The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Commissioner Gary Bradford passes away, tributes pour in

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Gary Bradford, the Pasco County Commissioner representing District 4, died on April 21, of leukemia. He was 65 years old.

He was elected in November of 2022 to serve a four-year term and announced his diagnosis publicly on Facebook in May 2023.

County Administrator Mike Carballa announced Bradford’s demise through an email he sent to county employees on April 22.

“It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of the passing of Commissioner Gary Bradford. Commissioner Bradford has served our county with dedication and passion since 2022,” Carballa wrote. “As a testament to his strength and spirit, Commissioner Bradford never missed an opportunity to attend important events and meetings representing Pasco County, even while enduring cancer treatment. His loss leaves a significant void in our organization and in our community.”

(Courtesy of Pasco County)

A special election will be held during Pasco County’s primary election on Aug. 20 and during the county’s general election on Nov. 5 to fill the remaining two years of Bradford’s term that would have expired in 2026, said Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley.

Bradford first sought the District 4 seat in the Aug. 18, 2020 primary. He was one of four candidates running to fill the remaining two years of the seat vacated when Mike Wells was elected as Pasco County property appraiser without opposition in June 2020.

District 4 is located in western and central Pasco County. Commissioners must reside in the district they represent although they are elected countywide. 

Christina Fitzpatrick won that seat in 2020 but was ousted by Bradford when he ran against her again in 2022. 

He became vice chairman of the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners during its December 2023 reorganizational meeting in New Port Richey. Ronald Oakley, who represents District 1 in east Pasco, was named chairman at the same meeting.

“I’m shocked and saddened to hear the news of Commissioner Bradford’s passing,” Oakley said. “My heart goes out to his family. He always had unwavering support for our law enforcement, firefighters, employees and citizens of Pasco County. I appreciate his unwavering support for doing what’s right for the citizens of Pasco County. His passing is a great loss.”

“Remember, we are not promised tomorrow,” Oakley said during the opening of the county commissioners meeting on April 23 in New Port Richey. He encouraged listeners to tell their loved ones daily “you love them.”

“I had the wonderful honor to serve with Commission Vice Chairman Gary Bradford,” said Commissioner Seth Weightman who represents District 2. “Gary and his family fought a difficult battle and endured a tragic loss. He will be sorely missed. I’m thankful for his lifetime of dedicated service to the law enforcement community and to the people of Pasco County. Our prayers are with his family during this challenging time.”

Weightman and Bradford were both elected on Nov. 8, 2022, and they both took their oaths of office on Nov. 22. “It’s kind of like a brotherly bond to be sworn in together,” Weightman said during the BOCC’s meeting.

“The passing of Commissioner Gary Bradford is a profound loss felt deeply by all who knew him,” Commissioner Kathyrn Starkey, who represents District 3, said. “A man of dignity, Gary embodied the values of hard work and lived life with a vibrant spirit that touched everyone around him. I know that being elected a Pasco County commissioner was a dream job for him. During his term, he served with passion and made a lasting impact.” 

Starkey added that she thought it was “really tragic” Bradford had not been able to serve his full four-year term of serving the people of Pasco County.

“It was easy to be in a room with Commissioner Bradford because he always made you feel welcome,” Commissioner Jack Mariano, who represents District 5, said. “Our community must take time to grieve with his family, honor his memory and celebrate his zest for life.

“Gary was a great man. He just had that passion — he wanted to serve,” Mariano said, adding, “The way he did it from the get-go, he elevated our staff people. He wanted to make a difference and he did make a difference every step of the way.”

“Commissioner Bradford was always a public servant — from his days in law enforcement to this chapter of his career as a commissioner,” Pasco County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said. “It was an honor to work with him for the past two years.”

Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles said, “Even after he was diagnosed, he came over to the clerk’s office and wanted to know what the clerk’s office did.”

Prior to becoming a county commissioner Bradford had retired from the Tampa Police Department after 25 years and then worked for 15 years as a lobbyist for the Florida Police Benevolent Association.

He was a conservative who heavily favored issues related to public safety.

