La Gaceta Newspaper

U.S. Senate
Democrat
Alex Vindman gets our endorsement over Angie Nixon.
Nixon is a state representative, union organizer, well qualified and offers to fight for lower costs, higher wages and to wrestle control of our government out of the hands of the uber rich and give it back to the people.
Vindman offers much of the same as Nixon, but Vindman has a better chance at defeating U.S. Senator Ashley Moody.
Lieutenant Colonel Vindman gained a national following when in 2019 he reported on and testified about a phone call between President Donald Trump and the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy when Trump pressured for the Ukrainians to investigate Joe Biden in exchange for U.S. military assistance.
That fame led to a huge amount of small-dollar donations nationally. It will take money to unseat Moody. Vindman is qualified, has experience in foreign affairs and national security, and wants to get government working for us and not Trump Inc and his fellow robber barons.

Congress, District 12
Democrat
We like both of these candidates. Kimberly Overman is a former county commissioner and a certified financial planner who fought hard for affordable housing and expanded healthcare access. She fought against human trafficking and special interests manipulating government.
Darren McAuley is a doctor, a Colonel in the Air National Guard, served as State Air Surgeon for Florida and is the leading expert on osteopathic practices at the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine. He’s been in the military for 25 years and served in six deployments. He’s mad about the gutting of Medicaid and cutting healthcare to thousands here in Florida, the weakening of FEMA, the attacks on voting rights, and tariffs, which are fueling inflation and are a tax on working families.
McAuley has been a stronger fundraiser and his military service will help him wrestle veterans away from voting for the incumbent, Republican Congressman Gus Bilirakis.
We endorse McAuley, believing he has a better chance of winning the general election.
District 15
Democrat
Two military men, Christopher Irizarry and Robert People, are vying for a chance to challenge Republican Congresswoman Laurel Lee. People joined the Army at 18 and served 21 years, having two combat tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He retired in 2018.
Irizarry served eight years in the Army and 16 years in the CIA. Both candidates are supporters of expanding healthcare, stronger public schools, unions, protecting our environment and reducing runaway costs of everything.
We endorse both candidates. The winner doesn’t really have a chance against Congresswoman Lee, as the district has been redrawn to make it almost impossible for a Democrat to win.

U.S. Senate and Congress District 14-Republican
All the major candidates will echo whatever Trump says. They will let him steal power away from the legislative and judicial branches. They will turn their heads while he and his hench men steal tax dollars.
We can’t endorse any of them.

Governor
Democrat
There are six candidates, but only one has a chance to bring the fight to the likely Republican nominee Byron Donalds.
That person is David Jolly and his running mate for lieutenant governor, Gwen Graham, and we wholeheartedly endorse the team.
Jolly is smart, even tempered, middle of the road and understands how government should work. Graham has the same qualities, and both served in Congress.
Our current governor sold us out to big insurance. Jolly wants to restore the balance by creating a catastrophic fund to reduce costs and make insurance pay their claims. He wants to help condominium associations with no-interest, state-backed loans so they can fix old buildings that suffer from years of neglected maintenance.
He wants to rein in school vouchers and invest in public schools. Under Jolly, climate change will be addressed in policies from resiliency to energy to transportation. He also wants to end the culture war which seems to occupy most of our state government’s time and energy.
Republican
The Republicans are favoring their DEI candidate Byron Donalds. He’s their minority and a complete Trump devotee. We think he’s completely unqualified. We endorse Donalds, believing he’ll be an easier target for Democrat David Jolly.

