TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

End Award Name Game, Winner Tells County

ADVERTISEMENT

By MIKE SALINERO

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 17, 2008

TAMPA - This year's recipient of Hillsborough County's Moral Courage Award said renaming the award for the late conservative activist and businessman Ralph Hughes will bog down the honor in never-ending controversy.

David Brown, who will receive the award Oct. 15, sent an e-mail Tuesday to the seven county commissioners suggesting they avoid controversy by creating another award "for citizens who use their own resources for civic activities," or give Hughes another award "less open to controversy."

Commissioner Jim Norman has proposed naming the award for Hughes, a critic of government regulation, taxes and spending who died June 27. The concrete casting business owner contributed freely to politicians who agreed with his views.

Norman will bring up the proposal at today's commission meeting. A majority of the board would have to agree to rename it.

Former Commissioner Joe Chillura nominated Hughes for the award posthumously, but a citizen advisory committee recommended Brown for his fight against county efforts to make property owners with alternative water supplies buy expensive backflow prevention valves he called unnecessary.

The request to name the award after Hughes drew criticism when the idea surfaced last week. Former County Commissioner Jan Platt, who originated the award in 1992, said she doesn't favor naming it for Hughes or any single recipient.

The award is intended to honor residents "who demonstrate exceptional ethical behavior and the moral courage to challenge the actions of government," the county Web site says.

Clerk of Court Pat Frank, also a former commissioner, said Hughes' arguments against impact fees would have benefited his own industry: "He was a lobbyist for his own self-interest."

Brown said in his e-mail to the advisory committee also worried about controversy surrounding Hughes, and some members suggested an "Atta Boy/Atta Girl Award" to cover "citizens who didn't necessarily demonstrate courage but did use their own resources for civic activities like Hughes."

Brown said he would still accept the award if it's named after Hughes.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303 or msalinero@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT