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Les Miller Plans Commission Run

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By MIKE SALINERO

msalinero@tampatrib.com

Published: February 6, 2009

TAMPA - Former state senator Les Miller announced Thursday he will challenge Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White for the District 3 seat White holds.

Miller, a Tampa Democrat, served in both the state House and Senate and was Senate minority leader from 2004-06. He is married to Tampa City Council member Gwen Miller.

After leaving the Senate, Miller, 57, took a job with the University of South Florida as director of community relations and student ombudsman. He said the economic pressures facing District 3 convinced him to run.

"People are losing their jobs, there are no businesses coming into the county, people are suffering," Miller said. "With my experience in the Senate, maybe I can bring something better to the county."

White, 44, who is in his first term, said Miller doesn't have confidence to run for a countywide seat. Both men are black and District 3 was drawn as a minority district to encourage diversity on the commission.

"He's running against the only African-American Democrat on the commission when there is a countywide seat held by Jim Norman that comes open in 2010," White said.

District 3 includes most of North and East Tampa, as well as some of the south and central unincorporated areas of the county. The election is in November 2010.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303.

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