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Former Tampa Councilman Harrison To Seek State House Seat

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By LENORA LAKE

llake@tampatrib.com

Published: February 13, 2009

NEW TAMPA - Republican Shawn Harrison, a former Tampa city councilman, announced plans today to run for the District 60 seat in the Florida State House.

The seat is held by Ed Homan, R-Tampa, who cannot run in 2010 because of term limits.

Harrison, 43, made the announcement to a round of applause and well-wishes at a 7 a.m. meeting of the Rotary Club of New Tampa, of which he is a member.

He said he had "watched from the sidelines" and seen the economy decline, "and I decided not to sit around and just complain about it."

Harrison, a lawyer with the firm Wetherington, Hamilton, Harrison & Fair, was first elected to the city council in 1999. He was defeated in March 2007 by Mary Mulhern.

After today's meeting, Harrison said he had considered seeking the House seat for several months. The deciding factor was the economy.

He announced his candidacy at the Rotary meeting "because these are friends. The club has always supported me."

Harrison, along with his wife and two children, reside in Hunter's Green, about 100 yards outside District 60, which includes parts of New Tampa, Lutz, Temple Terrace and Thonotosassa. A former Tampa Palms resident, he said he knows the district "as I lived in it for 20 years" and plans to move back to it.

Harrison, a member of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority, is the first candidate to announce for the seat. However, he said he does not have a campaign manager or specific campaign plans yet, "as I feel everyone needs a break from politics." He said he just wanted to let people know his intentions.

Many Rotarians congratulated him Friday morning.

Member David Lanigan joked about the announcement: "I'm sure he is going to make sure his taxes are fully paid."

Tribune correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851.

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