Hillsborough County on Tuesday announced the hiring of a new economic development director who formerly held a similar job for the city of St. Petersburg.

Ron Barton most recently was the executive director of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission from 2005 until he was sacked in August as part of a larger house clearing by that city's mayor, Alvin Brown. In a memo to department directors and economic development employees, Hillsborough County Chief Financial Officer Bonnie Wise said Barton was responsible in Jacksonville for efforts that lead to $514 million in capital investment from the private sector and the creation of 6,400 jobs.

A Jacksonville Times-Union story said his departure had been anticipated after the mayor there ordered a review of economic development efforts. Barton was hired by former Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton.

Before Jacksonville, Barton worked for four years as the city of St. Petersburg's director of economic development and property management under former Mayor Rick Baker. He was credited with several development projects, particularly in the city's struggling Midtown area. ... Read more

Mark Nash, a former aide to Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner, confirmed part of the speculation that has him considering a run for office. But he won't say which one.

Talk has him looking at a bid for the District 4 County Commission seat currently held by Al Higginbotham, who is seeking reelection. And Nash, a Democrat, just recently moved from Tampa to the Lithia area. He grew up in Brandon. 

He wouldn't take the bait, discussing a variety of political offices in play this election season. But he said he'd be making an announcement soon.

"I’m looking at the whole landscape, but my interests have been local," Nash said.

A run for the District 4 seat would be a challenge for any Democrat, since it takes in much of eastern and southern Hillsborough County, which tilts heavily in Republicans' favor. Whatever he's considering, Nash says he's been looking at the numbers and sees a path to victory. ... Read more

Rob Wallace, a former state representative, has announced his intention to challenge state Sen. Jim Norman this year.

Republican party officials chose Wallace to replace Norman in the 2010 election when a judge threw him off the ballot for failing to disclose a a lakefront Arkansas home his wife bought four years earlier using a $500,000 gift from one of her husband's regular campaign backers. Norman, R-Tampa, was serving as a Hillsborough County commissioner when the gift was given. The ruling was quickly overturned on appeal, putting Norman back on the ballot and ending Wallace’s candidacy after just 61 minutes. ... Read more

**Update: Kates sent word via Facebook that he's working in a parliamentary election.

Democrat Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner is looking for a new campaign manager for his reelection bid, but says it's no big thing.

His campaign manager from his first go-around in 2008, Mitch Kates, has left the country to work on what he describes as a parliamentary election in the former Soviet nation of Georgia. He left a week ago. (Funny aside: Kates posted on his Facebook page that one of the first bits of graffiti he saw after arriving in Tbilisi, that nation's capital, said "Eminem.")

Anyway, Beckner said he and Kates had already sketched out an election campaign plan before Kates left. Beckner is facing challenges from two active Republicans candidates, Steve Cona and Margaret Iuculano. He's in the process of interviewing people to replace Kates.

"It means very little in terms of the strategy and direction our campaign will be going," Beckner said. "We have already laid the groundwork. We have a good grassroots structure and network in place."