Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandra Murman says she likes her job and wants to keep it.
The Republican is seeking election to the District 1 seat for the third time. Democratic political newcomer Jeff Zampitella is challenging her.
Age: 66 Education: Indiana University: Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing Occupation: County Commissioner District 1 Political experience: Running for District 1 for the third time, served as chair of the board, served eight years in the Florida House, first Republican Woman to hold the position of Speaker Pro-Tempore in the Florida House of Representatives.
Transportation is among the issues Murman says she champions. She serves on the Hillsborough Area Transit (HART) Authority. She was among the commissioners who voted against putting a half-cent tax on the November ballot. Go Hillsborough was a 30-year, $117 million plan to fund local transportation projects. The duration of the tax was a sticking point for Murman, who was joined in her opposition by three other commissioners.
Murman says getting the community access to jobs and economic development is also one of her priorities. She serves as a member of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp. and serves as a board member of CareerSource Tampa Bay. Murman, in conjunction with CareerSource Tampa Bay and Hillsborough Community College, will host a job fair at HCC’s Dale Mabry campus on Nov. 4.
The Greater Tampa Realtors, a 9,000-member organization, endorses Murman. GTR is the largest real estate broker’s organization in the Tampa Bay area.
“The real estate industry is an important part of the community, and I look forward to continue representing their interests and the interests of Hillsborough County District 1 citizens,” SaintPetersburgBlog.com reported.
Murman, a former state legislator, did not respond to requests for an interview.
Murman had received $564,180 in campaign contributions as of Oct. 21. The Realtors Political Action Committee is among her donors as well as several local real estate agents. Several cab companies and car services also have donated to her campaign.
Rasheeda Gerald is a student journalist attending the University of South Florida Zimmerman School of Advertising and Mass Communications. This story was produced as part of the school’s Advanced Reporting or Public Affairs class this semester, under the leadership of instructors Wayne Garcia and Wendy Whitt.
