The Laker/Lutz News

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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Tammy Shamburger

Voter turnout higher in 2020 Primary Election

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Voter turnout for the 2020 Primary Election was higher than it was in the 2016 Primary, in both  Pasco and Hillsborough counties.

In Pasco, 21.03% of registered voters cast ballots in the 2020 primary, compared to 18.64% in the 2016 primary.

In Hillsborough, the number of registered voters participating was 25.38%, compared to 19.1% in the 2016 primary.

Voters made their choices in some key races in Pasco and Hillsborough counties.

In a universal primary in the race for Pasco County Commission District 4, Christina Fitzpatrick won the election, with 32.6% of the vote, compared to the second-highest vote-getter, Gary Bradford, who received 31.52%.

Alison Crumbley won another term on the Pasco County School Board. Candidates Gabriel Papadopoulos and Catie Mansfield fell short of their bid for county commission and county judge, respectively (B.C. Manion)

Jeff Miller and Gabriel “Gabe” Papadopoulos also ran in the four-way race to fill the vacancy that was created when Mike Wells decided to seek the post of county property appraiser, which Wells secured.

All voters were eligible to vote in the universal primary for the District 4 seat because the winner faced no opposition in the general election.

In the Republican primary race for superintendent of Pasco County Schools, incumbent Kurt Browning captured more than 64% of the vote, defeating David LaRoche. He will face Cynthia Thompson No Party Affiliation in the Nov. 3 general election.

In the nonpartisan Pasco County School Board District 4 race, Alison Crumbley won reelection with more than 65% of the vote, defeating challenger Joshua Stringfellow.

In Hillsborough County, four school board seats were up for grabs and all four are heading to run-offs in the Nov. 3 general election.

In District 1, Nadia Combs was the top vote-getter, receiving 44.56% of the vote, and she will face incumbent Steve Cona, who received 33.30%.

District 3 drew five candidates. Mitch Thrower led the pack, with 25.15% of the vote, while Jessica Vaughn came in second, with 24.49%.

Four candidates competed in District 5, with Henry “Shake” Washington receiving 44.45% of the vote compared to incumbent Tammy Shamburger, who drew 23.70% of votes cast in that race.

A quartet of candidates sought the District 7 seat, with Sally Harris emerging with a slight edge over Lynn Gray. Harris hauled in 28.40% of the vote, while Gray received 27.85%.

Rain fell steadily, at least for a while, on 2020 Primary Election Day in Pasco and Hillsborough counties. Here are some of the political signs near an intersection in Lutz.

In the Republican primary race for Hillsborough County Sheriff, incumbent Chad Chronister received 62.39% of the vote, defeating challenger Charles Boswell. Chronister will face Democrat Gary Pruitt and Ron McMullen No Party Affiliation in the general election.

In the Democrat primary race for Hillsborough County Tax Collector, Nancy Millan received 61.07% of the vote, defeating April Griffin. Millan will face Republican TK Mathew in the general election.

In the Republican primary race for Hillsborough County Commission District 1, Scott Levinson received 55.61%of the vote, defeating Tony Morejon.

Levinson will face Democrat Harry Cohen, who received 54.24% of the primary vote, defeating Jen McDonald.

In the Democrat primary for Hillsborough County Commission District 3, five candidates competed to fill the seat being vacated by term-limited Les Miller. Gwen Myers was the top vote-getter with 26.52%, edging out Thomas Scott, who received 25.68%. Myers will face Republican Maura Cruz Lane in the general election.

In a universal primary, Hillsborough County voters selected Cindy Stuart as the county’s next Clerk of the Circuit Court. Stuart received 53.44% of the vote, defeating Kevin Beckner.

Election officials took care to make polling places safe. They asked voters to wear masks and maintain a social distance from other voters, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley said “vote by mail was way up from the 2016 primary, while early voting in person was down considerably.”

Election day operations went smoothly, he added.

“I’m so blessed to have an amazing team and dedicated poll workers who pulled off a sense of election normalcy during a pandemic,” Corley said.

Pasco County
Registered voters: 378,157
Ballots cast: 79,538
Voter turnout: 21.03%

Source: Pasco County Supervisor of Elections

Hillsborough County
Registered voters: 897,689
Ballots cast: 227,843
Voter turnout: 25.38%

Published August 26, 2020

Hillsborough reopening embroiled in controversy

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The Hillsborough County School Board last week voted to begin the school year on Aug. 24, operating online only for the first four weeks of classes.

Within a day of that decision, however, Florida Education Commission Richard Corcoran notified the district that “this blanket, district-wide decision directly contradicts the district’s reopening plan, which was approved because it was consistent with the state’s emergency order.”

In a statement shared with The Laker/Lutz News, Corcoran said, ““The Hillsborough County School Board needs to follow the law, it’s that simple.

“The whole reason the Department created the emergency order was to grant districts maximum flexibility to do what is right for parents and schoolchildren.

“We will not stand idly by while they trample over the majority of parents who want to do right by their children.

“What they did yesterday (Aug. 6) completely eliminated the flexible options for their families and students, and ignored how harmful it can be for students who are experiencing violence, abuse, and food insecurity in their homes, many of whom are already struggling to close achievement gaps. These are urgent circumstances and we cannot, and will not, ignore it,” Corcoran concluded.

Hillsborough County Schools Superintendent Addison Davis issued a response to Corcoran’s letter, indicating the district had received it and was reviewing it with its legal team.

Addison also issued this statement: “Yesterday (Aug.6), the School Board made an informed decision after receiving data and hearing from the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County, along with hearing the advice of other local infectious disease and public health authorities.

“The Board acted after serious deliberations and with all due diligence. Our district understood the possibility that such a response from the state might come and it has been clear that the district could face negative implications. We will use this information to have discussions about where we go from here,” Davis said.

Both Corcoran and Davis’ statements came after a special Aug. 6 Hillsborough County School Board meeting that included hours of public comment, and testimony from a panel of medical experts.

During that meeting, the board voted 5-2 to start the school year with online options only. The board also determined they would look at the issue again at its Sept. 8 meeting.

Board members Karen Perez, Lynn Gray, Stacy Hahn, Steve Cona and Tammy Shamburger voted for those actions. Board Chairman Melissa Snively and board member Cindy Stuart dissented.

The board’s vote came after School Board Attorney James Porter told the board it could not change the reopening plan submitted by Superintendent Addison Davis, but could delay its implementation.

Addison’s plan calls for three learning options: Face-to-face instruction and two online choices. After gaining initial board approval, it was submitted to the state and approved. When making that initial vote, though, board members said they wanted to hear from medical experts.

Passions run hot, on both sides
The issue of whether to reopen school buildings has been a flashpoint of controversy.

A parade of speakers urged the school board to either reopen school campuses for face-to-face instruction, or to keep them closed for now.

Speakers wore masks to the meeting, and a district employee disinfected the podium and microphone after each person spoke.

So many people showed up, their comments were limited to 1-minute each. Many exceeded the limit and there were instances when the microphone was muted when people talked too long.

Speakers were passionate on both sides of the issue.

Some staff members said they have medical conditions and are afraid to return to school. Others said they have family members who are medically vulnerable.

Many said the number of COVID-19 cases is simply too high to return to school.

But, those arguing against online only cited a digital divide based on family incomes. They said families need child care, and that mothers, in particular would be forced to quit their jobs so they can oversee their child’s online instruction.

They also cited other issues, such as impacts on mental health, a need for personal instruction, a need to provide services for special needs students and the need to provide food for students who rely on schools for meals.

Members on the medical panel, however, told school board members that the positivity rate of COVID-19 is too high to safely return to school.

One medical expert said he would not support reopening schools as of that day, but might feel differently on Aug. 24, because he expects the positivity numbers to decline.

