Five recommendations for Hillsborough County Commission

Hillsborough County commissioners face a host of challenges in the coming years, from managing growth and improving transportation to preserving the region’s quality of life. Commissioners are elected to a four-year term and paid $120,164 per year. Races for Districts 2 and 4 are open to voters who live in that district; the race for District 6 is countywide.District 2 (north county), Republicans: Ken Hagan We don’t agree with Ken Hagan on every issue, but the Republican incumbent is a reasonable and effective commissioner with accomplishments across the board. His experience and broad perspective make him the strongest Republican in this primary race.Hagan, 56, is the commission’s ranking member, first elected in 2002. He has long championed economic development projects, seeking to expand and diversify the county’s jobs base, particularly in the key hospitality and life sciences industries.Hagan supports continuing infrastructure spending, seeing an extension of the Community Investment Tax as essential to managing growth. He has strong relationships with business leaders and partners in other government agencies, realizing that county government doesn’t operate in a vacuum. Hagan is a strong advocate for the sheriff and the fire department, and a longtime supporter of parks and animal welfare programs. He carries a broad portfolio and does it well, reflecting a forward-thinking outlook and collegial legislative style. He also asks the right questions of staff, helping the commission make informed decisions.Melissa Nordbeck, 54, is a retired culinary instructor for Hillsborough schools. Though a first-time candidate, Nordbeck understands the governing process and the growth-related pressures that many longtime residents face. Nordbeck believes citizens are “effectively frozen out” of the county’s decision-making process, and she promises to bring greater transparency, fairness and accountability to what she sees as “out of control” development. Nordbeck is right that Hillsborough should better manage its growth to maintain an attractive and affordable quality of life. She has a good grasp of how the county functions, and well knows the district, which includes the areas around Carrollwood, Citrus Park, Lutz and New Tampa.Hagan, though, appreciates the wider range of issues that come before the commission. He has taken the lead on sports and tourism efforts that help define this region, and he understands the importance of youth programs in tracking children to a brighter future. As importantly, Hagan has the ability to work across the partisan aisle; as board chairperson, he allows commissioners to air their policy differences but also tries to find compromise where possible to move the county forward.The Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board recommends Ken Hagan in the Republican primary for Hillsborough County Commission District 2.District 4 (south, east county), Republicans: Christine Miller Republican voters in this district have two capable candidates who each bring unique strengths to the primary race. But Christine Miller’s broad business experience, civic involvement and political support make her the strongest Republican for the November general election.Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Miller, president and CEO of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, to the county commission in June after the surprise resignation of Commissioner Michael Owen, who left unexpectedly to run for a state House seat. Miller has a bachelor’s degree in resource economics from the University of Massachusetts and a master’s in public administration from Florida State University, a solid grounding for a job that requires some fluency in both smart growth and governing.As with most Republicans, Miller touts her fiscal conservatism and focus on public safety. She vows to address transportation and other necessary infrastructure, and to that point, supports renewal of the county’s Community Investment Tax in November as a fair and reasonable way to fund “crucial infrastructure projects,” from roads and bridges to parks and schools. As head of the chamber, Miller, 52, is a well-known and influential community leader who would bring strong relationships to her commission post. She would be a good advocate for small business, and her knowledge of the agricultural and industrial sectors would fill a critical gap on the board.Cody Powell, a real estate broker who has served on several county advisory boards, brings expertise in relevant areas, from planning and housing to transportation and environmental management. Like Miller, he promises to focus on improving roads and limiting taxing and spending. Powell, 37, also wants county government to be more transparent. He describes himself as “pro-God” and “pro-Trump”; among his priorities are to “ban woke books from schools and libraries and stop the transgender indoctrination.”Miller seems more apt to focus the county’s resources and attention on bread-and-butter issues. Her work with businesses and nonprofits gives her a rounded perspective of the district, which includes Plant City, Ruskin, Wimauma and the greater Brandon area.The Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board recommends Christine Miller in the Republican primary for Hillsborough County Commission District 4.District 4, Democrats: Jonathon T. Chavez The two Democrats running in this primary already face an uphill fight in challenging a Republican in November for this conservative district seat. Jonathon T. Chavez and Nicole Payne are also waging low-budget campaigns that make it hard to register on the public’s radar. Chavez, though, is a more visible candidate with a more compelling message.Chavez, 23, is a first-time candidate who was president of the College Democrats club at his alma mater, the University of South Florida. Chavez said he is the first in his family to earn a college degree and understands the experience of those who are struggling with high housing and living costs and other financial issues.Chavez wants to improve roads and