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Hillsborough County Commission, District 1

 
Published Nov. 4, 2016

The race for the County Commission District 1 seat pits Sandra Murman, 66, a former state representative who has held the post since 2010, against Jeff Zampitella, 47, a commercial pilot seeking his first elective office.

About the job: The county commissioner from District 1 takes part in county legislative, policy, budget and zoning issues in coastal Hillsborough County. The district runs from Lutz south to Ruskin and contains much of Tampa, including MacDill Air Force Base. The position pays $95,782.

Sandra L. Murman

Party:

Republican

Republican

Profession:

County commissioner

County commissioner

About the candidate:

Murman, 66, is a former state legislator who served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1996 to 2004 and has served on the Hillsborough County Commission since 2010.

Murman, 66, is a former state legislator who served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1996 to 2004 and has served on the Hillsborough County Commission since 2010.

Education:

Indiana University, B.A., marketing

Indiana University, B.A., marketing

Do you support the use of public dollars to build a baseball field in Hillsborough County for the Tampa Bay Rays? If so, what sources would you consider? If not, why?

" I will have a watchful eye and scrutinize every dollar when a proposal for a baseball stadium comes across my desk. Unlike the CIT that funded Raymond James stadium under no circumstances will I support a sales tax increase or use of county general revenue to finance a ballpark. I might consider are use of tourist taxes after our county exceeds the level that allows the increase and the funds from tourists are restricted to these uses. "

" I will have a watchful eye and scrutinize every dollar when a proposal for a baseball stadium comes across my desk. Unlike the CIT that funded Raymond James stadium under no circumstances will I support a sales tax increase or use of county general revenue to finance a ballpark. I might consider are use of tourist taxes after our county exceeds the level that allows the increase and the funds from tourists are restricted to these uses. "

Tampa decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Should Hillsborough County do the same?

"No, Hillsborough County should not decriminalize the possession of marijuana. I believe Hillsborough County should follow state law with respect to controlled substances such as marijuana. I support changes the Legislature has made providing access to medicinal marijuana for those who need access to the drug."

"No, Hillsborough County should not decriminalize the possession of marijuana. I believe Hillsborough County should follow state law with respect to controlled substances such as marijuana. I support changes the Legislature has made providing access to medicinal marijuana for those who need access to the drug."

Should Hillsborough County use public funds to incentivize economic development or lure companies here? If so, how? If not, why not?

"Hillsborough County needs more jobs now to keep up with our population growth. I am in favor of job development incentives because they create jobs especially when they target high tech and manufacturing industries that attract high paying jobs and locate in targeted areas for development like what we are doing with the Innovation Alliance near USF.

"Hillsborough County needs more jobs now to keep up with our population growth. I am in favor of job development incentives because they create jobs especially when they target high tech and manufacturing industries that attract high paying jobs and locate in targeted areas for development like what we are doing with the Innovation Alliance near USF.

The commission recently voted to dedicate $600 million over the next decade to transportation. What should be the top priorities? Will it be enough?

"I supported dedicating $600 million from our county budget without raising taxes over the next 10 years and the top priorities are backlogged transportation projects like county road maintenance needs, bridges, and safety projects. Also, capacity improvements like Big Bend Road and Citrus Park extension, which are necessary to lessen congestion and to also invest in increased transit options like HART bus projects that could begin to build networks in our urban and suburban areas."

"I supported dedicating $600 million from our county budget without raising taxes over the next 10 years and the top priorities are backlogged transportation projects like county road maintenance needs, bridges, and safety projects. Also, capacity improvements like Big Bend Road and Citrus Park extension, which are necessary to lessen congestion and to also invest in increased transit options like HART bus projects that could begin to build networks in our urban and suburban areas."

Assets/liabilities/ income:

Assets: $3,616,572 Liabilities: $295,200 Income: $95,782

Assets: $3,616,572 Liabilities: $295,200 Income: $95,782

Personal:

Home: Tampa Married to Jim Murman One adult child

Home: Tampa Married to Jim Murman One adult child

Campaign fundraising:

Contributions: $269,739 Expenditures: $53,821

Contributions: $269,739 Expenditures: $53,821

On the web:

Website: votesandymurman.com Twitter: @votesandymurman

Website: votesandymurman.com Twitter: @votesandymurman

Jeff Zampitella

Party:

Democrat

Democrat

Profession:

Delta Air Lines pilot

Delta Air Lines pilot

About the candidate:

Zampitella, 47, has served as president of SkyPoint condominiums since 2012 and is seeking his first elective office.

Zampitella, 47, has served as president of SkyPoint condominiums since 2012 and is seeking his first elective office.

Education:

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, B.S., aeronautical science

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, B.S., aeronautical science

Do you support the use of public dollars to build a baseball field in Hillsborough County for the Tampa Bay Rays? If so, what sources would you consider? If not, why?

"I do not support the use of general property taxes for a Rays stadium. I do, however support the use of excess Community Investment Tax (CIT) funds for a ball park, in addition to the use of increased bed/head taxes. I would not oppose the use of taxes from CRAs should the CRA board decide to dedicate those funds.

"I do not support the use of general property taxes for a Rays stadium. I do, however support the use of excess Community Investment Tax (CIT) funds for a ball park, in addition to the use of increased bed/head taxes. I would not oppose the use of taxes from CRAs should the CRA board decide to dedicate those funds.

Tampa decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Should Hillsborough County do the same?

"The county should decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana so there is a uniformity with the city of Tampa."

"The county should decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana so there is a uniformity with the city of Tampa."

Should Hillsborough County use public funds to incentivize economic development or lure companies here? If so, how? If not, why not?

"I am in favor of Hillsborough County using public funds to incentivize economic development so long as we are luring quality employers, such as medical research or manufacturing, to name a few."

"I am in favor of Hillsborough County using public funds to incentivize economic development so long as we are luring quality employers, such as medical research or manufacturing, to name a few."

The commission recently voted to dedicate $600 million over the next decade to transportation. What should be the top priorities? Will it be enough?

"We have $9 billion of unfunded transportation projects in Hillsborough County today. This will hardly make a dent fixing, let alone creating any type of meaningful transportation network. We need a master transit plan and we need a dedicated funding mechanism if we are to create real transit options."

"We have $9 billion of unfunded transportation projects in Hillsborough County today. This will hardly make a dent fixing, let alone creating any type of meaningful transportation network. We need a master transit plan and we need a dedicated funding mechanism if we are to create real transit options."

Assets/liabilities/ income:

Assets: $1,090,077 Liabilities: $298,286 Income: $217,655

Assets: $1,090,077 Liabilities: $298,286 Income: $217,655

Personal:

Home: Tampa Married to Kristina Zampitella Four adult children

Home: Tampa Married to Kristina Zampitella Four adult children

Campaign fundraising:

Contributions: $24,492 Expenditures: $ 12,681

Contributions: $24,492 Expenditures: $ 12,681

On the web:

Website: www.electjeffz.com/ Twitter: @electJeffZ

Website: www.electjeffz.com/ Twitter: @electJeffZ