Chief Financial Officer
Democrat
Earle Ford is an army airborne infantry veteran, a former assistant state attorney and a federal investigator for the Internal Revenue Service. His background fits the job and he wants to provide spending oversight, government accountability and property insurance reform.
Annette Tadeo has served in the Florida State Senate, ran a small business and unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor as Charlie Crist’s running mate. She was born in Colombia. She also wants to reduce property insurance costs and be an independent watchdog of taxpayer dollars. We haven’t had a watchdog in that office for quite some time, which is why we wasted millions on Alligator Alcatraz, saw the governor steal Medicaid money to fund political campaigns and overpay for beach property, and give away state lands.
We will support Earle Ford, as he has a better resume for the job.
Republican
Blaise Ingoglia is the incumbent, having been appointed by Governor Ronald DeSantis. He has ignored his responsibility of being a watchdog of tax dollars. He has refused to look into the huge amount of waste caused by the governor – Alligator Alcatraz, spending on the governor’s personal state guard, no-bid contracts, land giveaways and the theft of Medicaid dollars for non-political campaigns.
We endorse Frank W. Collige. He is a business owner, served in the Air Force, has a great beard and promises financial transparency and accountability. Ingoglia promises to be the next governor’s puppet, and not the good kind with strings.

Commissioner of Agriculture
Democrat
Joey Mendoza Atkins and Donald A. “Don” Prichard are competing in hopes of taking on incumbent Wilton Simpson, who is most likely to win the Republican primary.
Neither Mendoza Atkins nor Prichard seemed to be running much of a campaign. Mendoza Atkins is an attorney, a former sports agent and is currently with the Barnes Trial Group in Miami.
Prichard is a captain with the Pembroke Park Police Department in South Florida. He previously served with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office for 24 years. He also served with the Florida Army National Guard. We can’t find enough information on either one to make an endorsement. Neither one seems to be campaigning. Either one would face a tough battle in trying to defeat Simpson.
Republican
Matt Taylor is challenging Wilton Simpson, the incumbent.
Taylor goes by “Matt the Welder” and is a somewhat comical political figure. At one time, he posted nude photos of himself on the web and got mad that the issue has come up now that he’s running for office. He said it wasn’t porn because he wasn’t paid.
Our choice is Wilton Simpson. He is the class act on the top of the Republican ticket for cabinet. He understands agriculture, having been in the egg business. He is reasonable and has a soft spot in his heart for foster children. We are disappointed in his votes on the cabinet. He voted in solidarity with the governor on some bad deals. We hope he is a more independent voice on the cabinet in the future.

State Senate
District 16
Universal primary
This race pits State Representative Fentrice Driskell against State Representative Michele Rayner. Both are Democrats
Rayner was first elected as state representative in 2020. She is an attorney focused on civil rights and promotes that she was the first openly queer Black member of the Florida Legislature. She has attracted progressive elements of the party to support her.
Driskell won her first race for state representative in 2018. She is also an attorney who works for Carlton Fields in business litigation. She attended Harvard University and finished law school at Georgetown University.
Driskell and Rayner are native Floridians. Driskell made history as the first Black woman elected as House Democratic Leader. She has lots of support from current and former Democratic officials.
The public can’t go wrong with either candidate but we will endorse Fentrice Driskell.
Democrats hold a minority position in the House and Senate and are mostly on the sidelines of governing. We expect the few Democrats in the Legislature to focus on improving the Democrat brand with voters and organizing elected Democrats to speak with a more unified voice. They need a more populous agenda to try to box in Republicans and show the true nature of the many harmful bills that pass both chambers.
Rayner had a very safe seat while Driskell had to win a State House seat that was competitive. We believe having to appeal to independent voters as Driskell did was better training for the difficult job ahead of helping position Democrats to win more seats and improve the party’s approval with voters.