Bradford had participated in several BOCC meetings virtually since being diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. He had posted on Facebook that he was “upbeat and positive, working with Florida’s most renowned facility, H.L. Moffitt Cancer Center.”

The form of leukemia he had was “the most common form of blood cancer among adults and it’s highly survivable, with an 85.5% average recovery rate,” Bradford had posted on his Facebook page.

“I will be focused on my treatment and convalescing from home for the next several weeks,” Bradford wrote.

It was posted on Facebook in March that Bradford had “been released to a private rehabilitation health care facility for physical therapy and healing.”

Unfortunately, although his attitude was so positive and upbeat, Bradford succumbed to the disease he had been battling for nearly a year.

Bradford reportedly died at home with his loving family and friends by his side. His wife, Debbie Bradford; son, Daniel Bradford; and daughters, Melissa Lembo and Jessica Anaya, survive him.

Pasco County will request authorization from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office to fly flags at half-staff in honor of Commissioner Bradford after the family announced funeral arrangements, Public Information Officer Sarah Andeara said.

NOTE: Since publication of The Laker story, the service for Commissioner Bradford has been scheduled for April 30 at 10:30 a.m., at Generations Christian Church, 1540 Little Road in Trinity.

Published May 1, 2024

Florida enacts new measures designed to protect law enforcement officers

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(The Center Square) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law several measures on Friday intended to protect and support law enforcement officers.

Senate Bill 184 increases penalties to a second-degree misdemeanor for those who knowingly harass, physically harm or impede a law enforcement officer or other first responders from carrying out their duties.

(Rama, CC BY-SA 2.0 FR, via Wikimedia Commons)

House Bill 601 prevents anti-police activists from carrying out extrajudicial investigations against law enforcement. The bill ensures that allegations against law enforcement are investigated by those properly trained to handle such investigations. County sheriffs will also receive an increase in their base salary of $5,000 for each population group.

“We’ve developed a track record in Florida of supporting law enforcement that is quite simply, second to none,” DeSantis said during a news conference. “We understood how important it is to have safe communities, and the way you do that is to support the people that are putting the uniform on and risking their lives to keep us safe.”

DeSantis noted that it was essential that his administration and the Legislature took this position after other states began to defund police. He added that because of this, many law enforcement officers wanted to leave their careers.

“We saw that as an opportunity for the state of Florida, given our posture was much different,” DeSantis said. “So, a couple of years ago, we enacted $5,000 recruitment bonuses for new law enforcement officers, some of that is recruiting from other states, but also, young people have decided to go into the profession in Florida.”

DeSantis pointed out that since the recruitment bonuses were offered, over 400 law enforcement officers from other states, namely California, Illinois and New York, have moved to Florida.

“That’s not by accident, they’re doing that because they don’t have the support of the community; a lot of these politicians weaponize against them and a lot of the laws are so lax that it gives the criminals the advantage to be able to commit crimes really without major repercussions,” DeSantis said.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said that the new legislation protects the rights of law enforcement and ensures they remain safe while on the job.

Published April 24, 2024

Governor signs bill that eases acquisition of land for conservation purposes

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(The Center Square) — Legislation signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday will make it easier for the state to purchase land for conservation purposes.

DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1638, which provides that 96% of revenues from the 2021 gaming compact between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the state be deposited in the Indian Gaming Revenue Fund to acquire and manage conservation land.

(Daniel Kraft, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

“This is really a landmark piece of legislation, and it’s one in a series of landmark efforts that we’ve done over these last five-plus years to conserve Florida’s natural resources and to restore some of the great treasures that this state has, such as our Florida Everglades,” DeSantis said during a news conference held Thursday.

DeSantis stated that during his first term, he promised that his administration would take conservation efforts seriously, allocating around $3.3 billion for conservation preservation and water quality improvements.

DeSantis noted that the current year’s budget has $1.7 billion and that his administration is way ahead of schedule on keeping those promises worth $3.5 billion over the next four years.

“We have now either completed or started more than 65 Everglades-related projects since January of 2019,” DeSantis said. “We broke ground and completed the old Tamiami Road bed removal project six months ahead of schedule and completed the raising of the Tamiami Trail, which (has) allowed more water to flow south into Everglades National Park.”

