Hillsborough Democrats Near Surrender

Just one Democrat remains in the running with four Hillsborough County Commission seats up for election now that candidate Mary Mulhern, a Tampa city council member, has withdrawn from the District 7 race for health reasons. To some observers, this scenario raises serious questions about the Democratic Party’s ability to compete in local elections.

Democrats have 61,000 more registered voters in the county than Republicans, yet the GOP has a solid 5-2 majority on the commission.....more> 

“It starts with leaders recruiting candidates to run for office. There’s a lack of focus on the recruitment process at the state level. Their focus seems to be on getting people elected to Congress or statewide office.”  Kevin Beckner

Hillsborough County GOP

Hillsborough County

Rick Cochran -  Stacy White

Janet Lee Dougherty - Ken Hagan

Al Higginbotham - Don Kruse

Robin A. Lester - Terry Kemple

As of 12/30/2013 there are

Democratic: 309,348
Republican: 245,522
Lets keep these people out of office.
Vote
Join The Party
Please consider Mary Mulhern, Donna Lee Fore

Mary vs. Al

April Griffin has ended her run for a Hillsborough County Commission seat. That leaves a two-person race between Republican Commissioner Al Higginbotham (Remember what he has done for us) and Democratic Tampa City Council member Mary Mulhern — for now. The at-large seat is not until 2014. Newcomer and Democrat Cristina Cain recently filed paperwork announcing her attention to run and former commissioner and Tampa council member Tom Scott, a Democrat, said he is still considering getting into the contest......more Visit Al's countdown clock here www.alhigginbotham.info

Tampa Bay Homeless

Homeless Living In Tampa
 Item #60 on the City Council Agenda. to be homeless within the Tampa city limits.
"Jail does nothing to solve the problem. It only tries to make the problem invisible. It's not even a Band-Aid," said Heather Curry, Ph.D. student at USF
"The wind has been taken out of my sails," said Steven Sapp, publisher of the Tampa Epoch and long-time homeless advocate. "What happened to unbiased journalism, focused on facts? I expected more out of the Tampa Bay Times and the new Tampa Tribune. They are doing nothing more than spreading false information and mostly grouping aggressive panhandling (ordinance 59) with sleeping outdoors (ordinance 60)."
The homeless advocates are disappointed, but are far from giving up. Future plans of the group include creating a network of organizations that focus on homeless relief, community awareness events, and advocating for Housing First models such as Resurrection House in Sarasota......more
Council members Mulhern, Reddick and Capin first trying to get a 90-day continuance and then voting no when they failed to delay the vote.

Tampa Bay Homeless

 The city is one step closer to enacting a new set of restrictions on homeless people.
Council members discussed two proposed ordinances that would add more restrictions to an existing six-day-a-week ban on roadside panhandling. The first would ban panhandling near downtown, Ybor City, banks, ATMs, sidewalk cafes and transit stops in an effort to stop people from begging in places others can't easily leave. The second would prohibit people from storing their property in public, urinating in public, and sleeping or camping in parks, on sidewalks or in public rights of way.
more
thankfully we have  Mary Mulhern who said the city must first increase its shelter offerings before passing an ordinance like this. Courts have ruled that cities must ensure there are adequate alternatives before banning behaviors — such as sleeping on sidewalks — that are closely associated with homelessness. She was the only council member to vote against both proposed ordinances.

Fundraising Reception In Honor Of Mary Mulhern

Candidate for Hillsborough County Commission, Dist. 7 (county-wide)
Wednesday, June 26th, 2013 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
The Home of Mark Anderson & Keith Bucklew
3110 W. Agawan St. Tampa
Cocktails and Appetizers will be served
Suggested Contribution Levels: $50-$100 (Supporter), $250 (Host)
info

The Soho Saloon In Tampa

Our Backwards City Council At It Again

 The Soho Saloon is suing the city of Tampa over a City Council vote to deny it a permit to pour mixed drinks along with beer and wine. City Council member Mary Mulhern moved for denial based on the saloon's request to the city to waive three rules:
One requires 35 parking spaces, not the 16 the bar has. If this was the case in cities like New Orleans, Menphis or our own Ybor City then none of them would serve alcohol. What does she want a chain to come and pave half a city block for parking and take all the charm out of the area. Arn't they always telling us not to drink and drive? There are always plenty of cabs around and HART #4 comes right by this place.   Another requires a city waiver when there are residences within 1,000 feet (the closest home is 33 feet away). The third requires a similar waiver when there are other stores, restaurants or bars selling alcohol within 1,000 feet (there are 17).  The saloon is surrounded by bars, including MacDinton's Irish Pub across the street. Why is ok for them but not this place?
more
Why do i keep supporting Ms. Mulhern?