State Representative
District 62
Universal primary
Both candidates are Democrats
Wengay “Newt” Newton has experience as a state representative and a St. Petersburg city councilman. He prides himself on being able to reach across the aisle to bring home some wins for his district in a Republican-dominated house.
Kyandra Darling worked for Democratic Congressman Charlie Crist and later as an aide to St. Petersburg council members Steve Kornell and Lisa Wheeler-Bowman. She worked for nonprofits and helped with Kamala Harris’ campaign in the Bay Area. Darling wants to focus on affordability, access to healthcare and addiction treatment. We find her a great addition to the Democratic bench and with the skill set will help expand the party’s appeal to independents.
We endorse Kyandra Darling for State House.
District 63
Universal primary
All three candidates are Democrats
Jacqueline Coffie-Leeks is the executive director of Sulphur Springs Neighborhood of Promise Initiative and Pastor of Outreach at 34th Street Church of God. She is heavily involved in the community and an advocate for the poor and underserved.
Robin Lockett is also an advocate and community leader and is the Regional Director of Florida Rising Tampa Bay. She knows the district and has fought for affordable housing.
Conrad Schupay’s family settled here after his father retired from the Air Force. He attended local schools in the district and eventually was accepted to and graduated West Point. He served in the military for 24 years in the Army and Florida Army National Guard and had two deployments to Afghanistan.
He worked for the City of Tampa and the financial industry.
We like all three candidates. They are supportive of increasing healthcare access, affordability and focusing Florida’s government on what working people need and not the culture war currently being fought. We endorse all three, as we believe any one of them would be a fine addition to the State Legislature.
District 64
Democrat
We did not interview any of the candidates in this race, as we know each and are familiar with their histories.
John Rodriguez knows the legislative process and could start to be productive on day one. He served as aide to several state legislators who served the district. He worked in St. Petersburg city government for mayor Rick Kriseman. He now works at the property appraiser’s office. We find Rodriguez to be knowledgeable and passionate about public service.
Mike Suarez served on City council. He has roots here and knows the district. We were unhappy with some of Suarez’ City Council votes and found him to be uninterested in opposing views. We are also concerned that his largest donor is the insurance industry.
Luis Salazar is our pick. He is young, energetic and has the most passion for serving in Tallahassee. He is a great addition to the Democratic slate and has helped get other Democrats elected with grassroots work. Salazar served in the Navy. He is a community activist and a social media marketer. He listens, learns fast and can help build the Democratic Party. His agenda is to rein in big insurance, utilities and expand affordable housing. He is bilingual, which is also a plus.
Republican
There are three names on the ballot, Amaro Lionheart, Angel Ramos and Dan Weldon. Lionheart has withdrawn from the race, so a vote for him will not count.
Angel Ramos was born in Puerto Rico and made the move to Tampa much later in life. He’s had a varied work history, ranging from programmer, marketing strategist, entertainment and private investigation. His positions show that he wants to protect students from indoctrination at public schools that is not happening. He supports removing vaccine mandates for children.
Dan Weldon is a former prosecutor and currently a litigation lawyer. He played for the UF football team and was statewide chair of the College Republicans of Florida.
He wrote to the Tampa Bay Times, “The cost of having and raising children is at an all-time high. Job opportunities for young people are some of the worst they’ve ever been … our future is being left behind.”
It’s a pretty bleak viewpoint for a conservative activist considering his party controls the Federal and State governments. Trump says, under his regime, that America is great – it’s thriving.
We endorse Weldon in this race. He seems to be more informed and probably less conservative than he thinks he is.

County Commission
District 3
Democrat
Incumbent County Commissioner Gwen Myers is being challenged by Twanda Bradley. Bradley retired from the IT industry after 30 years and is focused on property investment and management. She also has a nonprofit which provides food and supports the community. She is pleasant, positive and listens.
Myers is become an effective commissioner for her district since 2020 and is a strong advocate for the district’s needs. Myers is independent of special interests and is also involved in the community. Her background is in county government. She knows the system and delivers county investment in poor and underserved areas of our county.
We endorse Gwen Myers for re-election to the Commission
District 5
Republican
Stacy Hahn is a School Board member trying to graduate to County Commission. She’s never impressed us on the School Board. She refused to hold the superintendent and other top staffers accountable for accepting a gift, a trip to Augusta National , from a vendor. She is pushing for tax cuts but has accepted in her PAC a $5,000 contribution from Ken Babby so she is happy to write a big tax dollar check to the Tampa Bay Rays. While on the School Board, she was paid to lure public school students to go to charter and private schools, which undermines our public schools.
Incumbent County Commissioner Donna Cameron Cepeda opposed the Rays deal, especially using CIT dollars, which is a plus in our eyes.
She is for using limited tax dollars to improve roads and other critical infrastructure. She is consistent in that voting.
We endorse Cepeda in the Republican primary.
District 7
Democrat
Democrats have two good choices, Aileen Rodriguez and Cindy Stuart. Stuart has a lot of experience governing. She was a School Board member for eight years and then ran to replace the retiring Pat Frank for Clerk of the Circuit Court. She won that seat. After one term, she was defeated by Republican Victor Crist. Stuart knows how the county works and can be productive starting on day one.
Rodriguez was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Hillsborough County on a dairy farm. She got her first taste of politics as a regional director for U.S. Senator Mel Martinez. She stopped being a registered Republican in 2019 because that party did not reflect her values. She has her own public relations company and has worked for a wide range of well-known companies, governments and nonprofits in the area.
She is excited about public service, a good listener and a quick learner.
In talking to both about the potential Rays deal, both leaned to supporting it, but Rodriguez was interested in learning more, both pro and con.
It’s a close call but we will endorse Aileen Rodriguez for her enthusiasm and willingness to hear both sides of an issue.