DeSantis pointed out that the C-44 reservoir and stormwater treatment area have been completed, allowing fresh water into the Indian River Lagoon in the St. Lucie estuary. The C-43 reservoir is on its way to completion.

“We’ve also made major progress on the crown jewel of Everglades restoration, the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir (EAA). We broke ground on the treatment wetland portion of the EAA project a full year ahead of schedule,” DeSantis said.

Marcellus Osceola Jr., the elected chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, spoke in support of the projects and thanked the efforts of the legislature to make them a reality.

“Without your efforts and your tirelessness towards the efforts of cleaning up the water, cleaning up the Everglades, not only just for us but for all native Floridians…we all have to do our part…so do your best and educate everybody else around, because without that what do we have? That’s our greatest natural resource,” Osceola said.

Published April 17, 2024

Act locally during Global Volunteer Month

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April is Global Volunteer Month, a time to celebrate volunteers and inspire volunteerism in communities large and small.

Volunteerism is on the decline, according to research from AmeriCorps and the U.S. Census Bureau. And what’s more, Points of Light, a global nonprofit dedicated to inspiring, equipping and mobilizing people to take action that changes the world, shared that 73% of people believe that volunteering is more important than ever, yet 66% think they can’t make a big impact in their communities. During Global Volunteer Month, advocates are trying to change that perception at the local level.

(Ismael Paramo/Unsplash)

“Volunteers are crucial to solving pressing challenges, creating vibrant communities and strengthening our social fabric,” said Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO of Points of Light. “Every person has something to share or give.”

To boost volunteer engagement during Global Volunteer Month, Points of Light is sharing the following ways you and your family can make a positive impact in your neighborhood or town:

Spread the word: Use the Global Volunteer Month toolkit, along with the hashtag #GlobalVolunteerMonth to thank volunteers. Be sure to tag a volunteer whose impact you appreciate.

Take the pledge: To show your commitment to volunteering, take Points of Light’s pledge. Then, discover ways to get involved that support your favorite cause and availability using Points of Light Engage, a database featuring hundreds of thousands of volunteer opportunities worldwide, including some in your area. Remember that volunteering doesn’t have to be through a formal organization. Lending a helping hand to a friend, family member or neighbor counts, too. In fact, 70% of volunteer work is carried out locally and informally, without the involvement of any organization, according to the UN.

Expand your impact: Learn about the Points of Light Civic Circle, a framework that outlines the many forms of civic engagement. These actions include listening and learning, using one’s voice, social entrepreneurship, volunteering, public, national or military service, using one’s purchasing power to express values, working, voting and donating.

Get inspired: Points of Light recognizes ordinary people doing extraordinary things to strengthen communities and solve persistent problems with its Daily Point of Light Award. Know an outstanding volunteer in your community? Nominate them as a Daily Point of Light by visiting pointsoflight.org/dailypointoflight, or to inspire others, share these stories of recent honorees:

Daily Point of Light Award honoree T’Kiyah Threatt is a 21-year-old from Uniontown, Alabama, a town of just over 2,000 residents. She dove into service as a high school junior when she started working with C.H.O.I.C.E., an organization that ensures young people get needed resources. Three years ago, she became the first president of the Youth Advisory Council and began leading mentoring efforts, going above and beyond to find funds for a scholarship for a deserving mentee. Even after moving away for college, Threatt returns to work with her own mentee while recruiting community partners and soliciting funding for programs.

Daily Point of Light Award honoree Teresa Gerald of Ridgeland, Mississippi, channels her passion for literacy into volunteer work through Friends of the Ridgeland Library, where she has held the elected position of president since 2014, contributing thousands of volunteer hours. Twice a year, Gerald manages, promotes and works the Friends of the Ridgeland Library Book Sale. When the library’s funding was cut by $110,000 in fiscal year 2021-2022, her fundraising efforts with Every Library Institute raised $112,000 in emergency funds.

No matter the scale, Points of Light recognizes the spirit of volunteerism as a driving force of change around the world.

