Commissioner Murman quoted in this Tribune article on Mary Jane Martinez event:

South Tampa News

Shelter named for former first lady Mary Jane Martinez

BY LENORA LAKE
Published: April 18, 2013

TAMPA – Florida’s former first lady Mary Jane Martinez always wanted to help children, said those who helped honor her recently.

The Hillsborough County Children’s Services Girls Shelter at the agency’s Lake Magdalene campus was named the Mary Jane Martinez Cottage in a recent ceremony.

Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandy Murman told about 150 guests: “She has wanted the best; she has given her best.”

While serving as Florida’s first lady from 1987 to 1991, she founded and served as president of the Board of Trustees of the Youth and Family Foundation of Florida. The foundation provided support to a network of organizations that provide shelter and crisis counseling services with the goal of keeping families together.

“My experience as a high school teacher and a media specialist helped me understand the many problems they (teens) have,” Martinez told the guests, which included her husband, former Gov. Bob Martinez; Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn; former Mayor Pam Iorio; former U.S. congressman Jim Davis; and other community leaders.

“I knew I had an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of many young people,” she added, saying the network has a 90 percent success rate with the families.

The shelter can house 12 girls, said Danielle Husband, program director for the services center. The campus is licensed for ages 10 to 17. The average age is 14.

Some girls are runaways and “the idea is to stabilize the family,” Husband said.

When Martinez started the foundation, there were about 15 shelters across the state. That number is now doubled, with more than 500,000 youth and families served statewide.

“The network allowed them (youth in need) to be with people who really cared about them instead of being part of the juvenile court system,” Martinez said.

In January, the former first lady, who is active in Tampa in Red Cross Angels and other organizations, was recognized by the foundation in a ceremony in Tallahassee.

At the Tampa ceremony, Murman, a Davis Islands resident, said was honored to participate because “Mary Jane has been a personal friend” for many years.

“The opportunity to name this is so fitting,” she said. Laughing, she added, “It’s good to have Bob in the backseat for once.”

Commissioner Murman quoted in this Tribune article on Ybor social clubs:

Hillsborough bends rules, pays Ybor social clubs for RNC repairs

Mike Salinero | Tribune Staff

April 17, 2013 

TAMPA – Hillsborough County commissioners decided to bend their own rules today and reimburse four Ybor City social clubs for repairs the clubs made on their early-20th century buildings.

Back in July 2011, the commission approved giving $2 million to the clubs Centro Asturiano, the Cuban Club, the Italian Club and Sociedad La Union Marti-Maceo – because their historic buildings were deteriorating and the clubs didn’t have the money for the repairs.

But the county never handed over the money because the clubs failed to meet all the county’s requirements for funding, including having their financial reports audited.

“We’re kind of in a holding pattern until we receive the audits,” Tom Fesler, county budget director, told the commissioners.

Fesler said the clubs borrowed money and made the repairs, in part because holding off would speed up the buildings’ deterioration, but also because the clubs wanted to be ready for business during the Republican National Convention in August.

The Cuban Club reported making $200,000 in bookings for parties and dinners during the RNC, Fesler said.

Reimbursing the clubs for the repairs would violate the board’s capital project funding policy approved in November 2011, Fesler said.

Commissioner Sandra Murman asked Fesler if anything could be done short of an audit to move the process along more quickly.

“You know audits are very expensive for an organization: $10,000 or $15,000,” Murman said. “I’m trying to figure out some other internal review of finances that would satisfy that requirement.”

Fesler pointed out that the county funds other nonprofit organizations at much lower amounts, such as $10,000 or $15,000 a year, and they all are required to produce independent audits.

What’s more, Fesler said the county found some concerns in reviewing the clubs’ financial information accompanying their funding requests. An audit would give the county some assurance that the financial information provided by the organizations was accurate.

“My professional opinion is we should get the audits,” Fesler said.

Rick Duran, executive director of Centro Asturiano, told the commission his club has signed a contract for an audit. Italian Club leaders Joe Capitano and Andy Scaglione told The Tampa Tribune outside the meeting they have also contracted with an auditing firm.

“I like the idea of an audit because it protects the taxpayer,” said Scaglione, former chairman of the Tampa Sports Authority. Scaglione said the audit would cost the club $15,000.

Fesler said the Cuban Club is in the process of finding an audit firm, and Marti-Maceo expects to have an audit completed in the next few months.

Commissioner Murman quoted in this Tribune article on East Bay Little League:

More than 800 play ball in East Bay Little League

TBO.COM | Staff

February 25, 2013

GIBSONTON — The night before umpires officially yelled, “Play ball!” East Bay Little League kicked off the 2013 season in style.

 On Feb. 23, the organization hosted its Friday Night Under the Lights opening ceremony. The family-friendly event was highlighted by the introduction of current players from almost 80 teams as well as a brief program honoring last year’s Junior Division state runner-up squad, the most successful team in East Bay Little League’s 42-year history.

 Cheri Wilder, league secretary, said there are more than 800 players registered this season, which had its first slate of games the following day and will conclude in May. Among the guests at the ceremony were Hillsborough County Commissioners Al Higginbotham and Sandy Murman.

 “This park is beautiful, and I want to congratulate the parents, volunteers, and board for the stellar work they’ve done,” Murman said. “Make us proud here in Hillsborough, and especially here in South County.”

 ************

Commissioner Murman mentioned and quoted in this Times article on battling Synthetic Drugs in Hillsborough County:

Hillsborough County to fine sellers of Synthetic Drugs

Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff

Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013

 TAMPA — Bath salts and synthetic marijuana will likely be harder to find in Hillsborough County within the next few weeks.

On Wednesday, county commissioners unanimously passed an ordinance that will fine people selling synthetic drugs up to $500 for each package. They expect it will persuade store owners countywide to take the dangerous products off their shelves.

“This hits them financially, which is where they’re benefiting,” said Hillsborough sheriff’s Col. Donna Lusczynski.

This approach avoids an uphill legal battle. Currently, drug manufacturers can tweak the formulas of illegal designer drugs to come up with similar, but legal, versions.

It is also difficult for law enforcement to verify whether the drugs they come across are illegal because they do not have street-level testing kits. Synthetic drugs must be sent off for expensive testing, and arrests often are not immediate.

Under this ordinance, the county does not care about the particular drug inside the packages. If it looks like bath salts or synthetic marijuana, they can fine the seller.

“The problem with these synthetic drugs is they’re marketed toward kids,” said Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy. “So anything that gets them off the shelves and keeps them out of the hands of kids is a good thing.”

Senior assistant county attorney Paul Johnston says he hopes the store owners will voluntarily get rid of the drugs.

Workers from Hillsborough County’s Code Enforcement Department and the Consumer Protection Agency plan to warn workers at stores known to sell synthetic drugs. They’ll visit the shops and mail letters to inform them of the ordinance before authorities start to enforce it.

And they will enforce it, said Kevin Jackson, chief investigator for the Hillsborough County Consumer Protection Agency. County workers will go back to the problem stores to make sure the product is gone, he said.

He and Commissioner Sandy Murman likened this effort to previous ordinances passed regarding sweepstakes cafes and pain management clinics. When the laws are not doing enough, administrative approaches can persuade people to stay in line, they said.

“We hit them where it hurt, which is in their business, in their pocketbooks,” Murman said. “And I think this is the way to attack it.”

Pinellas County, meanwhile, plans to ask the Legislature to outlaw additional formulas of these synthetic drugs. The state already has made more than 100 versions illegal, and in December, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi used emergency powers to ban 22 additional substances.

Last summer, the Pinellas County Commission considered the idea of banning the county’s estimated 500 convenience stores from selling synthetic drugs, but the board never took a vote.

Jessica Vander Velde can be reached at jvandervelde@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3433.

Commissioner Murman mentioned and quoted in this Bay News 9 story on homelessness:

Apartment style living a step forward to solving homelessness

By Ashley Jeffery, Reporter
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 mation

• Steps Forward – Ending homelessness through housing first

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY — 

For years, Hillsborough County has been looking for a way to end chronic homelessness and with the idea of giving those in need homes first, they believe Cypress Landing is the place to start.

“This is a model. This is a model that helps to solve a problem,” said Hillsborough County commissioner Sandy Murman.

The apartment style living for the homeless is a first of its kind in the county. Thanks to Mental Health Care Gracepoint, “Steps Forward” and both public and private donors; people who’ve been on the streets for more than a year and have a mental disability will now have a place to live and a place to get the services they need.

“If they’re having a tough time at night, there’s someone that’ll answer the phone or come down and talk to them. We’ll help them get through the system to get their needs met so they can be individuals in our community giving back,” said Jenine LeCoe of Mental Health Care Gracepoint.

The 24-unit apartment building was funded with $2 million from the federal government. It’s completely furnished and ready to move in.

Officials say while it’s only 24 they can get off the street for now, they’re looking forward to changing the lives of many more.

“We’re taking a small step but it’s a big step forward to what we need to do to solve the problem of homelessness in Hillsborough County,” said Murman.

The goal is to not only give homeless in Hillsborough County a home but also give them hope.