public transportation, upgrade local infrastructure and spur economic growth throughout the county. He said it is “critical” that Hillsborough build more housing to help stem spiraling rents, and he supports “sensible increases” in zoning densities and mixed-use developments. Chavez said the commission should respect community plans that local neighborhoods craft for their future. He also supports efforts to protect area waterways from polluted runoff, and investing more in parks, green spaces and flood prevention.Nicole Payne, 51, a business owner and finance executive, proposes a similar agenda to improve roads, police and fire service, housing and infrastructure. She also serves as president of the Hillsborough County Black Chamber of Commerce. But Payne is vague on the details and about how she’d accomplish her goals.Chavez has a solid agenda, and he is an experienced organizer and good communicator, two things any Democrat in this race needs.The Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board recommends Jonathon T. Chavez in the Democratic primary for Hillsborough County Commission District 4.District 6 (countywide), Republicans: Jim Davison The two Republican candidates in this primary have very different backgrounds and bring very different attributes to this race. We give the edge to Jim Davison, who’s been active in local issues and taken principled stands in his pursuit of elected office.Davison, a 69-year-old retired physician, said he wants to control spending, upgrade infrastructure and better manage growth. He supports the Community Investment Tax but believes the county should have a deeper discussion about what that revenue stream should fund. Davison wants to make better use of county-owned property, such as exploring a land-banking deal to promote homeownership. He also wants to reassess taxes and fees to better align the county’s spending priorities.Chris Boles, 55, is a battalion chief for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. A first-time candidate, Boles would focus on public safety and improving roads and water resources. He, too, supports reauthorizing the Community Investment Tax, calling it “vital” for financing roads, schools and police and fire services. Boles also wants to “roll out local government options to combat illegal immigration.” That’s pure silliness; whether Boles is simply signaling to the conservative base or genuinely interested in crafting foreign policy at the local level, it nonetheless cheapens his candidacy.Davison’s view of what a growing, urban community needs seems overly narrow for someone seeking a countywide seat. But he is open about his conservative principles and willing to defend them publicly. He has run several unsuccessful campaigns for local office, but has remained engaged on serious issues, from transportation to indigent health care. He also seems to appreciate the accountability that comes with asking for someone’s vote.The Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board recommends Jim Davison in the Republican primary for Hillsborough County Commission District 6.District 6, Democrats: Sean Shaw Both candidates in this Democratic primary have an agenda befitting this countywide seat and a positive attitude toward public service that could help reaffirm voters’ faith in government. But Sean Shaw’s professional and political experience make him the far stronger choice and surer bet for Democrats to compete.Shaw, 46, is a Tampa attorney who graduated from Princeton University and the University of Florida College of Law. He was elected in 2016 to a two-year term in the Florida House of Representatives, where he represented parts of Tampa. In 2018, Shaw ran for Florida Attorney General; he won the Democratic primary, becoming the first African American nominee for the state’s top law enforcement officer in Florida’s history, before losing the general election to Republican Ashley Moody by 52%-46% in a three-way race.It’s no surprise with that history that Shaw would bring a meaningful agenda and widespread support to the county commission race. His top priorities are to expand transportation options, protect the environment and foster affordable neighborhoods. Shaw supports extending the Community Investment Tax as a means for financing transportation needs, new schools and other infrastructure. He is mindful that a growing county needs to develop new water resources. A former state insurance consumer advocate, he is also sensitive to policing price gouging, fraud and other predatory crimes. “I want to bring a seriousness back to this board,” Shaw told the Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board. And he would.Joseph Ryan Taylor, a 28-year-old Tampa librarian, is a graduate of Florida State University and a first-time candidate. His top priorities are to address the cost of housing by encouraging more density where appropriate, increasing funding for public transportation and improving the local library system. Taylor said his experience as a librarian inspired him to run for elected office to serve the public in a larger capacity.Shaw, though, is better prepared to deliver on these shared priorities. His campaign has banked far more money, and Shaw, as expected, has the Democratic establishment behind him. He also brings the X factor of having demonstrated he can work across political lines. Shaw learned as a Democrat in the Republican-run Legislature that “you don’t have to swing at every pitch.” His openness and people skills are helpful traits for a countywide representative.The Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board recommends Sean Shaw in the Democratic primary for Hillsborough County Commission District 6.Before making a recommendation, the Times Editorial Board asks candidates to fill out questionnaires and sit for an interview. The process can also include running criminal and civil background checks, interviewing candidates’ colleagues and employers, reviewing voting records and financial disclosures and examining their past and current positions on relevant issues.

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