“We’re celebrating volunteers around the world all month long, as well as calling on people to take action. Throughout April, lend your time, talent and passion to a cause you care about and invite others to join you, creating a ripple effect of change,” said Sirangelo.

-StatePoint

Published April 10, 2024

Pasco’s conservation area expands

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(Chelsey Marques/Unsplash)

More than 300 acres of property in southwest Pasco County have been designated as a conservation area.

The zoning of the nearly 318-acre parcel near Lutz was changed from RES-1 (Residential-1 Du/Ga) and AG-R (Agricultural/Rural) to CON (Conservation Lands) by a 3-0 vote of the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners on March 26.

The vote, made by commissioners Jack Mariano, Kathryn Starkey and Seth Weightman, was unanimous.

Mariano, who represents District 5, was appointed as the acting chairman of last week’s meeting in Dade City. He is the longest serving member of the board. The designation was necessary because both Ron Oakley, the chairman who represents District 1, and vice chairman Gary Bradford, who represents District 4, were reportedly unable to attend the meeting due to illnesses.

The nearly 318-acre parcel newly designated conservation area contains approximately 50 acres of Category 1 wetlands. 

Funds from the Environmental Lands Acquisition and Management Program (ELAMP) were used to purchase the property that is north of State Road 52 and between the Suncoast Parkway and U.S. 41.

Starkey praised the board’s decision, saying this represents an addition of 318 acres to Pasco County’s Wildlife Corridor. She represents District 3 in which the new conservation property is located.

This is in addition to the approximately 6,255 acres of property that had been purchased by the ELAMP program since it was created in 2004 by Pasco County.

A decision on whether to opt out of the Live Local Act was continued until the board’s April 10 meeting in Dade City. 

(Florida-Guidebook.com/Unsplash)

The act would grant tax exemptions to units in multifamily projects that are used to house natural persons or families whose annual household income is between 80% and 120% of the median annual adjusted gross income for households within Pasco County. 

The county is within the Tampa- St. Petersburg- Clearwater metropolitan statistical area.

Officials previously said the county could lose out on $38 million in tax revenues over a 35-year period if a pair of properties that was considering using the Live Local Act received tax breaks.

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder recommended the continuance because he said Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, had not signed the measure into law as of the date of last week’s meeting.

In other business, commissioners:

  • Approved a zoning amendment requested by Ja-Mar Palms MPUD Master Planned Unit Development and Caleb and Angela Miller that will allow for the maximum development of 250 platted townhomes and villas on approximately 42.8 acres located on the east side of U.S. 19 south of Krysher Lane. Some area residents were concerned about the development of town homes on this parcel. 

Dr. Marc Yacht, the former director of the Pasco County Health Department, told commissioners he was opposed to the zoning change. “This project will ruin the rural nature of our community. There will be a significant increase of traffic in the area because the 250 townhomes/villas could result in a population increase of 1,000 people in the area,” said Yacht, who is an area resident.

Before the zoning was changed the property could have been used for a mobile home park containing a maximum of 499 units according to county records.

“This will be an improvement over what could have been there,” Starkey said. “I think this is a good plan.”

