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Wait Who Are These People, Anyway?

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By STEVE OTTO

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 17, 2008

Is it just my imagination, or has this election season been going on since the Winter Olympics?

I'm not talking about the presidential election. By now most of us have figured out it's between some guy with no experience and another guy with too much experience, and that neither seem to have any real idea for leading us out of the swamp we've made of things.

Most Americans don't seem that concerned about world affairs, anyhow. When the news broke that the Russians were sending tanks into Georgia, I would bet the first thing on many minds around here was how that might affect the annual Georgia-Florida football game.

Closer to home, with the primaries under way, there are plenty of local decisions to be made.

Here in Hillsborough County, the most important votes are probably in the county commission races. They've become even more important now that a judge has decided to play games with citizens trying to get the issue of a county mayor on the ballot. A county mayor may or may not be a good idea, but for it to be decided by word games, instead of letting voters have their say, is pathetic.

Remember The Committee Of 100?

There are only two seats being contested in the primary.

One is the District 2 seat held by Ken Hagan. That one covers the northeastern parts of the county, including New Tampa.

His opposition in the Republican primary is Tom Aderhold, whose claim to fame is head of the Keystone Civic Association.

Hagan never says much during commission meetings, which can be a good thing if you don't have anything to contribute.

Allegedly he is holding regular meetings on some kind of mass transit system for the county, but some of you might recall this is roughly the same board that had its Committee of 100 do the same thing for two years only to toss it in the trash.

Attack Of The Killer Bee
The really interesting primary vote is in countywide District 6, where you have the incumbent Killer Bee tag-team wrestler himself, Brian Blair, up against auto sales manager Don Kruse on the Republican side.

For several years Blair has put a stranglehold on common sense, which has seldom been a deterrent in county government.

On the Democratic side, there are three challengers in Denise Layne, Kevin Beckner and, naturally, Joe Redner. It wouldn't be an election around here if Redner weren't running for something.

Layne, who understands the issues and the system and who frequently challenges the commission, is just as naturally the long shot.

The Softball League

Last week, Hagan and Blair both ignored appearances at the Tiger Bay Club forum, where they would not have been able to control the questions that might have been tossed their way. Such as: Why do none of the county's budget cuts seem to affect the commissioners, their staffs or their car allowances?

It's not that Tiger Bay sessions are all that tough. I mean, the club could enter a team in the city softball league, but at least it's unpredictable and out of the candidate's control.

I suppose for voters, candidates not showing up is not such a bad thing. If you don't have any answers, why waste everyone's time?

Keyword: Otto Graphs, to read and comment on Steve Otto's blog.

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