Dr. Douglas Holt, who leads the Florida Health Department in Hillsborough County, said he was at the meeting to provide technical assistance. He did not take a position on the issue.

School board member Gray said she’s not comfortable reopening campuses at the current COVID-19 positivity rate.

“I personally think that the spread rate of 10-11% is way too high and 3-5% is where we need to go,”” Gray said.

Chairwoman Snively said she didn’t want the board to only focus on the aspect of epidemiology. Having schools open helps bring to light issues such as children who are suffering from child abuse or have mental health, nutritional and other needs.

Because this situation continues to evolve, those interested in staying abreast of the latest developments should check the Hillsborough County School District’s website and its social media channels. Its website is SDHC.k12.fl.us.

Editor’s Note: The Laker/Lutz News received the following statement, after our newspaper went to press:

“Our district explicitly followed the state’s executive order. The order provides school districts the option of not opening brick and mortar “subject to advise or orders of the Florida Department of Health, (or) local departments of health”. Last Thursday, our School Board made an informed decision after hearing from the local public health authority and local infectious disease experts. The panel was asked if we should open our doors and not one medical professional could recommend opening today. The state’s order goes on to say the day-to-day decision to open or close a school always rests locally.”

Tanya Arja – Chief of Communications

Published August 12, 2020

Hillsborough primary includes key races

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Hillsborough County voters will go to the polls on Aug. 18 to make their voices heard, in the 2020 Primary Election.

Of course, some voters will take advantage of early voting before then, and others will cast their ballots by mail.

It remains unclear how concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic will affect voter turnout, but election supervisors in both Hillsborough and Pasco counties have reported efforts to ensure the safety of both poll workers and voters.

Such measures include social distancing and ongoing cleaning. As a result, lines at the polls could be longer, the supervisors in both counties have said.

In Hillsborough County, the Clerk of the Circuit Court race is a universal primary, meaning all voters can vote in this election, regardless of party affiliation. Candidates Kevin Beckner and Cindy Stuart are vying for that seat.

On the ballot for Democrats, voters will be selecting candidates for the District 1 and District 3 seats on the Hillsborough County Commission.

Harry Cohen and Jen McDonald are vying to be their party’s choice in the race for Hillsborough County Commission, District 1.

In the race for District 3 on the county board, there’s a five-way race among Ricardo “Rick” Fernandez, Gwen Myers, Frank Reddick, Thomas Scott and Sky U. White.

In the race for Tax Collector, it’s a face-off between April Griffin and Nancy C. Millan.

On the Republican ballot, Charles Brian Boswell and Chad Chronister are competing to be their party’s nominee in the race for Hillsborough County Sheriff.

Scott Franklin and Ross Spano are vying for District 15, in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In the Hillsborough County Commission, District 1 seat, Scott Levinson is facing off against Tony Morejon.

There are four nonpartisan seats up for grabs on the seven-member Hillsborough County School Board.

Competitors in District 1 are Nadia Combs, Steve Cona, Ben “Floridaman” Greene and Bill Person.

In District 3, the candidates are Alexandra Gilmore, Leo Haggerty, Mitch Thrower, Jessica Vaughn and Rick Warrener.

Those competing in District 5 are Elvis Piggott, Tammy Shamburger, Selena Ward

and Henry “Shake” Washington.

In District 7, the candidates are Lynn Gray, Sally A. Harris, Jeffrey Alex James Johnson and Angela Schroden.

There also are a number of nonpartisan judge races on the ballot.

Voters have the option to vote early at 24 locations through Hillsborough County. The early polling sites are open through Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Voters can also drop their Vote By Mail ballots off at Early Voting sites during Early Voting hours.

Go to HillsboroughVotes.org, for more election information and for early polling locations.

Hillsborough County Registered Voters*
Democrats: 356,390
Republicans: 281,115
Others: 264,061
Total: 901,566

*As of 08/09/2020
Source: Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections

Published August 12, 2020