  • Approved a zoning amendment that allows a homeowner association in Beacon Woods to use 25 acres of property as a park or for other passive purposes. The property that was gifted to the HOA is part of the former Links Golf Course that closed in June 2019. Several people representing the HOA spoke to commissioners prior to the 3-0 vote in favor of the zoning amendment. The HOA will now be responsible for the maintenance of the property.
  • Also, commissioners agreed 3-0 to have six plats recorded, provided that the developers or property owners provide letters of credit to the county to cover the expenses of infrastructure, landscaping and other requirements that had not yet been met. Four of the plats were in District 1, Oakley’s district. The four plats are:
  1. An application by CR Pasco Development Company LLC and CRCG Two LP for a 143-lot residential subdivision in Mirada Parcel 8C on 33.28 acres on the Northeast Corner of Tyndall Road and Teak Follow Boulevard. 
  2. An application by CRCG Two LP for Mirada Active Adult Phase 2G consisting of 44 residential lots for single-family detached housing units on 37.44 acres on the southwest corner of Mirada Boulevard and Teak Follow Boulevard, approximately 1.45 miles south of State Road 52.
  3. An application by ICI Homes of Tampa LLC for the proposed development of West Hill Estates consisting of 55 residential lots on which single-family detached housing units could be constructed on 68.67 acres on the south side of St. Joe Road, approximately 1.15 miles north of State Road 52, by Promenade Retail LLC. The applicant wants to be able to use four nonresidential lots for commercial purposes. The property is located on approximately 4.322 acres in Promenade Business Centre North Parcel 1B on the northeast corner of Overpass Road and Curley Road, approximately 2.62 miles east of Overpass Road.
  4. An application by Promenade Retail LLC to permit the use of four lots for commercial purposes. The property is located on approximately 4.322 acres in Promenade Business Centre North Parcel 1B on the northeast corner of Overpass Road and Curley Road, approximately 2.62 miles east of Overpass Road.

Two additional plats were recorded in other districts:

  • In District 4, commissioner Bradford’s district, made by Burcom LLC for the proposed Hidden Ridge development that would consist of 70 single-family residential lots on 63.841 acres on the north side of Ridge Road. approximately 2.5 miles east of Little Road
  • In District 5, commissioner Mariano’s district, made by State Road 52 Industrial LLC for the development of five nonresidential lots in an industrial park located at Crossings at Sunlake. The property is on the north side of State Road 52, approximately 1.25 miles east of the Suncoast Parkway. The applicant plans for the lots to be used for commercial purposes. 

Published April 3, 2024

Father and Son Love Free Food Pantry in dire straits: ‘do or die’ time has arrived

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A food pantry that has provided for thousands of desperate people for nearly six years, itself is now in desperate need of financial assistance.

The monthly rent at the Father and Son Love Free Food Pantry doubled nine months ago, said its founder, Pastor C.J. Johns Sr. 

Ken Waters is associate pastor at the Father and Son Love Free Food Pantry. (Courtesy of Pastor C.J. Johns Sr.)

They now have to pay $6,000 a month for the space they rent at 21418 Carson Drive, Suite A, in Land O’ Lakes. The rent was $3,000 a month until its previous lease expired on April 30, 2023. 

And the rent could be even higher when the new lease is effective this coming May 1, Johns said. He added that he is praying the landlord will lower the rent to $5,500 a month, but he has no assurance that will happen.

The pastor believes the only other way the food pantry, which is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, will be able to stay in business is if five individual corporate sponsors each contribute $10,000 to $12,000, or one sponsor contributes $50,000 to $60,000 over the next year.

The situation is even worse than that — the pantry needs about $15,000 immediately, since it’s been struggling to pay its rent for the remainder of its current lease, Johns said. And a 10% penalty of $600 will be charged for each month in which a rent payment isn’t made on time.

The pantry supports the homeless, elderly, veterans and other people who are barely getting by on low incomes.

An area in the food pantry is decorated with an American flag and caps donated by
veterans of different branches of the United States armed forces. The flag was
actually flown in Vietnam during that war and was donated by a combat veteran.

“The time now is ‘do or die’ for this food pantry,” Johns said.

Applications have already been made for some grants, as the pantry is now in its fourth year of operating as a 501c3 organization. However, competition for those grants is fierce and there would probably be a six-month delay — or longer — in getting funds even if a grant was awarded, Johns said.

The cost to run the facility is an additional $2,000 a month. That extra money is needed to pay for insurance and utilities. Gasoline also must be bought for volunteers who use their own vehicles to pick up food and other necessities. And the electric bill has increased significantly during the summer because the facility must be kept cool so food won’t spoil, Johns added.

The pantry is the victim of a domino effect, said Angel Walker, one of several unpaid volunteer workers who donates time and energy to meet the needs of people who come in.

Walker gave the example of a group of eight people — three adults and five children — who had received groceries valued at $300 earlier on March 19. Several of those people had to move in with another family because they couldn’t afford to pay their own rent.

