Local Elections Starting to Heat Up

Election Day 2014 is still a long ways away, but that doesn’t mean competition for local seats isn’t starting to develop.

With three seats up for grabs on both the Hillsborough County Commission and Hillsborough School Board, Westchase area residents can anticipate some changes in those boards following the 2014 elections.

Here’s a look at who’s filed for what races to date, according to the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office:

County Commission District 4

This district represents south and eastern Hillsborough Counties. The seat is currently held by Al Higginbotham. He’s running for an at-large seat in 2014.

Here’s the lineup to date:

• Rick Cochran, Republican
• Stacy White, Republican

Neither candidate has reported fundraising activities as of yet. No Democrats have filed for this seat, which is traditionally held by a Republican.

County Commission District 5

Incumbent Republican Ken Hagan is the only one who has filed for this at-large seat to date. The current board chair, Hagan hails from the Carrollwood area. He’s raised $49,175 so far and has accepted $1,238.97 in in-kind contributions.

County Commission District 7

This at-large commission seat is currently held by Mark Sharpe.

So far, these candidates have filed:

• Democrat April Griffin, who currently serves as the Hillsborough School Board’s chairwoman.
• Republican Al Higginbotham
• Democrat Mary Mulhern, a current Tampa city council woman

So far, Higginboth leads this pack in fundraising. He’s recorded $47,910 in donations to his campaign and $3,881.03 in in-kind contributions. Mulhern comes in second with $21,080 in donations. Griffin has raised $11,511 in cash donations and $200 in in-kind contributions.

School Board District 2

This race has three people in the running so far:

• Stacy Hahn
• Sally Harris
• Michael Weston

District 2 covers the South Tampa area.

So far, only Weston has logged contributions. He’s raised $3,500 to date.

School Board District 4

This seat represents southern and eastern Hillsborough County. Those in the running include:

• Terry Kemple
• Jereme Monette
• Dee Prether
• Melissa Snively

Only Monette has logged campaign contributions to date. The amount that’s come in so far is $1,500 in cash and $1,180 in in-kind contributions.

School Board District 6

This is a countywide seat currently held by April Griffin.

In the running so far are:

• Kim Miller
• Dipa Shah

Neither candidate has reported any contributions.

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