By Tamas Mondovics
Three Hillsborough County Commissioners, incumbents Sandy Murman and Les Miller as well as newly elected Commissioner Pat Kemp, took the oath of office last month, each pledging to do their best for County residents.
Murman, Miller and, newcomer Kemp, will serve a four-year term each on the seven-member Board.
To begin the meeting, White was chosen as the new BOCC chairman, while Murman was elected as vice chairman. Miller took over Whites former assignment as BOCC chaplain.
White was elected to the Board in 2014. From 2010-14, he served on the Hillsborough County School Board. A fifth-generation native of Hillsborough County, White lives in Valrico with his wife of 19 years and their three children. After graduating from East Bay High School, White earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Florida, and has practiced pharmacy for 19 years.
Murman, who was first elected a Commissioner in 2012, will once again represent District 1, while Miller, who joined the Board in 2010, was re-elected without opposition to represent District 3.
Kemp, won the Countywide, District 6 seat, and replaced term-limited former Commissioner Kevin Beckner.
The three Commissioners have officially joined Victor D. Crist (District 2), Stacy R. White (District 4), Ken Hagen (Countywide, District 5), and Al Higginbotham (Countywide, District 7).
To complete its first collective assignment the Board elected its leaders for the coming year. It is noteworthy that while the seven-member board praised its productivity in recent years, it did not shy away from drawing the attention on some of pressing issues and challenges facing the county it serves.
Such high priority topics include better transportation system and more good-paying jobs.
In a recent interview, White emphasized his desire to be a strong voice in regards to the impact of land use decisions on transportation infrastructure including road conditions within his own neighborhood and community.
“This is a good time to talk about the widening of Lithia-Pinecrest Road,” White said. “In my mind, this would have a far reaching effect and would benefit communities over a broad area that includes FishHawk, Valrico, and Brandon.”
The BOCC also agreed to retain most of the same positions on various boards, committees, and councils on which they serve. As a newly sworn-in Commissioner, Kemp assumed many of the positions held by her predecessor.
Other appointments include:
• Affordable Housing Advisory Board – Al Higginbotham
• Arts Council of Hillsborough County – Victor Crist
• Aviation Authority – Crist
• Children’s Board of Hillsborough County – Sandra L. Murman
• Environmental Protection Commission – Lesley “Les” Miller, Jr., chair; Crist, vice chair
• Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority – Stacy R. White, Murman, Kemp, Miller
• Hospital Authority – Miller, Murman
• Juvenile Justice Board – Kemp
• MOSI – Higginbotham
• Port Authority – Murman
• Public Transportation Commission – members/alternates: Higginbotham/Kemp, Ken Hagan/White, Miller/Murman
• Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council – Crist, member; White, alternate
• Tampa Bay Water Board of Directors – Hagan, Murman
• Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp. – Hagan
• Tampa Sports Authority – Hagan
For a complete list please visit www.HCFLGov.net/BOCC.