Corporate Welfare In Tampa Bay

Hillsborough County commissioners approve $6.25M subsidy for Bass Pro Shops

Hillsborough County commissioners have approved spending $6.25 million to bring a Bass Pro Shops store to the Brandon area. The vote was 6-1 with

Commissioner Kevin Beckner casting the only "no" vote.

more
Again Mr. Beckner does the right thing. Remember these other folks come election time. We can start here
Mary Mulhern, for Hillsborough County Commission, District 7

Mary Mulhern at Mise en Place

Mary Mulhern for Hillsborough County
Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Mise en Place
442 W. Kennedy Blvd.. Tampa
Suggested minimum contribution $25, maximum $500
info

Mary Mulhern for Hillsborough County Commission, District 7

Sign Up for Campaign Updates
here

Higginbotham, Hagan, Murman, and Crist

The goal, is for Hillsborough County to “stop embarrassing us, and embarrassing itself.
“To stop a bully is really easy. But silence to a bully is encouragement. And right now there are too many people who feel the way we do, who are very silently shaking their head at the County Commission.

And we need them to be vocal and visible.”
Those were the words of Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, speaking at a town hall meeting in Ybor on Tuesday night. The meeting was a response to the controversial 4-3 vote last month by the Hillsborough County Commission, rejecting creation of a domestic partner registry.

more

Anybody But Higginbotham

Hillsborough Commission District 7 Seat
Names Stogie likes.
Mary Mulhern, April Griffin and Rose Ferlita.
more

Joe Redner's Voice of Freedom Park

Joe Redner, a Tampa businessman and local hero, will allow Occupy Tampa to set up camp in his private park, Voice of Freedom. The park is located in economically depressed west Tampa, about a block from old downtown. Kelly Benjamin said he “got it straight from the horse’s mouth,” as the mayor and city council members have already given him “a firm no” on giving OT a downtown park.
here

Big Brother In Tampa

Tampa City Council Approves Red Light Cameras

Harry Cohan, Mary Mulhern, Lisa Montelione and Mike Suarez supported installing the cameras. Voting no were council members Yvonne Yolie Capin and Frank Reddick, and council Chairman Charlie Miranda.
here
Please tell me why i supported Ms. Montelione and continue to support Mary Mulhern.

Mary Mulhern for Tampa City Council

Only 24 hours left to contribute!
Voter turnout is LOW, we need to reach the crucial voters before March 1st.
It's too late to mail a check, but we'll arrange pick up or delivery if you call:

Kevin Wren at 220-3582 or email info@marymulhern.com
Or Contribute On-Line

The Stogie Recommends The Following Candidates

Mayor – Ed Turanchik
District 1 – No Endorsement
District 2 – Mary Mulhern
District 3 – Yvonne Yolie Capin
District 4 – No Endorsement
District 5 – Carroll “Carrie” West
District 6 – Kelly Benjamin
District 7 – Lisa Montelione
No - On the ballot initiative

Tampa Candidate Forum At USF

Ed, Mary and Carrie

Ed And Kelly

Tom, Rose and Ed were there. Greco's mom was ill and Buckhorn was too busy to join us, he was eating spaghetti in South Tampa. I hope he gets indigestion.

Rose and her crew.

Seth Nelson and Jason Wilson. I liked both these guys, to bad they are running aganist each other.

Mr. Redner and Mary.

More Pics Here

Tampa City Council Rejects Call For Panhandling Ban

Tampa City Council members voted to reject a proposed ban on panhandling and street vending on the city's busiest roads. The council voted 5-2, with Thomas Scott and Mary Mulhern supporting the ban.
here

Mary Mulhern i am so disappointed in you. Maybe you should join Susan Long who is basing her whole campaign on the issue, Kelly Benjamin calls it "absolutely 100% tragic", i call it disgusting. I don't know why i continue to support you on my blog. Maybe we can send them to The Licata Bridge. These people have a face and a name, Help Them!

Tampa Bay Homeless

Canvass in Seminole Heights

Mary Mulhern Campaign
2/5 Meet at Starbucks 502 E. Hillsborough Avenue
10:30am - 3:00pm
2/6 Meet at The Independent 5016 N Florida Ave
1:30pm - 6:30pm
Info

City Of Tampa And It's Kooky Ideas

Dale Mabry Highway And Kennedy Boulevard
Tampa officials moved to enact a St. Petersburg-style ban on panhandling, charity drives and newspaper sales on the city's busiest roads. "It is a good compromise," said Chairman Thomas Scott. Joining Scott in support of the ordinance were council members Gwen Miller, Mary Mulhern and Curtis Stokes.
here

"A ban might be popular but does nothing about unemployment or homelessness. We have a problem. We're not addressing how to solve it. We're addressing how to get rid of it."......Charlie Miranda

Ms. Mulhern I Am Very Disappointed In You.

Tampa Bay Homeless