Nick Burgess has been working elections since he was a freshman in high school.
That’s when his brother, Danny Burgess, Jr., decided to run for a seat on the Zephyrhills City Council.
Danny was 18 at the time; Nick was 14.
Ever since Danny’s first election, Nick has been stumping for votes for his brother.
This year, on Nov. 8 —the day of the 2022 General Election — Nick was hopping from precinct to precinct.
“I was over in Connerton and then (the) Church of God on (U.S.) 41, there,” Nick said.
“My dad — Dan Burgess, Sr. — he’s at the back of this parking lot,” he said, referring to the election polling place at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex at 3032 Collier Parkway.
Nick said his dad told him: “Man, this precinct hasn’t stopped flowing people in here.
“I said, ‘OK, let’s tag-team it together.
“So, he’s got that entrance,” Nick said, pointing across the large parking lot, “and, I’m taking this one on.”
Other family members were in on the effort, too, Nick said.
Earlier in morning, Danny’s children were waving political signs on their dad’s behalf at Alice Hall, a polling place, at 38116 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills, just off State Road 54.
Nick beamed with pride, as he displayed photos on his phone — showing Danny’s children waving signs for their dad.
This year, besides supporting his brother, Nick also was holding a sign to seek votes for Wilton Simpson — the father of Nick’s best friend.
Both of Nick’s candidates won.
Simpson, a Republican from Trilby, served as President of the Florida Senate from 2020 to 2022. He will be Florida’s next Commissioner of Agriculture.
Nick’s brother has won another term in the Florida Senate, and will be representing District 23.
Nick is proud of his brother’s accomplishments, and a big believer in the political process.
“No matter who you are voting for, it’s about getting your voice heard. And, it’s what you believe,” Nick said. “If you don’t vote, I feel like you can’t complain, ya know?
“You’ve got to get out, you’ve got to get your voice heard. That’s what’s beautiful about where we live. You have the right to vote for whoever you want to vote for — and, that’s a beautiful thing.”
In his view, local elections have a greater impact on daily life.
“It’s the government that’s closest you that has the biggest effect — city council races, things like that, county commission,” he said.
He enjoys heading to polling places on Election Day.
“You always come in very optimistic, and hopeful,” Nick said.
While the Burgess family was out waving signs for their favorite candidate in Pasco County, Ken Hagan Sr. was doing the same thing for his son, Ken Hagan, a Republican, who was first elected to the Hillsborough County Commission in 2002.
The elder Hagan camped out for nearly the entire Election Day at Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, a busy polling place in north Tampa, at 2902 W. Bearss Ave.
He held his son’s political sign and, then directly above it, another sign, which proclaimed “My Son,” with a red arrow pointing down to his son’s campaign sign.
Like the Burgess family, the Hagans had something to celebrate, once the votes were tallied.
Candidate Hagan successfully fended off Democrat challenger Angela Birdsong, to win another term on the Hillsborough County Commission for District 2, which encompasses many communities, including Lutz.
Published November 16, 2022
