Today we’d like to introduce you to Trish “Panagiota” Becker.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My background in politics started in high school. I became very interested in the power a vote can have. I realized the inequality that exists between the have’s and the have nots. I began volunteering and using my voice to shine a light on the problems affecting the community and helping to come up with solutions. As I got older, my involvement grew as well. That was something I learned while living in Greece when I was young by watching my family and neighbors. I grew up seeing them all helping each other, feeding or clothing anyone who needed it.
When we first moved back to the U.S. I was in elementary school. Sadly, I wasn’t welcomed by my peers and I was constantly bullied. I had a very thick accent and a strange name, so I acted out and felt like a loner. Looking back at it, it made me stronger, and it gave me empathy for others struggling. In the early ’90s, I was in middle school and living in Central Florida. My good friend and I were walking to our second-period class, and suddenly another one of our classmates came around the corner yelling racial slurs. Suddenly, I saw that he was pointing a gun at my friend and me, and the next thing I knew, my Black friend, Joey was suddenly covered in red.
He died there in front of me, and my life changed forever. Since then, I have dedicated my life to fighting injustice, especially when it comes to the holds that white supremacy still has in the south. I have tried to be an example to the youth and mentor them whenever possible. I believe we can all take some control of our destiny. While I had a difficult childhood, I never let it stop me. I learned what I didn’t want to be or do and focused on setting my own course.
While I have been in many communities and environmental activist groups in Florida, I’m more known for being one of the founders of the Women’s March Alliance of North Florida. We advocate, raise awareness, and volunteer our time to help local groups, especially BIPOC and women. When I attended the Women’s March Convention in 2017, the theme was to get more women, especially marginalized and Trans women, a seat at the table. This is especially true when it comes to legislation, policy, and regulation. I decided then, that I wanted to run for office. I needed to give the everyday person a voice.
I always make sure to never leave anyone behind and instead help others flourish.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not always been a smooth road, but that is politics I guess. I have to really educate myself on the how and why of what we do, so that when residents ask me I can tell them. I have to continue learning about pesticides and environmental safety regulations. I have even taken Bee College classes to ensure that we are not hurting our local bees, which we are not.
I really listen to people’s concerns, and if I don’t know the answer, I ask one of the many Dr.s and Entomologists we have on the team. Our goal is to keep learning because the more we know, the more we can share with the public. I was just a mom whose son couldn’t play outside, I don’t have a background in Biology or Science. But I have completed a certification course titled, The Global Challenges of Vector-Borne Disease through The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. I have dedicated myself to learning as much as I can to be the best public servant possible.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Did you know that the #1 killer of humans worldwide has always been the same thing? It’s the female mosquito! I never knew that until I put in my first AMCD service request, about six years ago. My husband and I had just purchased our first home. At the time, my son was almost two and he wanted to spend every waking second outside playing. All of a sudden, he was getting large welts. He was having an allergic reaction to mosquito bites, and it caused him great discomfort. As a new homeowner, I had just found out that I could utilize Mosquito Control.
I called in a service request and a technician came the next day. He introduced himself and asked me what was happening. I told him about my son and showed him where we would play. The technician said he would inspect my property and report back any findings. A few minutes later, my doorbell rang and he said he wanted to show me something. We walked out with him to an empty flower pot that had water in it. When I looked inside, I couldn’t believe it, there were tons of little things swimming around in it. He advised me that they were baby mosquitoes, and would become full-grown in just days. I was shocked, all this time, I was unknowingly creating my own problem! He emptied the container, treated my yard, and gave information to make sure I didn’t grow my own problems again.
I was so happy, he gave my son back his favorite thing, playing outside. Afterward, anytime I had an issue I would put in a free service request, and he would come to inspect and treat if needed. I was so pleased with not only his thoroughness but his passion for it. I told him that I wanted to write a letter to his boss, he gave me the information, and then he suggested I talk to a Commissioner. I did, and afterward, I started attending the monthly meetings. I was so impressed with the entire facility, staff, research, and treatment that Anastasia Mosquito Control Districts provides. I really got interested in it all, and I knew that I wanted to run for the office of Special District County Commissioner at AMCD. I ended up running a successful grassroots campaign and won 43% of the votes. I am now in the 3rd year of my four-year term, and I am running for re-election next year.
I am one of five non-partisan Commissioners on the AMCD Board. I am the Vice-Chairwoman of the AMCD Board and the Chairwoman of the Education Committee. I am proud to lead my team in building a Vector Educational Center, set to open this coming spring. I hope to inspire people to learn more about not only the world’s #1 killer of humans worldwide, the female mosquito, but other vectors and public health issues as well. I have not only been able to pass a $15 minimum wage, provide all employees with great health insurance and benefits, but I have also voted and passed to lower the tax millage rate the last three years.
I lead by example with kindness and facts and I spend as much time as possible engaging with the public. I have attended hundreds of events, community gatherings, school visits, volunteering efforts, food giveaways, and more. I am a member of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program and was voted as one of the top 25 Young Professionals Under 40 in St. Johns.
I believe that it is my job to make sure every resident not only knows how to protect themselves from dangerous mosquitoes but also knows what an incredible job the team at AMCD does. AMCD is the highest cited organization in Mosquito Control worldwide and we are in the process of becoming one of only 5 GLP (Good Lab Practices) Certified. The environmentally friendly treatment and natural pesticides we use set us apart.
I love that we use biological ways to control mosquitoes like Gambusiafish, make bat houses, and work on cutting-edge research that will impact the world. I could not be prouder to play a small role in what the entire team at AMCD does. I am most proud of the fact that since 2004, we have not had 1 single case of a human-related mosquito-borne disease, and that we have also earned the Environmental Protection Agency award of Environmental Stewards.
*I can only speak on my own behalf, and not the AMCD Board or as Anastasia Mosquito Control District.*
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
The best thing about Jacksonville is the diversity. I love all of the different backgrounds, and cultures there is no matter where you look. What I do not like, is that it feels like the working class has been left behind. It feels like that in some parts of St. Johns County as well. We have so much good stuff, but instead of addressing the core of why there is an enormous amount of houseless people, the City tries to cover it up.
Instead of investing in educating the community and providing more resources to help those who need it the most, millions of dollars are put into the police department. I love all of the different groups and associations working with the City of Jacksonville to work on these issues. More representation of the regular working people, disabled, and People of Color is needed in positions of power. That is how we can find solutions to so many of the problems facing us all, having more seats at the table.
Pricing:
- Our millage rate is 0.20, about $25 dollars a house per year.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.TrishTheCommish.com
- Instagram: Trish_the_Commish
- Facebook: Trish The Commish
- Twitter: TrishTheCommish
- Youtube: Trish The Commish
- Other: www.amcdsjc.org