Commissioner Murman said they want to open 500 units within the next five years for homeless in the community.

Commissioner Murman mentioned extensively and quoted in this Observer article:

 Murman Hosts Morning Coffee Social In South County, Promotes Economic Development

Tamas Mondovics, Osprey Observer

Dec. 10, 2012

Following her re-election to the Hillsborough County BOCC just weeks earlier, Commissioner Sandra L. Murman Board Vice-Chair District 1, got back to work, which includes hosting a morning coffee social hour with local residents.

 Such was the case last month, as Murman and her staff, including aides Della Cury and Jeffrey Huggins met with members of the SouthShore community at the Waterset Landing Club & Café, located at 7012 Sail View Lane in Apollo Beach.

 With coffee in hand, attendees got a chance to discuss their thoughts and concerns on various projects and community issues taking place in Hillsborough County.

 The meet and greet session allowed Summerfield resident Roger Rolewicz to ask the commissioner about her take on the proposed trash removal options currently weighing on the minds of many area residents.

 Commenting on all the issues and topics currently affecting Hillsborough County residents, Murman replied that her main focus continues to target the economic development within the coastal district.

 Feeling optimistic about the SouthShore communities, Murman said she is specifically focusing on the two new recreation centers in Gibsonton and in Ruskin, as well as getting businesses interested in relocating to the area.

 “One way we will be successful is by bringing public bus transportation service down here and arrange for express routes from here to downtown,” Murman said.

 Murman joined the Board as a County Commissioner in 2010, representing District 1.

 Prior to joining the County Commission, Murman completed eight years as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1996-2004. Representative Murman was the first Republican woman to hold the position of Speaker Pro-Tempore in the Florida House of Representatives.

 An Indiana native, Murman is a graduate of Indiana University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Marketing and is married to local attorney Jim Murman of Barr, Murman, Tonelli, P.A. They have a daughter, Michele, who graduated from Florida State University.

 To learn more, visit her web page located on the county’s website at www.hillsboroughcounty.org.

Commissioner Murman mentioned in this Tribune article:

Published: December 05, 2012
Updated: December 05, 2012 – 9:13 PM

County delays decision on Bass Pro Shops

By Mike Salinero

An $8.25 million incentive package to land a Bass Pro Shops store in Brandon was almost too good for Hillsborough County commissioners to pass up _ almost.

Commissioners discussed the merits of the incentive package for more than two hours Wednesday before putting off a decision, scheduling further talks for Feb. 6.

The chance of quick passage was hurt by more than two dozen opponents, many small business owners, who showed up at the commission’s morning session. The opponents said it was unfair to use tax money to help a large, well-heeled competitor that would hurt their businesses.

Commissioners said they had heard the same concerns from small business people around their districts and in phone calls.

“It concerned me when I heard the people, not only today but over the last 10 months campaigning,” said Commissioner Al Higginbotham, who won re-election in November. “These folks look to us for encouragement and they look to us for direction and to make the right decisions.”

The delay was a setback for commission Chairman Ken Hagan, who has been involved in negotiations for more than two years to bring Bass Pro Shops to the county. Hagan felt so strongly about the deal that he stepped down from the dais so he could make his sales pitch facing his fellow commissioners head on.

“What we have is an incredible economic development opportunity that’s been over two years in the making,” Hagan said as he shed his usually reserved manner to hammer home his points. “The end result of many hours of hard work meetings and negotiations is a cost-sharing agreement that delivers a significant return on investment and an immediate annual revenue stream for the county.”

The county’s $8.25 million investment would be used to build and improve roads around the proposed development between Interstate 75 and Falkenburg Road. Hagan insisted the money would not be a subsidy to Bass; it would be an investment in needed infrastructure that would bring a quantifiable return on investment.

The store would create 3,200 construction and permanent jobs, Hagan said, while boosting sales and property tax collections by $2.6 million after Bass Pro’s fifth year of operations.

Hagan showed commissioners a list of subsidies that communities around the country have paid to secure a Bass store. The average subsidy for a Bass store and surrounding development was $29 million, he said.

“Irrespective of how you feel about the value of subsidies for Bass projects, the bottom line is our subsidy is zero. Zero,” Hagan said. “We’re not giving Bass a dime.”

Almost every commissioner found something to like about Bass Pro, the outdoors store famous for its theme-park attractions such as waterfalls, fishing ponds with real fish, even bowling alleys.

“I for one am very excited about the opportunity for Bass Pro Shops to come into our community,” said Commissioner Kevin Beckner.

“Let’s find a way to make this work,” chimed in Higginbotham, even as he was about to make a motion to delay an agreement.

