Valerie Parnell, Seminole County Watch columnist

Bob Dallari and Brenda Carey both came to the Seminole County Board of Commissioners with victories in the 2004 election.

Both have their share of controversy behind them.

Dallari was busted recently for calling himself a doctor when he had, in fact, not passed the state's certification for engineering.  When called to question on the matter, Dallari admitted he had signed a cease-and-desist order that prevented him from calling himself a doctor until passing the certification and let the matter drop.

Cary was on the infamous Lynx transportation board whose members several years ago were filmed cavorting and gambling in Las Vegas, where they had been sent at public expense to attend meetings in the public interest but instead were enjoying the personal hospitality of private lobbyists.

When called to question on the matter, Carey initially said she welcomed the coming investigation into the Board's actions, saying it would exonerate all involved.  When the investigation did just the opposite, Carey tried to turn the issue into one that led to personal redemption, saying she had learned from her transgression of the public trust.

Their respective response to personal controversies and public embarrassment seem wholly consistent with their behavior since being elected to the Board of County Commissioners.

Dallari approaches his job in a quiet, contemplative manner devoid of grandstanding and deflective of personal attention.  The former Oviedo councilman limits most of his speaking to asking questions that seek clarification or better understanding of an issue, rather than climbing aboard a soapbox to declare his views for all to hear.

Carey does just the opposite.  She rarely takes the time to ask questions that would give her a better grasp of the issue being discussed, and she rarely gets her facts in order before issuing an opinion. 

Carey seems to have an eternal chip on her shoulder, always acting as if she is on the attack and in a battle royale with commissioners with whom she disagrees.  Such defensiveness and aggression are not uncommon when you first stake out a position on the issues and then seek facts to accommodate it.

By now, after having publicly stuck her foot in her mouth a number of times, it seems Carey would have caught on and modified her behavior, but she seems to be a woman who is not capable of feeling embarrassed.  Her combative, accusatory nature shines through in her words and actions, making it obvious to anyone paying attention that she is intent on proving her point at all times.

Her desire to do so points to the biggest difference between the two freshman commissioners.  Whereas Dallari goes out of his way to make clear that his actions as commissioner are not "about" him personally, Carey does just the opposite.  With Carey, it does not matter what the issue is, because she is obviously more important than the matter at hand.

Perhaps that is what Carey has learned it takes for a woman to be successful in local politics and business:  to place oneself at the center of attention and focus solely on satisfying one's own ego and needs. 

That's OK when operating in the private realm, where the results of your actions do not affect the public at large.  But when making decisions that affect communities and the people who comprise them, it becomes less than acceptable.

To date, Carey's way has worked just fine for her.  It has made her a successful business owner and gotten her elected to the county commission.  Maybe it took such spirit and self-absorption to successfully unseat incumbent Darryl McLain last November.

But all of life is not a battle, and the ability to discern when to fight and when to cooperate is a reflection of the wisdom accompanying maturity. 

Getting elected as a county commissioner is one thing.  Acting effectively in the role is another.  To see that, all one has to do is to compare Bob Dallari's performance in office with that of Brenda Carey.

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