Topher Morrison on TECO

Community Forum on Transportation - February 13, 2019

Opening comments by Commissioners Mariella Smith, Kimberly Overman and Pat Kemp (left to right)
 

Please forgive me if the video and sound are slightly out of sync in these videos. In the rush to get this post out today, I neglected to preview the final edited versions of the videos. The sync should be close enough that you won't be distracted from the message.

Two days ago a Community Forum on Transportation was held at the Seminole Heights Library. It was hosted by the Sierra Club, a well recognized environmental advocacy organization that has been around since 1892. Considering the critical impact our new transportation initiative will have on the immediate and long range plans for transportation within Hillsborough County, I expected a huge turnout of both community activists, or advocates if you prefer, and public officials directly charged with implementing new plans for improving transportation here . I saw neither.

Questions and Answers

There were about 50 people representing the interests of the public and a grand total of 3 public officials on the panel. In this first serious attempt to establish a line of communication between our government officials and the public, of the 7 members of the County Commission, only 3 bothered to answer the open invitation to attend, Commissioners Mariella Smith, Kimberly Overman and Pat Kemp. Of the 14 members of the HART Board of Directors, only 3 members attended and coincidentally they were, Mariella Smith, Kimberly Overman and Pat Kemp. Of the 7 members of the City Council of Tampa, not one councilperson showed up. In the audience, there was 1 candidate for the upcoming election for mayor, Topher Morrison, and 2 candidates for councilmen, Walter L. Smith II and John Godwin. This dismal turnout of county government officials and candidates seems to me a clear indication that, despite the rhetoric to the contrary, the large majority of present and future hopeful officials have their own agenda of how they intend to spend this new transportation windfall and have no serious interest in the wants or needs the public, who voted for the initiative and is financing it in full. I have to add that John Turanchik, the son of Ed Turanchik, candidate for mayor, spent some time outside the event handing out flyers promoting Ed's "Go Plan", his agenda for transportation. John didn't attend the event itself. If your interest is in the people who actually rely on the bus system in Hillsborough County, I can only add that, when the host of the event asked for a show of hands of how many people in the audience had taken a bus to get to the event, only 1 person, myself, raised his hand. When he asked how many WOULD have taken a bus if there was one available to get them there, nearly half the audience raised their hands. I think the host was trying to make a point of how lacking our bus system is by asking these questions but I, personally, interpreted the responses completely differently. I found the responses rather odd because the HART MetroRapid has a stop 3 blocks from the event and I find it difficult to believe that I alone among the 50 or so attendees of the forum live near enough to a bus line capable of getting me to the event. I hope you get my point.

I also hope that, in the near future, I will see a real concerted effort to establish a working relationship between our government officials and the citizens of Hillsborough County. I'd like to see the schools in the county handing out notices to their students, to take home to their parents, advertising upcoming forums in their school auditoriums. I'd like to see questionnaires on all the buses that can be filled out and returned to any driver, asking riders what they want from the new bus system and inviting them to future outreach events. I'd like to see an upsurge by the public, demanding of the county officials, who THEY elected and whose salaries they pay for, listen to their concerns about the future of the transportation system they are funding. I'd like to see an indication by our county representatives that they will at least make an effort to reach out to the public they supposedly represent. Voting for the transportation initiative is a fine example of talking the talk. County officials telling each other how important it is to establish a concerted program of community outreach is a fine example of talking the talk. I'm hoping to see many, many more of these people begin actually walking the walk......but I'm not holding my breath.

Finally, there are thousands of Hart patrons who rely on the buses to get back and forth to work or school every day and will continue to suffer a dismally broken bus system for at least another year thanks to a lawsuit, meant to completely undermine the intent of the transportation initiative, filed by the self-serving Commissioner Stacy White. Whether you are a Democrat, a Republican or any other political affiliation, you must know that Stacy White does not represent you and should not have a seat on our county commission. I urge everyone to keep this in mind when the elections come around next year.

South of Gandy Community Mayoral Candidate Forum

All of the mayoral candidates listed on the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections website are invited. The following candidates have been invited 
so far:

Ed Turanchik

Topher Morrison

 Michael Hazard

LaVaughn King

Harry Cohen
Jane Castor
David Straz 

Mike Suarez 

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6:30 to 8:30 pm 
January 30th 

St. Mary's Episcopal Day School 

4311 W. San Miguel St. INFO

Virtual Town Hall – Topher Morrison for Mayor of Tampa

Stogie #Tags: Topher Morrison

HERE

Local 2020 Vision

Onward to 2019 and 2020! It’s time to determine
School Board: Well — The voters did a number on who should run for local offices in our upcoming municipal and county races.

