Op-Ed: The Chamber of Secrets

My first brush with the local Chamber of Commerce came during the controversial push for a one cent sales tax hike, a proposal I found troubling from the start.

As I started voicing concerns on social media and tagging Chamber CEO Ashley Hofecker in posts questioning the organization’s role, I was promptly blocked. That’s when I knew I had hit a nerve. Ashley, for those unfamiliar, is the daughter of Denise Moloney, the former Public Information Officer for the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office who later headed Animal Services before retiring under less than clear circumstances.

My suspicions deepened about the Chamber's "Politics in the Park' event. A tradition that once included a straw poll was abruptly scrapped after anti-establishment candidate Marvin Baynham entered the race against incumbent John Allocco. When I contacted the Supervisor of Elections, I learned the decision wasn't theirs. Instead, it was reportedly at Ashley's request, allegedly under pressure from establishment interests. Before I reached out to the SOE, the Chamber told me-falsely-that "the SOE opted out, claiming there wasn't money or permission for it." In reality, the SOE regularly conducts straw polls at high schools and community events when requested, so long as they involve local elections.

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This isn’t surprising given Ashley’s political ties. She previously served as a legislative aide to then Representative Blaise Ingoglia Now CFO Blaise Ingoglia and is rumored to be dating former Brooksville Mayor and brief GOP chair Blake Bell.

When the county and Sheriff’s Office began pushing their sales tax proposal, a shadowy political action committee called the Hernando Business Alliance appeared out of nowhere. Its funding came largely from development interests, including a $45,000 check from Frank Morsani and sizable contributions from Deeb Development and Coastal Engineering. At the center of it all is the committee’s chairman, Duane, a well-connected Chamber insider. Yet when I pressed the Chamber about him, they denied even knowing who he was, even though his name is listed on their own website. These contradictions, combined with the money trail, raise serious questions about who is really pulling the strings in Hernando County politics.

The PAC that drove the failed sales tax campaign last November was fueled by special interests. Its leadership and financing reflect a familiar pattern: powerful developers, insiders, and lobbyists aligning behind a cause while denying any responsibility when challenged. A full exposé is coming soon.

Meanwhile, several business owners have quietly told me that Ashley has bragged she is “untouchable.” That sort of rhetoric should alarm anyone who values transparency, accountability, and fair representation. The Chamber itself receives nearly $1,000 in taxpayer funding every year, not including county staff time for programs like Leadership Hernando, yet it refuses to answer tough questions. Not only has it ignored political entanglements, it reportedly will not even open its financial records to the very businesses it claims to represent.

To the county’s credit, staff recently launched a Citizens Academy, perhaps inspired by neighboring Pasco County’s success or public pressure online. But when it comes to the Chamber, business as usual continues.

Even the Chairman’s Gala, which should have celebrated the Chamber’s centennial, was repurposed into a personal branding event for Board President Nick Holmes, who, according to local chatter, may have his eyes on a County Commission seat. I requested comment from Holmes but received no response.

It is also worth noting the venue choice for the Chamber Chairman's Gala. Nick and Ashley selected Simpson Lakes, a property owned by Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. That decision raises questions, given Simpson has donated thousands of dollars to the local GOP Executive Committee. Rather than a true celebration of Hernando’s business community, the gala looked like yet another example of the Chamber serving political insiders over its members.

To make matters worse, dozens of Chamber members who attended told me the event was poorly organized and, in their words, “sucked.”

Bottom line: While neighboring counties boast Chamber leaders with strong résumés and professional reputations, Hernando’s Chamber operates more like an insider club, increasingly aligned with political and development interests rather than the broader business community.

The real question remains. What happens when that insider club begins to flex its perceived influence in the next election cycle?