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Republicans Jim Norman, Tim Schock file to run for Hillsborough County commission

 
Jim Norman is a former Hillsborough County commissioner.
Jim Norman is a former Hillsborough County commissioner.
Published Sept. 2, 2015

TAMPA — Jim Norman, a former Hillsborough County commissioner who exited politics amid scandal three years ago, began his official comeback Tuesday.

Norman, 61, submitted paperwork to run for County Commission as a Republican in the District 6 countywide race.

He quickly picked up an opponent. Tim Schock, who owns a local consulting company, filed Tuesday as well.

Schock, 42, previously ran for commissioner in 2014. He lost to Commissioner Al Higginbotham, finishing a distant second with about 15 percent of the vote.

Norman and Schock also will face Thomas Avino in a Republican primary next year. Former Hillsborough County Democratic Party chairwoman Pat Kemp, former Hillsborough County Commissioner and Tampa City Council member Tom Scott and local transit activist Brian Willis are vying for the Democratic nomination.

Norman was first elected in 1992 and served for 18 years before he was elected to the Florida Senate in 2010. He withdrew his bid for re-election in 2012 due to a scandal involving an Arkansas property purchased by a friend and local developer.

Contact Steve Contorno at scontorno@tampabay.com. Follow @scontorno.