For Tampa Mayor: I am an undecided voter. Granted, I am looking for work to take me out of Tampa and Florida, so I don’t plan on being here, but I’m still interested in who will stand out. I like Ed Turanchik who has experience in local government and has pushed transit ideas such as ferries for our county. Also, we have Topher Morrison, who has proposed the gondolas for Tampa to install. Current Counilors Harry Cohen and Mike Suarez should also be considered for their votes on ferries. Not to mention Cohen was the force behind the cannabis decriminalization ordinance! I like these ideas and believe in innovation for Tampa’s future. Jane Castor or any Buckhorn apprentices would be awful for our City and will not get my support.

City Council: Mixed bag — I support John Godwin, Bill Carlson, and Orlando Gudes. Who do you like for City Council?

our SB in 2018, let me tell ya. They took a Board that desperately needed better membership and put WORSE people on (looking at YOU South Tampa). In order to keep it from spiraling into hell, we’ll need to elect some decent people in 2020. I think Robert Pechacek should run again considering his calm demeanor, attention to the issues, and teaching credentials. I wouldn’t mind seeing Bill Person attempt to get the West County Seat again. What do you think?

County Commission: Sky White would be an excellent addition! We need to keep Pat Kemp on the BOCC for sure. As for Murman’s seat, what should we do there? Jen McDonald is the only candidate in the race right now.

Thoughts?

Tampa 2020 Tasker

Sky U. White

County Commissioner, Dist. 3

Jessica Vaughn

School Board Member, Dist. 3

Jen McDonald

County Commissioner, Dist. 1

Bernie Sanders

President 

Draft Kevin Beckner

Clerk of Circuit Court

Draft Topher Morrison

For something!

Chris Cano: Tampa Mayor’s Race

So to all my friends & colleagues in Tampa I’m going to sum up the Mayor’s race in a quick cheat sheet for you to 
take to the polls:

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 Harry Cohen - Wants to Legalize Marijuana 

Topher Morrison - Non-Politico Underdog 

Ed Turanchik - Polished Politician 

Dick Greco - Political Dynasty 

Mike Suarez - City Councilman

 David Straz - 1%’er Trump Donor 

Jane Castor - Corrupt & Racist Police Chief

NAACP Candidate Forum At Middleton High School

Sky U. White


With Kim Overman


The Democratic Socialists



Mariella Smith


Cissy Boza Sevelin


Candy Lowe

Beth Eriksen Shoup


Chris Cano


Andrew Learned

Andrew Davis

Joe Kotvas

 Robert Pechacek 

Mark Nash

Asher Edelson

Jose Vazquez

Elvis Piggott

Topher Morrison

Maria Jose with Team Shoup


Mr. H Fan

Middleton High School - East Tampa

Topher Morrison for Mayor

Four Mayoral Candidates Flunk East Tampa Test

East Tampa residents feel shortchanged by the City of Tampa on transit, housing opportunities, infrastructure, and fair treatment by law enforcement.

After yesterday, they have more than sufficient reason to feel abandoned 
by City Hall.

Though invited to a “Tea and Conservation” event in Temple Terrace, four of the six candidates for mayor were no-shows.  Only City Councilman Harry Cohen and branding strategist/political newcomer Topher Morrison attended and spoke to the crowd of 150. more

By Jim Bleyer

Tampa’s good ‘ol boy network

Six of the seven candidates haven’t offered anything new or inspirational -- only Topher Morrison, owner of a small business and political neophyte, touts unique innovation and total inclusiveness.  Sadly, he is a long shot to make the anticipated two-person runoff despite energizing the youth vote.

The remaining aspirants are intent on perpetuating Tampa’s good ‘ol boy network that chains Tampa to third-rate status among the country’s big cities. 

 These candidates include a legacy candidate, two city council members with notably unremarkable records, an out-of-touch billionaire who hasn’t grasped the issues but is convinced he can buy the office, a former county commissioner with a checkered record whose rhetoric exceeds his accomplishments, and a former police chief who was castigated by the Department of Justice for racial profiling. MORE

Who I like for mayor of Tampa

MAYOR

Ed Turanchik
Best résumé of all candidates.
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Topher Morrison
Not a politician. Smart, nice guy!
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Harry Cohen

Cannabis decriminalization.

DISCLAIMER: I am a photographer and blogger. I do not work for any candidate or management company.
 I was not paid for this endorsement.

Day in life of Tampa Mayoral Candidate Topher Morrison

Topher Morrison: Mayoral Minute - Vision Zero

Candidates in Ybor City

Jen McDonald

Shake Washington 

Elvis Piggott & Topher Morrison

Jessica Harrington with fan

Adam Hattersley

Candy Lowe & Kim Overman

Connie Burton 

Nina Tatlock

The Democratic Progressive Caucus of Tampa Bay

Candy Lowe Candidates In Tampa T&C