School Board
District 2 – Nonpartisan
This district covers South Tampa and parts of East Hillsborough County. Brittany Lyssy is a young mother, an attorney and the former chair of the Hillsborough County Young Republicans. She is sharp, presents well, but in the past, she supported vouchers and charter schools. We want a School Board member focused on making public schools great, not expanding alternatives to public schools.
Chris Taylor was a teacher and converted over to owning and running businesses and is now executive vice president of a company that mines Bitcoin, validates blockchain transactions and hosts mining software. He’s also chair of the Hillsborough Education Foundation. He is smart and has experience in schools and business, which would be good for the School Board. He is also dismissive of his female opponents. That won’t work well on a board full of women.
Daniela Simic is our pick. She has a long resume in education. She knows the district’s strengths and more importantly, its weaknesses. She also worked in other districts and in private business, which helps her to bring in new and different ideas. She has the skills to work well with fellow board members and she has the confidence of the teachers’ union. She also has a child in a local public school. She is passionate about education, a good listener and smart.
District 6 – Nonpartisan
Incumbent Karen Perez is being challenged by Kenneth “Ken” Gay and Sally Harris “Ms Sally” Williamson. While the race is nonpartisan, party affiliation sometimes provides more clarity. Perez is a Democrat being challenged by two Republicans.
Gay has been a teacher for close to four decades and is now retired. He ran for School Board before. He sees one of the challenges is creating an environment where teachers can enjoy their job, feel safe and feel appreciated. Low pay isn’t the only reason people are leaving the profession.
Harris Williamson served on the School Board from 2014 to 2018. She is a long-time preschool owner in South Tampa. She has run a couple of times unsuccessfully. She now lives in Plant City. Harris knows the school district, works well with others and is passionate about children.
We endorse Karen Perez. She is a strong advocate for underserved children in the district. She is fiscally responsible. As a clinical social worker, she knows the importance of addressing mental health issues of students. She was first elected in 2018 and provides a unique perspective on the Board.

Circuit Judge
13th Judicial Circuit
Group 7
This race has two qualified candidates who are personable. Luis “Louie” Aguila is a native. His family owned the La Ideal Sandwich Shop in West Tampa. He was assistant state attorney under Mark Ober, Andrew Warren and Suzy Lopez. He is now with the statewide prosecutor’s office and handles cases in several counties. He has over a decade of legal experience.
Our pick is Sara Peacock. Peacock has 15 years of legal experience in criminal defense, family law and civil litigation. Her mother has been a judge for years, so she knows what the job entails. She is involved in her community, the Bar and in improving the legal profession. We think she’ll make a great judge.
Group 13
The public can’t go wrong in this race where Nina McGucken Alvarez and Jim Wimsatt are vying for votes.
McGucken Alvarez has 17 years of experience in the areas of family law, probate, guardianship. She is assistant regional counsel and represents indigent clients with developmental disabilities. She’s been a sole practitioner much of her career. She is a third-generation Tampeña. She operates with honesty and integrity.
Jim Wimsatt has practiced for 22 years, focused on family law. He is with Harris Hunt & Derr PA. He is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell. His community service involves Metropolitan Ministries, Trinity Cafe and the Community Food Pantry. He is a Georgetown University Law Center graduate. Wimsatt is passionate about the law and fair.
It’s a close call. We will endorse Wimsatt, who has more years of experience and a history of community service.