The food pantry is only able to pay its rent on a wing and a prayer, Johns said. And it won’t be able to pay even a slight amount more when the new lease becomes effective.

Several of the volunteers who donate their time and energy are shown in an area
where people visiting the pantry wait until it is time for them to pick up food
and other things they need.

“This area will be severely impacted if we have to close or to relocate,” Johns said.

A PayPal account is available through which contributions may be made at:

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=5BZJ5FSHQNUCN.

Any corporate sponsor or individual who contributes to this fundraising campaign will be making a significant investment in improving the lives of possibly thousands of people whom the food pantry will serve — not only in 2024, but possibly in years to come, according to Johns.

He said that the return on investment can’t be measured in dollars or cents because there’s no value that can be placed on helping people who are in need. “We keep fighting for people who nobody wants to talk about,” Johns said.

Pastor C.J. Johns Sr., left, and Ken Waters, associate pastor, head up the operations of the Father and Son Love Free Food Pantry.

He added he estimates more than 100 homeless people who had considered taking their own lives didn’t commit suicide due to the help they had received from the pantry.

The pantry offers a large variety of food, ranging from ready-to-cook meals, canned goods, cereal, pet food and everything in between, according to Walker. People who come in are able to take a cart around and select specific food items that are needed for themselves or for their family. The only restriction is on the amount of food they can take and that’s based on how many people for whom the food is needed, Walker said.

“This is a one-of-a-kind food pantry,” Johns said, adding he doubts any other food pantry in Florida has the products that are available at Father and Son.

And, it isn’t just about food. More than 250 gifts and several bicycles were given to children this past Christmas, Johns said.

Also, hundreds of toys are available at the pantry. A Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranch in Brooksville donated the majority of them. Children who accompany their parents or guardians to the pantry are given toys.

A trailer in which people could take showers was set up at the pantry on March 12. Also, a hairdresser visits once a month and provides free cuts to people. 

Additional information about the pantry is on its website, at FatherAndSonFreeFoodPantry.org, or their Facebook page. It can be reached at  813-846-9993 and inquiries can be sent to .

Published March 27, 2024

Volunteers prepared the ShowerUp Trailer for use on March 12 when it was at the
food pantry. Many homeless people appreciate being able to have a safe place to
clean themselves.
Different types and brands of cereal are available free of charge at the food pantry.
The package of chicken wings shown here is just one of the many different types of
ready-to-cook meals offered by the pantry.
This poster from the pantry’s Facebook page describes its many available services.

State lawmakers passed $1.5B tax relief package with four sales tax holidays

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(The Center Square) — Florida lawmakers passed a tax relief package this session that includes sale-tax holidays throughout the 2024-2025 fiscal year that will bring some relief to the Sunshine State’s residents.

In total, Florida will have a tax relief package of over $1.5 billion if Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the legislation, which would include a 14-day “back-to-school” sales tax holiday, a 14-day “disaster preparedness” sales tax holiday, a month-long sales tax holiday for recreational equipment and activities in July, and a seven-day sales tax holiday on equipment and tools for skilled workers.

(Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash)

Not everyone sees the efficacy of sales tax holidays.

Katherine Loughead, a senior policy analyst and research manager at the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, told The Center Square that while sales tax holidays are popular, they’re not the most efficient way to provide relief.

“Sales tax holidays are politically popular, but there are more efficient and effective ways of providing tax relief to Florida residents,” Loughead said. “Instead of offering temporary sales tax breaks for specific items, permanently trimming the sales tax rate would provide relief to all taxpayers regardless of what they buy or when they buy it.”

House Bill 7073 is sponsored by state Sen. Stan McClain, R-Ocala, and provides the majority of the various tax savings for Floridians across the state. The focus of the tax package is to keep Florida affordable and includes sales tax holidays for back-to-school students, as well as lowering taxes on property insurance.

Lawmakers have also set aside $450 million within the state’s budget for toll relief. The toll relief program will be developed by the Department of Transportation and will provide toll relief for certain high-use drivers who will be eligible to receive a 50% credit from April 2024 to March 2025.

In a news release, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, said that the tax package is in response to the rising cost of living caused by inflation.

