Government Digest: Nov. 26 - Dec. 2

Mack ends bid for policy chair

WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV, R-Cape Coral, ended his effort to be elected Republican policy committee chairman, and instead threw his support behind U.S. Rep. Tom Price, R-Georgia. Price was elected to the post.

In a Nov. 16 letter, Mack writes, “Our country is in need of leadership, and I know that Tom will do an excellent job of working with members to develop their ideas into thoughtful policies.” Mack also announced that he is forming a “Freedom Caucus” to share and advance conservative ideas.

List of candidates for Tampa seats grows

TAMPA — The list of candidates who have filed to run for mayor of Tampa or a city council seat continues to grow.

In addition to the half dozen mayoral candidates there are 21 other candidates for seven district seats that will be on the March ballot.

The latest to file for the mayor's seat is Ed Turanchik, a former Hillsborough County commissioner, fresh off participating in a failed effort to pass the 1% transportation sales tax.

Curtis Stokes, who was appointed to the District 3 seat this past summer to fill, has now filed to run for the District 1 seat. He filled the seat held by Linda Saul-Sena, who ran for county commission and lost.

And Yvonne Capin, who holds the District 4 seat she was appointed to, has filed to run for the at-large District 3 seat. Capin had been appointed to fill John Dingfelder's seat. Dingfelder had also resigned to run for a county commission seat. Both Saul-Sena and Dingfelder lost. Both Capin and Stokes had pledged not to run for council seats when they were appointed.

Agency supports high-speed rail

TAMPA BAY — The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority passed a resolution Nov. 19 supporting high-speed rail and the $2 billion in federal funds to construct the first phase of the project from Tampa to Orlando. The resolution asks the governor and the Legislature to support the project. In the 7-2 vote, newly elected State Rep. Shawn Harrison, R-Tampa, and Hernando County Commissioner Dave Russell opposed the measure.

TBARTA is a state agency created to plan, finance, and manage transportation systems in seven counties along the Gulf Coast including Pasco, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota counties.

MEETINGS

PINELLAS COUNTY

The Pinellas County transportation task force meets at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29, at the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, 4000 Gateway Center Blvd., Pinellas Park.

PASCO COUNTY

The County Commission will hold a workshop on growth management and planning issues at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30, at the historic Pasco courthouse, 37918 Meridian Ave., Dade City.

Land development code stakeholders meet at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, in the personnel training room at the West Pasco Government Center, 7530 Little Rd., New Port Richey.

TAMPA

The Enterprise Zone Development Agency will meet at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30, at The Municipal Office Building (TMOB), 306 E. Jackson St., Tampa. For more information, call Cindy Toselli at (813) 242-3807.

COLLIER COUNTY

The Collier County Development Services Advisory Committee will meet at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1, at the growth management division/planning and regulation building (formerly community development and environmental services), conference rooms 609 and 610, 2800 N. Horseshoe Drive, Naples.

FORUMS

The Manatee Tiger Bay Club meets at noon Thursday, Dec. 2, at Mattison's Riverside, 1200 First Ave., Bradenton. Speakers are Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker and David Klement, organizational development manager. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. For more information, go to www.manateetigerbay.com.

The Sarasota Tiger Bay Club meets at noon Thursday, Dec. 2, at Michael's On East in Midtown Plaza, U.S. 41 and Bahia Vista St., Sarasota. Panel members are Sarasota County Clerk of Circuit Court and County Comptroller Karen Rushing, 12th Circuit Chief Judge Lee Haworth, and retired Circuit Judge Nancy Donnellan. For more information, call (941) 925-2970. Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m.