Beckner, Montelione, Miller And Cohen Vote For TBX

Yes on TBX

Kevin Beckner

Lisa Montelione

Les Miller

Harry Cohen

here

Florida GOP

Ken Hagan,  Sandra Murman, Josh Burgin and  Stacy White.
Also voted yes.

Update: I wrote Mr. Beckner to express my disappointment with his yes vote. He thanked me for my feedback and said "This issue is far from over. If FDOT does not take considerable action to work with the citizens and neighborhoods, I will not hesitate pulling my support."

Hillsborough County Commissioner's Lack Of Vision

To their great credit, Commissioners Stacy White and Les Miller did their best to persuade fellow commissioners last week to spend much of the $23 million the county will receive in oil spill damages from BP on the Jan K. Platt Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program, which is virtually out of money. But their colleagues refused. 

Ken Hagan said there should be no urgency in spending the money — despite renewed development now taking place.
Sandra Murman suggested spending the nonrecurring funds on transportation. That’s clearly a need, but the county has other revenue sources for roads and is considering a half-cent sales tax increase for transportation needs. ELAPP, in contrast, is being neglected.
Kevin Beckner similarly argued that since the settlement was compensation for the loss of tourism and other economic activity, it should go toward the economy, including ecotourism. here

_________________

Thank you Mr. White (We might have been wrong about you) and Mr. Miller.

Thanks Commissioner Pat Kemp

Words of Pat Kemp:

Thank you all for standing up and emailing & calling to bring back the ferry study/plan. We are back on track again! The BOCC had voted 5-1 to restart the ferry study/plan that we had already paid $500,000 to finally get done.(Only Comm. Les Miller voted no this time.) (Special thanks to Jae Passmore, Gwen Meyers, Cleo L. Townsend for making it 
to the meeting.

In Sept, just 2 months ago, the BOCC approved the ferry study/plan by 7-0, then suddenly for no apparent reason put the ferry on the agenda on the lame-duck session and killed the study/plan 2 months into a 4 month plan by a 6-1 vote with only me supporting finishing the study/plan we had already mostly paid for.

Learn more about Mr. Miller here

Hillsborough County GOP Pulls A Fast One

At a Workshop where the public was not allowed to comment, the County rammed through a growth plan that includes "Sector Planning," which can result in tens of thousands of homes paving over our rural lands.

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This "Sector Plan" was not on the agenda, and was not included in the backup materials for the meeting, so neither the Commissioners nor the public had a chance to review it, and the public had no opportunity for input prior to the vote. The County Administrator, Mike Merrill, handed it out to the Commissioners when we were seated at the meeting. Soon after, Commissioner Stacy White made a motion for us to adopt the document.

#ambushed

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INFO

Voting YES: Stacy White, Sandy Murman,

Les Miller & Ken Hagan.

Voter Registration in Hillsborough County;

 Democrats334,070; Republicans269,899; Others255,409

Les Miller on the Stogie

HERE

Hillsborough County Right Wing Infestation

Right wing Hillsborough County Commissioners Lesley Les Miller, Ken Hagan, Sandy Murman, Stacy White, Al Higginbotham and Victor D Crist intend to restrict the number of medical marijuana dispensaries to 13.

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Florida GOP Commissioners Ken Hagan and Sandy Murman made unfavorable comparisons to the dispensaries resembling the state’s notorious pill mills. 

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her
Can we clone Pat Kemp?

What A Surprise

Hillsborough Denies Domestic Partnership Registry

Commissioners Victor Crist, Ken Hagan, Al Higginbothom and Sandra Murman voted against the motion.

Commissioners Les Miller, Kevin Beckner and Mark Sharpe voted in favor.

nore

“It is evident by the vote today that a majority of my colleagues are out of touch with Hillsborough County voters and remain shackled by the unbendable ideology of their political masters,”....Kevin Beckner

Shame-Les Miller

CHECK OUT HIS TAG ON THIS BLOG

Bigots In The Hillsborough County Commission

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.
Earlier this month, Terry (#1 Bigot) Kemple, who is a member of the county's Human Relations Board, sent an email to all the commissioners warning them that signing such a proclamation would violate county policy.

Kevin Beckner, along with Commissioner Les Miller, are the only board members to have signed a proclamation for this year's GaYBOR Days.

The five commissioners who did not sign this year's proclamation are
Republicans
Sandy Murman, Victor Crist, Al Higginbotham, Ken Hagan and Mark Sharpe.
more
What Happens When You Don't Vote!

Tampa DINOS

In a move initiated by Commissioner Mariella Smith, the board walked back a vote at a workshop last Thursday approving a guiding document for creating “a balanced approach to community building.”

The vote to rescind the approval fell along the same lines as the initial workshop vote with Smith and Pat Kemp voting to overturn the vote and Commissioners Kimberly Overman, Ken Hagan, Stacy White, Sandy Murman and Les Miller voting against. HERE
UPDATE: HERE

The stain on Hillsborough County's reputation

 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."

A Fired-Up Kevin Beckner

Sue Carlton: Duking it out in the name of diversity

 If you are forming a panel to empower minorities, should a racist get a seat at the table? Does tolerance mean tolerating bigots — who are, by definition, intolerant? And does Terry Kemple — conservative Christian activist and Hillsborough School Board candidate who speaks out against gay rights — belong on a board that's supposed to be about diversity?