“Inflation has led to significant increases in costs that are negatively impacting families. We are working to ease the pain with broad-based sales tax relief that will be very meaningful for families and seniors with opportunities for tax savings for families,” Passidomo said in the news release.

Passidomo added that lawmakers have further earmarked over $500 million in tax cuts for property insurance and flood insurance premiums, which pose a “major affordability problem” for many Florida homeowners.

Published March 20, 2024

Early voting begins for March 19 Republican presidential primary

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Tampa Bay area voters are now able to make their picks for the March 19 primary election, with early voting sites open throughout the region.

Only registered Republicans will be able to vote in the Republican presidential primary, however, some counties are also holding municipal elections open to all voters.

(Element5 Digital/Unsplash)

To vote early, voters must go to an early voting site in the county in which they’re registered. Open dates, times and locations vary by county:

  • Pinellas County sites are open until March 17, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday – Sunday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Voting sites are at the Supervisor of Elections Office at the Election Service Center in Largo, the County Building in St. Petersburg and the Pinellas County Courthouse in Clearwater. More information can be found at VotePinellas.gov.
  • Hernando County sites are open until March 16, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Voting sites are at the South Brooksville Community Center, Spring Hill Branch Library, Supervisor of Elections Branch Office/Forest Oaks Government Center, East Hernando Library, Hernando County Utilities Bldg./Community Room. More information can be found at HernandoVotes.gov.

For voting by mail, ballots must be received by the county Supervisor of Elections in which you’re registered by 7 p.m., March 19. Vote by mail ballots must be signed, and the signature must match the signature on file. Voters can drop their ballots at a secure ballot intake station found at local election offices and early voting locations. If you plan to mail your ballot, allow plenty of time for the ballot to be received.

Election day voting will take place March 19, 7 a.m – 7 p.m. Voting at the polling place assigned to a registered voter’s address is required. Visit your County Supervisor of Elections website to find your polling location.

Published March 13, 2024

State Senate committee advances bill to limit terms of county commissioners

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(The Center Square) — A bill that would put term limits on Florida county commissioners passed a key hurdle in the Senate Committee on Rules, on Monday.

Senate Bill 438 is sponsored by state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill. It would introduce term limits for county commissioners and would require certain counties to hold a referendum election to ask voters if they approve or disapprove of term limits in their county.

Florida Senate, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In the bill’s text, it says that a person is prohibited from being on a ballot for reelection to the office of county commissioner if they had served in that office for eight consecutive years. The person would also have a waiting time of at least two years before they could run for the county commissioner’s office in another county.

While introducing the bill to the Senate Committee on Rules Monday, Ingoglia introduced an amendment that would allow constitutional counties to put the question of term limits to voters this coming November, as they currently do not have the authority to do so.

Marion County Commissioner Kathy Bryant opposed the bill. She told the committee that not once in all her years as commissioner has she received a request from a constituent to introduce term limits.

“(The bill) is a solution looking for a problem that doesn’t exist,” Bryant said. “In my 14 years serving Marion County, out of nearly 8,000 emails that have come into my office, there has not been one asking for term limits for county commissioners… The thought that a county commissioner can’t be fired is just incorrect.”

Ingoglia previously stated during the bill’s passage through the Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections in January that the lack of term limits at local levels prevents communities from going out and finding the next generation of leaders.

“When you have somebody who is in office, she or he may be there for 26 years, there’s no end in sight for that term, so then people stop looking for people as potential replacements,” Ingoglia said. “The lack of term limits is a chilling factor to have the local communities find and recruit people to eventually take their place.”

Ingoglia said that term limits are very popular with voters because they do not want people to serve in government for an eternity and added that it helps society raise future policymakers.

Published March 06, 2024

School Board approves $1.2 million settlement for student injured in 2006 school bus accident 

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Marcus Button was 16 in September 2006 when he caught a ride to Wesley Chapel High School and forgot his wallet. The decision to go back for it would forever change his life, as the compact car he was riding in crashed into a school bus that pulled into its path at State Road 54 and Meadow Pointe Boulevard. 

