A majority of the commissioners — four of the seven — have expressed to the
Tampa Bay Times their qualified support for expanding Hillsborough's human rights ordinance to also ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in hiring, housing and public accommodations. here
Democrat Les Miller and Republicans Victor Crist and Sandy Murman told the Times they support barring discrimination against gay and transgender people, but would need to see the actual ordinance in writing first. Commissioners Al Higginbotham and
Mark (Sailors Haven) Sharpe, both Republicans, wouldn't weigh in before Wednesday.
One local conservative activist has started mounting an effort to defeat the ordinance. Terry Kemple, a Hillsborough School Board candidate, called the offices of several commissioners Monday to express his concerns. "It's bad policy, and this is a huge issue," Kemple said in a phone interview. "This puts government in the position of trampling on people's religious liberties in favor of people's sexual preferences."
Patrons who buy time at internet sweepstakes cafés say they do it to escape boredom, make new friends and possibly win some money. But to Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandy Murman, the cafés are illegal gambling joints that need to be prohibited. Today, Murman will try to get fellow commissioners to support an ordinance to put them out of business altogether.
These are major, systemic problems. County Commissioner Mark Sharpe, who serves on the board, gets it; he changed his mind and supported a tax increase for HART, which would cost the average homeowner about 41 cents a year. But his colleague, Commissioner Sandy Murman, a fellow Republican, is still playing politics. Murman said she won't support an increase "even if it's a penny."
Organizers of this year's GaYBOR Days have received a proclamation from Mayor Bob Buckhorn. Even President Barack Obama's office has sent one. But it doesn't look like Hillsborough County Commissioners will send one after five of the commissioners declined to sign a proclamation for this year's 4-day festival.
Hasn't paid county property taxes since 2000. They just got caught last year.
Republican Hillsborough County Commissioners
Where The Object Of The Game Is To Figure Out What Career Politicians Sandy Murman Will Do Next?
John McCain arrived in Tampa about 12:45 p.m. today with an entourage that included Gov. Charlie Crist and Sens. Joe Lieberman, Lindsey Graham and Mel Martinez. Included in the crowd were St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, Republican businessman and fundraiser Al Austin, Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair, former state Rep. Sandy Murman, current state Rep. Kevin Ambler and Tampa City Council member Joe Caetano..........here