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY

U.S. Senate
We believe incumbent Rick Scott is the worst U.S. senator Florida has produced. His idea to sunset Social Security every five years is just one of a slew of bad ideas that have come out of his mouth. The first thing he did as governor was reject federal money that would have built a bullet train between Tampa and Orlando. What a stupid move.
Keith Gross is a Trumper, attorney and businessman who has self-funded his campaign. He ran as a Democrat in Georgia 16 years ago and was kicked off the ballot by the courts for not being a resident for the required time.
John S. Columbus wants to work more collaboratively with other members of the Senate, which is opposite of Scott, who has pledged to not vote for any nominee or measure offered by Joe Biden or the Democrats.
He has conservation as his top priority. He wants to improve the Affordable Care Act, preserve election integrity and expand literature and critical thinking in our schools.
La Gaceta endorses John S. Columbus for the Republican primary for U.S. Senate.

U.S. Congress
District 14
Ehsan Joarder, Neelam Taneja Perry, John Peters and Robert “Rocky” Rochford are vying for Republican votes to challenge Congresswoman Kathy Castor in the fall.
The field is weak and no one has distinguished themselves from the group. Perry has some problems, being charged with trafficking painkillers and keeping suitcases of cash in her home. Out of the remaining three, we prefer Ehsan Joarder, who wants to bring collaboration, bipartisanship and integrity to Congress.
La Gaceta endorses Ehsan Joarder in the Republican primary for Congress District 14.

District 15
Incumbent Laurel Lee is being challenged by Jennifer Barbosa and James Judge. Barbosa is an on-again-off-again Florida resident who wants to end voting by mail except for the military, deport all illegal aliens and reduce involvement in overseas conflicts. Judge is running because he answered Donald Trump’s call and wants to return “America to her foundational roots of limited government and biblical values.”
The class act of this race is Laurel Lee. She’s been a judge, secretary of state and is serving her first term in Congress. She supports the Republican platform and has worked hard to stay connected with her district. We see her at more events than we do the rest of the delegation. She matches up well with her mostly conservative district.
La Gaceta endorses Laurel Lee for the Republican primary for Congress District 15

District 16
Incumbent Vern Buchanan is being challenged by Eddie Speir. Speir is a businessman who owns a Christian School in Bradenton and was appointed to the New College Board of Trustees by Governor Ronald DeSantis but was not confirmed by the Florida Senate.
Speir is trying to show he is more conservative than nine-term Congressman Buchanan. Buchanan’s seniority is a benefit to his district, as he is the vice chair of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. He’s got a business background and represents his conservative district well.
La Gaceta endorses Vern Buchanan in the Republican primary for Congress District 16.

Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller
Victor Crist and Melony Williams are vying for the Republican nomination to challenge Democrat incumbent Cindy Stuart.
Crist is the clear choice over Williams. He is knowledgeable of the workings of the clerk’s office due to his time in the Legislature, where he chaired committees that oversaw the budget for the Florida justice system and helped reform the court system.
He also understands the relationship between the clerk and county government, having served as a county commissioner.
He believes he can more effectively lobby for better funding for the clerk’s office in Tallahassee and that he can expand services and reduce costs.
La Gaceta endorses Victor Crist in the Republican primary for Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller.

Hillsborough County Commission
District 2
Melissa Nordbeck is challenging incumbent County Commissioner Ken Hagan, who has been on the Commission since 2002.
Nordbeck has some great ideas to create a balance of power between residents and developers. She wants to make it easier for citizens to voice their opposition to development and provide more notice to residents when developments are asking for land use changes or variances. She is a passionate advocate for more transparency in the process. She also wants to protect the dwindling rural areas of her district, which covers much of the northern area of the county.
Ken Hagan is the Commission’s senior member. The Commission has two first timers and will get two more. He is often the swing vote and occasionally sides with Democrats on important issues. He has saved county residents from some bad votes from his Republican peers. His two decades of perspective on County government is helpful and taught him potholes aren’t Republican or Democrat. His experience and leadership make him our choice.
La Gaceta endorses Ken Hagan in the Republican primary for County Commission District 2.

