Political Forums Set For Seminole Heights, East Tampa

TAMPA - With the Aug. 26 primary election fast approaching, voters can hear from the hopefuls at forums set for Seminole Heights and East Tampa.

Some Hillsborough County candidates will attend a meet-and-greet from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Monday at Metropolitan Community Church of Tampa, 408 E. Cayuga St. Invitations were sent to candidates in the judicial, supervisor of elections and property appraiser races.

A question-and-answer forum will follow from 7 to 9 p.m. Invitations were sent to school board District 1 candidates Dave Schmidt and Susan Valdes, and District 7 candidates Carol Kurdell, Stephen Gorham and Jason Mims.

Invitations also went to county commission candidates Tom Aderhold and Ken Hagan in District 2, and Brian Blair, Don Kruse, Kevin Beckner, Denise Layne and Joe Redner in District 6.

The event is sponsored by the Tampa/Hillsborough County Human Rights Council, Equality Florida and the South Seminole Heights Civic Association.

For information, call event coordinator Jack Crepeau at (727) 410-3482.

On Tuesday, a forum at Ragan Park Community Center, 1200 E. Lake Ave., will give voters a chance to meet candidates in state and local races.

State House District 59 candidates Betty Reed and Warren Hope Dawson, and county supervisor of elections candidates Buddy Johnson and Phyllis Busansky will participate in a question-and-answer segment.

Invitations to meet with voters were sent to all candidates, including those in judicial and county commission races.

Deirdre Joseph of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority will moderate the forum, which is from 6 to 9:30 p.m.

University of South Florida political scientist Susan MacManus will discuss Amendment 5, a proposal to lower property taxes by increasing the sales tax. Supporters and opponents of having a Hillsborough County mayor also will speak.

The event sponsors include the Tampa Organization of Black Affairs, the Hillsborough County Black Caucus and the Tampa chapter of 100 Black Men of America.

For information, call the Tampa Organization of Black Affairs at (813) 874-8622.