Button received serious skull fractures and brain injuries that he has never fully recovered from. In 2009, a trial jury found the Pasco County School District bus driver mostly at fault. But more than 17 years after the accident, Button’s mother, Robin, is still trying to get the bulk of the $1.6 million jury award to help pay for her son’s care and secure his future.

Last week, she got a step closer when the Pasco County School Board, without discussion, unanimously approved a $1.2 million settlement in the case. The settlement must still be approved by the Florida Legislature, where bills seeking relief for Marcus Button are making their way through the House and Senate. The legislative session is scheduled to end March 8.

Austin Pacheco/Unsplash

Robin Button, who now lives with her son in Hillsborough County’s Carrollwood area, described the school board’s action as “surreal.”

“It’s hard to take in because we’ve been waiting so long,” she said. “It’s not going to be enough to help Marcus throughout his life. But, hopefully, it will get him to be more independent and help him learn some sort of job.”

At-fault party claims sovereign immunity
Why has the payout taken so long? Florida’s sovereign immunity law generally limits payouts from local government agencies to injured parties to $200,000 per person, with a maximum of $300,000 per incident.

Also, the Pasco County School District’s transportation services were self-insured in 2006 — there was no commercial vehicle liability insurance coverage, so there was no third party to accept the claim.

Lance Block, a Tallahassee attorney representing the Buttons, said Friday he’s optimistic that state legislators will waive sovereign immunity in the Button case and approve the settlement.

“This bill’s got wings,” Block said. “I think the bill’s going to pass.”

Block said the school board’s action, coupled with the sponsorship of state Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, and state Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, is giving the bills traction where several previous legislative efforts — dating to 2010 — have failed.

School district spokesperson Corey Dierdorff declined to discuss what prompted approval of the settlement, citing the school board’s policy of not commenting on pending legal matters.  

Marcus Button, center, poses with his Tampa attorney, J. Steele Olmstead, and his mother, Robin Button, during a recent visit to the Florida House of Representatives in Tallahassee. The Buttons are seeking to collect $1.2 million of a 2009 jury award stemming from a Pasco County school bus accident. (Courtesy of Robin Button)

The details of the 2006 wreck and the Button family’s ordeal are spelled out in legislative bills introduced in January.

If the bills are approved, the state would require the Pasco school district to pay $1 million to a trust fund set up for Marcus Button’s care and $200,000 to his mother as compensation for damages incurred by both his parents. However, Marcus Button’s father, Mark, died a few years ago.

The Buttons received $163,000 from the school district after the 2009 lawsuit, according to a state hearing master’s report filed last week.

The report noted that school district representatives previously said the accident didn’t cause Marcus Button’s physical, cognitive and behavioral issues. However, the hearing master found that the young man suffered life-altering injuries, including cognitive impairment and vision loss, resulting from the accident. 

The report also refers to estimates that Button’s ongoing care will cost $6 million to $11 million, and his lost wages were calculated at $365,000 to $570,000.

Robin Button said her son has come a long way through years of rehabilitation, and he no longer requires round-the-clock care. But he still takes a dozen different medications a day, can’t walk for long distances, is blind in one eye, has impulse control problems and requires ongoing supervision. She wants the settlement to pay for education that can help her son hold a job and function better in social situations.

“That’s all I want for my son — to have a fighting chance in life,” she said.

In the Button case, there were no students on the bus at the time of the accident, and the drivers involved received only minor injuries. However, the school district’s failure to have commercial vehicle liability insurance coverage could have had worse consequences if more students had been involved.

“You get a school bus full of kids who get hurt, and they have to split $300,000,” Block said, adding that the limit would also apply to other motorists who may sustain damages if they’re struck by a school bus and the district is held liable.

District spokesman Dierdorff couldn’t say Friday whether the district’s transportation services remain self-insured or if any changes in insurance coverage are planned.

The state hearing master report indicated the district has a deficit of over $300,000 in its general liability fund. Dierdorff didn’t know what fund would be tapped if the $1.2 million settlement is approved. Pasco Superintendent Kurt Browning couldn’t be reached for comment.

Published February 28, 2024