District 4
County Commissioner Christine Miller, who was just appointed to the job by Governor Ronald DeSantis, is being challenged by Cody Powell.
Powell advertises that he is “PRO-GOD, PRO-TRUMP.” His top issue is to “Ban woke books from schools and libraries and stop the transgender indoctrination.” We were hoping the Commission could fill some potholes.
After you get past the religious fervor and the false narrative, Mr. Powell has a good understanding of county government and planning. He has served on the Planning Commission, Hillsborough Transportation Board, Hillsborough Affordable Housing Board and the list goes on.
Christine Miller is the president and CEO of the Plant City Chamber of Commerce and understands the needs of the East Hillsborough business community. She wants to invest in better infrastructure, keep taxes low, control growth and preserve our agricultural lands and green spaces. Miller is smart, seems open to listen to diverse opinions and is personable.
La Gaceta endorses Christine Miller in the Republican Primary for County Commission District 4.

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY

U.S. Senate
Four Democrats are vying to take on Republican U.S. Senator Rick Scott. They are Stanley Campbell, Rod Joseph, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and Brian Rush.
Mucarsel-Powell is the Democratic Party favorite, but we don’t find her candidacy that exciting. She is a one-term congresswoman from South Florida who was born in Ecuador.
She’s worked for nonprofits and as an administrator for Florida International University.
Joseph and Rush haven’t got their campaigns off the ground.
Our pick is Stanley Campbell. His background as a successful businessman, inventor and Navy pilot makes him a better match against Scott. He is a smart man who has an in-depth knowledge of the health care business, IT and AI, which is great knowledge to bring to Congress and would separate him from many of his colleagues if he were elected.
He’s financed much of his own campaign so far and his wealth could help him go farther. Campbell is strong on Democratic issues, including strengthening and expanding Medicare, a woman’s right to choose, protecting Social Security, funding public education and making sure our courts and justice system are fair.
La Gaceta endorses Stanley Campbell for the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

U.S. Congress
District 16
Jan Schneider has run for this seat in 2024, 2022, 2018 and 2016. She is an attorney with an impressive resume and education.
Her opponent is Trent Miller, who is also an attorney and is a committed Democrat who helped start the Lakewood Ranch Democrat club. Both candidates are good on Democratic issues.
La Gaceta endorses Jan Schneider in the Democratic primary for District 16.

RACES FOR ALL VOTERS

County Court Judge
Group 11
Linette “Starr” Brookins ran for judge in 2018 and 2022. This is her third try. Christine Edwards is running for the first time. The seat is open; there is no incumbent.
Brookins is a senior trial attorney for Allstate and a hearing officer dealing with licenses for taxis. She has also worked as a public defender. She says she would be a judge who is respectful, down the earth and would avoid embarrassing the attorneys in front of their clients.
Edwards manages her own firm and practices criminal defense, family law and civil litigation. She also serves the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel and is a court-appointed counsel for Marchman Act court, where she works with individuals who suffer with drug abuse and mental health disorders. Her caseload for Marchman is 300, which has given her experience in handling a high volume of work and keeps her in the courtroom every week. She also volunteers for the Innocence Project.
We feel Edwards is best prepared to handle a busy docket and help people who appear in her court.
La Gaceta endorses Christine Edwards for County Judge Group 11.

Group 21
This race features two dynamic candidates, Dionne “Dee” Jones and the incumbent Judge Matt Smith.
Jones had a successful career in insurance defense and decided to try education. While practicing, she earned her PhD in higher education leadership from USF. She then served on USF’s faculty as the co-director of the Law and Medicines Scholarly Concentration program, and taught leadership. She is very involved in the community and serves as the vice president of the George Edgecomb Bar Association, which is one of many organizations in which she provides leadership.
We’re going to stick with the incumbent but hope Jones runs again
County Judge Matt Smith is a U.S. Air Force veteran who worked at the State Prosecutors Office and then for the State Attorneys in Leon and Hillsborough Counties. He was appointed by the governor to county judge in 2021 and has presided over Dependency Drug Treatment Court, Title IV Child Support Division, Animal Court and County Civil Division V.
He is hardworking and proved his ability to handle a busy docket. He has shown he is fair and has good judicial temperament.
La Gaceta endorses Judge Matt Smith for County Judge Group 21.