Kevin Beckner, the openly gay commissioner who proposed the panel, put it this way:
 "Why would you want to serve on a board you don't believe should be in existence?"

Which led to one fired-up discussion between Beckner and
Victor Crist, who with three other Republicans voted for Kemple.
Commissioner Les Miller voted to table it indefinitely!
more

Ronda And Brian What Do You Think Of Us Now

“I am a Baptist deacon but I faced discrimination, I know no one should face discrimination regardless of who they may be.”Les Miller. The rest of the commissioners agreed, voting 7-0 to expand the Human Rights ordinance to cover sexual orientation and gender identity. here 

Amanda Murphy Party In Tampa

Some local greats will be there. Janet Cruz, The Great Comm. Kevin Beckner, Pat Frank, Bob Henriquez, Comm. Les Miller, Stacy Frank, Mike Suarez and Mayor Bob will be there,which is very rare to see him at aDemocratic event.

October 1st from 5:30 to 7 pm at 

3006 W. Angeles St. Tampa,  

Please RSVP by calling Brian at (561) 843-1824.

Stogie Election Watch!

Now that the Tampa municipal election is over, the 2020 elections loom in the near distance. Who will run for the various local races? We have School Board, County Commission, Clerk of the Ciruit Court, Supervisor of Elections, and state legislator races to consider, as well as candidates to mull (will they run, should they run?). Let’s take an initial peek!

For BOCC (County Commission) there will be three elections (same for School Board), and one of those is for District 3. The candidates who have filed thus far are Sky White, who came in second place during the Democratic primary for District 7 in 2018; and Gwen Myers, who has been in the race longer. I like both of these candidates to succeed Commissioner Les Miller, and will be canvassing this weekend with Team Sky in Progress Village!

Who else might jump in? I think it is highly possible that we will see outgoing City Councilor Frank Reddick enter the race at some point. Who else do YOU think or hope will jump in?

— Asher

Hillsborough County GOP Loves Developers

Despite calls from residents
to implore commissioners to put more money into the county’s bus system and to find other ways to move people without building more roads. here

Florida GOP 
Sandy Murman
Victor Crist
Al Higginbotham
Stacy White
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and Ken Hagan
approved a road-centric $812 million, 
10-year transportation plan.
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They could care less about what you want. Next time they are up for reelection
we hope you remember this.

Also remember this guy

Les Miller

He is a Dem and he also voted for this.

Thank you Pat Kemp

“We cannot build our way out of congestion. It’s time we make some wise investments." 
Pat Kemp

Try A WRI (Write In Candidate)

Around Here
Victoria Brake Instead Of Ronda R. Storms For State Senator, Dist. 10
Derek Crabb Or Kimberly Renspie Instead Of Jim Norman For State Senator, Dist. 12
Joseph L. Graser Instead Of Darryl Ervin Rouson For State Representative, Dist. 55
Lewis Laricchia Instead Of David Chalela Or Rachel V. Burgin For State Representative, Dist. 56
Dwight Anthony Bolden Instead Of Lesley "Les" Miller, Jr. For County Commissioner, Dist. 3
Benjamin Harold Stutzman Instead Of Mark Sharpe For County Commissioner, Dist. 7

Only one of these candidates has a web site, Mr. Laricchia.
Want to run for office but can't make an effort?

Justice For Andrew Joseph III

Round 1 of accountability calls. Since 2014, the Joseph family has been fighting for justice for the tragic loss of their son Andrew Joseph III. We need to work together to continue bogging down the elected officials and leaders who have a say. I know it may be tough when one of those officials is usually a friend and ally. 

However, Commissioner Les Miller serves on the Board of Directors and has the ability to be a voice for the Joseph family and hold the fair accountable. Do not allow party-line interfere with achieving justice. Please review this Google Form for more details, his phone # and a sample script and PLEASE be an active participant in justice. Questions? Ask! here

A Critical Day For Hillsborough County

This Wednesday morning, March 1st is a critical day for Hillsborough County. If you cannot be there, PLEASE EMAIL your County Commissioners all at once ASAP with the link below to demand the County Commission FUND TRANSIT NOW!

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Email is the BEST way for written record of all comments but if possible please call, too!

Sandra L. Murman 813-272-5470 

Victor D. Crist 813-272-5452 

Lesley "Les" Miller Jr. 813-272-5720 

Stacy White 813-272-5740 

Ken Hagan 813-272-5725 

Pat Kemp 813-272-5730 

Al Higginbotham 813-272-5735

The Liberals Takeover Of Tampa

Hillsborough County Registered Voters

Dems 323,159

GOP 261, 279

Other 234,279
Currently IT LOOKS LIKE THIS.
Ken Hagan
Sandy Murman
Al Hhigginbotham
victor crist, Stacy White
Les Miller and Kevin Beckner being the only Dems. 
Murman is up for re-election.
Mr. Beckners seat needs to be kept blue.
There are more Dems then GOP.

Why do they get to rule?
Join 
The Tampa Bay Chapter of the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida
here