The Plant City Chamber of Commerce held its second Candidate Forum on August 6, from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the TECO Expo Hall on the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds.
The candidates in attendance were:
Jennifer Barbosa for United States Congress, District 15
Karen Bendorf for Hillsborough County School Board, District 7
Chris Boles for Hillsborough County Commissioner, District 6
Rocky Brancato for Public Defender
Ben Braver for Florida State Senate, District 23
Linette “Starr” Brookins for Hillsborough County Court Judge, Group 11
Ashley Brundage for Florida House of Representatives, District 65
Danny Burgess for Florida State Senator, District 23
Johnny Bush for Hillsborough County School Board, District 7
Lisa Carpus for Florida House of Representatives, District 68
Johnathon Chavez for Hillsborough County Commissioner, District 4
Victor Crist for Clerk of the Court & Comptroller
Dr. Jim Davison for Hillsborough County Commission, District 6
Christine Edwards for Hillsborough County Court Judge, Group 11
Jen Flebotte for Hillsborough County School Board, District 7
Lynn Gray for Hillsborough County School Board, District 7
Tyrell Hicks for Florida House of Representatives, District 68
Bob Henriquez for Hillsborough County Property Appraiser
Dee Jones for Hillsborough County Court Judge, Group 21
Pat Kemp for United States Congress, District 15
• Craig Latimer for Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections
Laurel Lee for United States Congress, District 15
Elizabeth Martinez-Strauss for Hillsborough County State Attorney
Lisa McLean for Public Defender, Circuit 13
Christine Miller for Hillsborough County Commissioner, District 4
Nicole Payne for Hillsborough County Commissioner, District 4
Sean Shaw for Hillsborough County Commission, District 6
Matt Smith for Hillsborough County Court Judge, Group 21
Cindy Stuart for Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court
Jessica Vaughn for Hillsborough County School Board, District 3
Andrew Warren for State Attorney
Billy Christensen for Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections
Suzy Lopez for State Attorney
The event gave voters the opportunity to meet candidates and ask questions, and it gave candidates the chance to make the case to voters for why they should be elected. Candidates hosted tables filled with their signs and literature. The event began with a chance to mingle through the auditorium, get free yard signs, vote in a straw poll, and speak with current incumbents and challengers.
“I am running to make sure our students are able to read well, are learning the things they need to learn at a young age,” Karen Bendorf commented. “…to have their foundational skills to be strong leaders, to make sure that parents know what is going on in our classrooms—what our students are being taught, and that we are teaching children the right things.”
“There was a big stock market crash yesterday,” said Jennifer Barbosa, who lives in Plant City, “and a lot of people lost their shirts, people who are saving for retirement, and parents who are saving for their kids’ educations, but members of Congress made out quite well. One of the reasons incumbents are so hesitant to give up their seats is they get a lot of insider information in the committee hearings. I would support a bipartisan bill to ban members of congress from trading stocks.”
Linette “Starr” Brookins, whose parents live in Plant City, is running for County Court Judge. She is currently a trial attorney for an insurance company. “I have a heart for service,” Brookins said. “My key position is having a heart for this community and speaking life into our children specifically.”
Suzy Lopez, incumbent State Attorney, said she is the only candidate for her race endorsed by law enforcement, including Chad Chronister. And she is the only person in her race who has been a prosecutor in Hillsborough County. “We are holding people accountable,” Lopez said. “I am not a social worker, I am a prosecutor. We don’t make policy at the State Attorney’s office. It is our job to enforce the law.”
“The $2 million for the United Food Bank of Plant City was one of the biggest wins we got this session,” incumbent Danny Burgess said. “We worked so hard on it. We wanted to make sure that they were taken care of and that they have the opportunity to fulfill their mission, and also grow their mission, because they are making such a difference in the community. Just this year, we brought home $70 million for road improvements—about $10 million for Plant City specifically, and $60 million for East Hillsborough generally.”
At the opposite end of the auditorium, chairs were set up facing a stage. The structured portion of the event began there at 6:30 with a prayer thanking God that in the U.S. citizens get to decide who governs us, that the attendees would be respectful of those there to tell their positions, and people would leave more informed, and better citizens. The Strawberry Crest Junior ROTC students presented the flag, and the crowd sang the National Anthem.
The format brought to the stage the group of candidates running for each seat, beginning with the race for U.S. House of Representatives, District 15. Each candidate had three minutes to articulate her or his positions, and why he or she should be elected.
“Republicans in Congress are committed to fighting for an economy that’s strong, to ending the economic policies of today that are hurting Americans,” Laurel Lee, formerly a judge in Plant City, said from the stage. “We have been hard at work as Republicans to fight back against inflationary policy, excessive spending, wasteful spending, and to promote American energy independence, to drive down costs to help American families. We believe in a nation that is safe. I serve on the Homeland Security Committee and I don’t believe there is any greater threat to the domestic security of our country right now than our open southern border. From fentanyl, to human trafficking, to people on the terror watchlist, what is happening at our southern border is affecting every community in America.
“As a conservative Republican, my priority for east and south county is public safety,” said incumbent Christine Miller, County Commissioner, who lives in Plant City. “My first endorsements were from Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, and from our Hillsborough Fire Rescue unit. They know that I will give them the tools and resources they need to be successful in their jobs. I am also going to work to make sure we have the monies coming into our county from the state legislatures to work on our infrastructure and roads. I will fight inflation by keeping our taxes low. I have already been fighting against taxes coming onto your ballot.”
Early voting for the 2024 primary runs August 5 – 18. Election day is August 20. The 2024 General election early voting is available from October 21 – November 3. Election day is November 5.