School Board
District 1
Incumbent Nadia Combs is being challenged by Layla Collins and Julie Magill.
Magill is a general contractor, real estate investor and broker. She is passionate about making government more transparent and responsive to taxpayers but doesn’t seem to be passionate about public schools or well informed on current school policies or issues. She has bought into the story that public schools are indoctrinating kids and that pornography sits on every other bookshelf in the media centers.
Layla Collins is a U.S. Army veteran who served her country from 1994 to 2014. She is married to State Senator Jay Collins. Her many contributions read as if she is running for the State Senate. That’s because the PACs and people who support her are mostly doing so to gain and keep favor with her husband. She is who the governor is backing to take out Nadia Combs.
She has avoided public forums and we were unable to meet with her. She is presenting her campaign as if it has a moderate agenda, but it’s a Moms for Liberty agenda and she is part of the DeSantis efforts to direct more tax money to private and charter schools.
School Board member Nadia Combs is an unapologetic advocate for public schools and the children they serve. The Tampa Bay Times wrote in its endorsement of Combs this week, “Nadia Combs is one of the best Hillsborough School Board members to have served in decades. She is student focused, open and accountable, moderate and forward-looking …” That is high praise and well-deserved.
Combs is a fighter for her teachers and school staff and is unafraid to support the tax millage increase for their pay increase. She knows that in our schools, which serve low-income areas, keeping well-trained, fulltime teachers is becoming impossible as we face a teacher shortage and Hillsborough County teachers are being poached by surrounding counties that can pay more. She supports closing underpopulated schools so that limited resources can be better spent. She is smart, strong and holds the administration accountable.
La Gaceta endorses Nadia Combs for School Board District 1.

District 3
Incumbent Jessica Vaughn is being challenged by Myosha Powell.
Myosha Powell doesn’t want the activism in the New York school systems to happen here in Tampa, according to her website. She doesn’t have any children and seems to be running on a slate of Republican/Moms for Liberty candidates who are challenging incumbents that haven’t bowed to the crazies who want to ban all the books that hint at gay lifestyles and show that not all families are the 1950s’ version. She has lived here since 2005. We were unsuccessful in contacting her for an interview.
Jessica Vaughn is seeking her second term. During her first term, she has been a passionate advocate for public schools and the parents and students they serve. She pushes for equity and equality in our schools and stays focused on improving student achievement. She is especially proud of spearheading the effort to bring the first Montessori program to Essrig Elementary.
She is a strong supporter of the tax referendum to bring in more revenue to raise teacher pay.
La Gaceta endorses Jessica Vaughn for School Board District 3

District 5
Incumbent Henry “Shake” Washington is being challenged by Elvis Piggott, Kenneth Gay and a write-in candidate.
Elvis Piggott feels that since he is young, he can relate to today’s youth and that it will be an advantage in finding ways to address the behavior problems and absenteeism that is occurring in our inner-city schools in District 5.
Kenneth Gay is a 39-year educator who understands some of the problems from a teacher’s perspective but does not offer any solutions. He knows the lack of parental engagement in District 3 schools is a problem but only offers to continue the same strategies to reach out to parents. These strategies aren’t working.
Neither Piggott nor Gay support the tax referendum to enhance teacher pay but don’t have any real answers on where the money to remain competitive with other counties is going to come from.
Henry “Shake” Washington is a retired 42-year educator who rose through the ranks of Hillsborough County schools as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, area director and Area IV superintendent. He completed his first term as a School Board member and wants to continue on the Board. He is a supporter of the tax for additional teacher pay and was shocked that the County Commission took the opportunity away from voters to better support their schools.
He knows the district needs to work harder to inform the public of its successes, its failures and to make a convincing argument that more money is needed, and that it will be spent well.
Washington knows the district and the community better than his opponents and is an effective advocate for more resources for his district.
La Gaceta endorses Henry “Shake” Washington for School Board District 5.

