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Courageous Return Of Courage Award

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 4, 2008

Eileen Hart, who made headlines a decade ago for calling out the overpumping of groundwater, displayed moral courage again this week by returning the Moral Courage Award she won 12 years ago from the Hillsborough County Commission.

Hart objects to the commission's unfortunate decision to rename the award for the late Ralph Hughes, the east Hillsborough kingmaker who pulled the strings of politicians who agreed to accept his contributions and take his frequent telephone calls.

Hughes had moral courage, but he also had the ear of politicians and millions of dollars to get his message out. Those who disagreed with him were demonized in his mass mailings. His style was a far cry from the little guy who takes a risk in speaking out - the kind of person for whom this award was intended.

Were this award not now so political, Hart would deserve to win it again for speaking truth to power.

Too bad commissioners Jim Norman, Ken Hagan, Brian Blair and Kevin White refuse to listen.

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