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County Candidate Announces

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By WILLIAM MARCH wmarch@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 4, 2009

TAMPA - Land-use planner Linda Pearson, a former county official who is now in private business, has filed to run for the Hillsborough County Commission seat held by Ken Hagan.

Pearson is likely to face a primary election against fellow Republican and state senator Victor Crist of Tampa.

"I'm a Hillsborough County native and I've always been interested in holding local office, but your life takes different paths," Pearson said Tuesday.

After rearing a family and starting a business, she said, "now the time is right."

Technically speaking, Pearson and Crist have filed to run for the District 2 seat in 2012, when Hagan's term ends.

But Hagan has announced he will leave that seat early to run for a countywide seat next year.

Depending on the date of his resignation, a replacement may be appointed or there could be an election in 2010 to fill the seat. Both Pearson and Crist say they will run if there is an election in 2010.

Pearson, 58, of Dover, is a former county zoning coordinator. About five years ago, she co-founded Pearson Diaz & Associates, a land-use planning and engineering firm.

She is married to county stormwater project manager Charles Cox, and they have several grown children and grandchildren from former marriages.

Asked about challenging Crist in the race, she said, "He's a fine man, but it's an open seat so it's anybody's game."

Reporter William March can be reached at (813) 259-7761.

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