District 7
Incumbent Lynn Gray is being challenged by Karen Bendorf, Johnny Bush and Jen Flebotte. This is the only countywide School Board race.
Gray and Bush support sending a referendum to the voters to increase millage so that teachers get an extra $6,000 and support staff get an extra $3,000. This tax has been passed by surrounding counties and they can now pay their teachers more than Hillsborough. That puts us at a disadvantage. Flebotte and Bendorf don’t support the tax. Bendorf didn’t respond to our outreach for an interview. She appears to be the DeSantis candidate and if you read between the lines, seems to be a big supporter of charter schools and private school vouchers. We want more passion for public schools.
Flebotte is an architectural engineer who attended local public schools. She is well informed and wants the district’s budget to be more transparent – so do we. She is involved in the community.
Johnny Bush is a lifelong educator who served as a principal at Plant and Robinson high schools. He is retired but volunteers at Jefferson High School. He is a passionate advocate for public education and wants to improve the classroom experience for students and teachers. He would be a strong voice on a School Board but would need a little time to acclimate from leading a school to driving policy for a school district.
Lynn Gray is the best choice. She is very knowledgeable of the district’s successes and failures. She has institutional knowledge and wants to fix long-festering problems, such as having staff who are better qualified for their jobs, i.e. construction and real estate. The next few years are going to be tough and we need someone who is ready to continue the fight today.
La Gaceta endorses Lynn Gray for School Board District 7.

From “As We Heard It,” by Patrick Manteiga, Sept. 25, 2020

This is an open seat, having been held by Sandy Murman, who was term-limited out. Former City Councilman Harry Cohen is running as the Democratic nominee. Scott Levinson is the Republican nominee.
Levinson is frustrated with government but doesn’t offer a clear path to make it better.
Cohen is seasoned and smart. He knows COVID will require the County to do better in prioritizing its needs as revenue decreases. He is strong on the environment, controlling growth, improving transportation and increasing the supply of affordable housing. We need someone who can help make this county better. Cohen is our pick.
La Gaceta endorses Harry Cohen for County Commission District 1.

From “As We Heard It,” by Patrick Manteiga, Sept. 18, 2020

There are four judges up for retention – Judge Drew Atkinson, Judge Morris Silberman, Judge Daniel Sleet and Judge Andrea Teves Smith.
Silberman and Sleet are well-respected and well-liked. Atkinson was appointed to the court in 2018 and Smith served on the circuit bench from 2013 to 2019 and was appointed to the appellate court in February 2019.
All four judges have served with honor.
La Gaceta endorses a YES vote to retain all four judges – Atkinson, Silberman, Sleet and Smith.

From “As We Heard It,” by Patrick Manteiga, Sept. 18, 2020

Voters can choose to retain Florida Supreme Court Justice Carlos G. Muñiz or to get rid of him. He has only served since January 2019 and was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis. Muñiz is a Yale graduate, served as general counsel of the U.S. Department of Education and until the appointment, had never been a judge.
While he is not our cup of tea, Muñiz has been professional and shown some independence in his rulings against DeSantis’ appointment of Renatha Francis.
La Gaceta endorses a YES vote to retain Carlos Muñiz.

From “As We Heard It,” by Patrick Manteiga, Sept. 18, 2020

Democrat State Representative Margaret Good is challenging incumbent Republican Vern Buchanan for District 16, which covers south Hillsborough, Manatee and parts of Sarasota County.
Good is a lawyer who is serving her first term in the Florida House. She is a big proponent of the environment and fights to protect our waters. She is also big on renewable energy.
Buchanan owns car dealerships and has held his congressional office since 2007. He is one of the wealthiest members of Congress. He has a bad environmental record, even as he represents a district that has bays, estuaries and rivers that need protection from pollution and unbridled growth.
La Gaceta endorses Margaret Good for Congress District 16.