. Jack’s right-hand man, his brother Ryan, serves as the co-vice president for District 2 and is working to implement See Student, page A7
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