In alignment with the Tampa Bay Chamber’s Vision 2026 plan, local candidate interviews were conducted and filmed to inform voters on where candidates stand on issues important to the Tampa Bay business community. Each candidate who qualified with one of the Hillsborough, Pasco or Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections office received an invitation to participate in the 2020 Candidate Interviews.
The Tampa Bay Chamber started the Candidate Interviews in 2018 with candidates in Hillsborough County. This year, in alignment with the Chamber’s new regional outlook, they opened the Candidate Interviews for the primary election to all three counties.
Candidates in the following races participated:
- Candidates for Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court:
Kevin Beckner
Cindy Stuart
Moderated by Matt Blair, Corcoran Partners and Tampa Bay Chamber Policy Council Member
- Candidates for Hillsborough County Sheriff:
Charles Boswell
Ron McMullen
Moderated by Former Rep. Ed Narain, AT&T and Tampa Bay Chamber Board Member
- Candidates for Hillsborough County Property Appraiser:
D.C. Goutoufas
Bob Henriquez
Moderated by Former Rep. Ed Narain, AT&T and Tampa Bay Chamber Board Member
- Candidates for Hillsborough County Tax Collector:
April Griffin
Nancy Millan
Moderated by Former Rep. Ed Narain, AT&T and Tampa Bay Chamber Board Member
- Candidates for Hillsborough County Commission District 1:
Harry Cohen
Jen McDonald
Tony Morejon
Moderated by C.T. Bowen of the Tampa Bay Times
- Candidates for Hillsborough County Commission District 3:
Rick Fernandez
Gwen Myers
Thomas Scott
Sky White
Moderated by C.T. Bowen of the Tampa Bay Times
- Candidates for Hillsborough County School Board District 1:
Nadia Combs
Steve Cona
Moderated by Marlene Sokol, Education Reporter for the Tampa Bay Times
- Candidates for Hillsborough County School Board District 3:
Alexandra Gilmore
Leo Haggerty
Jennifer Hill
Mitch Thrower
Jessica Vaughn
Rick Warrener
Moderated by Marlene Sokol, Education Reporter for the Tampa Bay Times
- Candidates for Hillsborough County School Board District 5:
Elvis Piggott
Tammy Shamburger
Selena Ward
Moderated by Marlene Sokol, Education Reporter for the Tampa Bay Times
- Candidates for Hillsborough County School Board District 7:
Lynn Gray
Sally Harris
Dr. Jeffery Johnson
Dr. Angela Schroden
Moderated by Marlene Sokol, Education Reporter for the Tampa Bay Times
- Candidates for Pasco County Superintendent of Schools:
Kurt Browning
Dr. David LaRoche
Moderated by Kim DeBosier, WGI and Tampa Bay Chamber’s Policy Council Co-Chair
- Candidates for Pasco County Commission District 4:
Gary Bradford
Christina Fitzpatrick
Russell Miller
Moderated by Kim DeBosier, WGI and Tampa Bay Chamber’s Policy Council Co-Chair
- Candidates for Pasco County Commission District 5:
Brandi Geoit
Victor Rodriguez
Moderated by Kim DeBosier, WGI and Tampa Bay Chamber’s Policy Council Co-Chair
- Candidates for Pinellas County Sheriff:
James McLynas
Eliseo Santana
Moderated by Mitch Perry, Political Reporter for Spectrum Bay News 9
- Candidates for Pinellas County Property Appraiser:
Trevor Mallory
Mike Twitty
Moderated by Mitch Perry, Political Reporter for Spectrum Bay News 9
- Candidates for Pinellas County Commission District 7:
Rene Flowers
Wengay “Newt” Newton
Frank Peterman, Jr.
Maria Scruggs
Moderated by Janelle Irwin, Associate Editor and Politics Reporter for Florida Politics
The candidate interviews covered jobs, home rule, transportation, equity, housing, economic development, the budget, healthcare, technology, and other critical issues for each of the specific races.
The Chamber will hold General Election forums for the following races in the fall: Hillsborough County Commission District 6, Pasco County Commission District 3, Pinellas County Tax Collector, Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections, Pinellas County Commission District 1, Pinellas County Commission District 3.
The Tampa Bay Chamber is non-partisan and does not endorse candidates. The videos were edited for production quality only and candidates’ responses were not altered. To view the videos, please visit: https://www.tampabaychamber.com/Business-Advocacy/Election-Candidate-interviews.aspx
Additionally, on Wednesday, August 5th voters will have the opportunity to meet nearly 50 candidates from Tampa Bay – from candidates for Congress to Soil & Water Supervisor – at this year’s Political Hob Nob. Hob Nob will look a little different as the Chamber has moved the format to a virtual event. Candidates and attendees will interact at their “table” through the innovative platform Lunchpool. Registration is now open:
https://web.tampachamber.com/events/2020Political%20Hob%20Nob-3943/details