As each commissioner spoke, however, the list of concerns about the deal lengthened.

Commissioner Les Miller wanted guarantees that minority businesses would share in the construction bonanza. He also asked Bass representative Martin MacDonald about a discrimination complaint filed against Bass with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

MacDonald wouldn’t discuss the EEOC complaint but said Bass Pro Shops is an equal opportunity employer that values minorities. About 50 percent of the chain’s human resources employees are women or minorities, he said.

“We value all races, we value ladies and men related to what we can do in the outdoors … we also like to hire to the diversity of the community we’re in,” MacDonald said.

Several commissioners also questioned Hagan’s argument that the road improvements, including widening Falkenburg Road to six lanes, are projects the county eventually would do anyway.

Beckner punched a hole in that assertion when he asked Public Works chief Mike Williams when the county had planned to make the road upgrades without an agreement with Bass Pro Shps.

Williams answered that the road improvements were not on the county’s long-range transportation plan and weren’t “planned for the very near future.”

Commissioner Sandy Murman admitted to being “conflicted” about the deal, saying she recognized the value of Bass Pro Shops coming to the area. Still, the concerns she’d heard from small business people in the Brandon area weighed heavy, she said.

“I know all the small businesses out there,” Murman said. “I hear, I feel what they’re going through.”

Of the eight people in the audience who spoke on the matter, seven opposed any money for Bass Pro Shops. Most were small business owners who said it was unfair to spend any taxpayer money to help a business that would be their competitor.

“The institute that I work for, they didn’t get any kind of help, just like all the other people that have spoken here before me,” said Raymond Grau, who works with Lee Fisher International, a sport-fishing and net-fishing outfitter. “And I think it’s just a travesty that my hard-earned tax dollars are going to a company that doesn’t need it.”

Thomas Mahoney, whose grandfather started T.A. Mahoney Co. in 1946, said he and other marine equipment service stores have suffered during the long economic slowdown. Business is off at Mahoney by 30 percent over the past five years, he said.

“I was not offered any incentives to my business,” he said. “Now (Bass Pro Shops is) trying to put me completely out of business.”

MacDonald, speaking after the meeting, said Bass Pro Shops creates, rather than destroys, businesses in the area where it locates. People come from 50 miles or more to shop at their store, he said, and that excitement “trickles out” to surrounding companies, increasing their customer traffic.

The commission voted 6-1 to continue the discussion. Mark Sharpe, the only no vote, indicated he opposes using financial incentives for retail stores.

The delay did not discourage MacDonald, who said Bass Pro Shops is still excited about opening a store in Brandon.

“After everything we’ve heard today, we feel we’ll be able to work something out,” he said.

Commissioner Murman mentioned in this Tribune article on organizational BOCC meeting:

Published: November 19, 2012

Home / news / local /

Hillsborough commission spurns Sharpe, re-elects Hagan as chairman

By Mike Salinero

Hillsborough County commissioners re-elected Ken Hagan as their chairman Tuesday, his fifth turn in the largely ceremonial post.

Hagan, 45, was elected on the second ballot, beating out Commissioner Mark Sharpe. Sandy Murman, who had been nominated and got two votes on the first ballot, took herself out of the running by nominating Hagan on the second go-around, assuring his victory. Murman was re-elected vice-chair.

It was the third time that Sharpe, the second-longest serving commissioner after Hagan, has been nominated but failed to get the necessary four votes. None of the five Republicans on the seven-member commission voted for him. The only vote for Sharpe, besides his own, came from Democrat Kevin Beckner, who nominated him.

Republican Commissioner Al Higginbotham, who first nominated Hagan, said he didn’t vote for Sharpe because Sharpe was not present at the meeting. Sharpe told commissioners last week he had forgotten that the reorganization and swearing-in ceremony were set for Tuesday, and he had scheduled a vacation for this week. He participated in the meeting via conference call.

“Mark has demonstrated skills and abilities in there just like Ken has,” said Higginbotham, who has been chairman twice. “But I think it’s important if you’re going to run for that position that you be present.”

Another Republican, Commissioner Victor Crist, nominated Murman for chairman then voted for Hagan on the second ballot. Crist said he thought Murman, as vice-chair, should ascend to the chairmanship. Crist said he voted for Sharpe last year based on the same principle.

“I think there should be a graduation from vice-chair,” Crist said.

But another theory for Sharpe’s failure to garner Republican votes was advanced by Commissioner Les Miller, a Democrat. Last week, Miller put a measure on the agenda that would have changed the method of choosing a chairman to a rotation.

Under Miller’s proposal, Sharpe would have been the chairman for next year, followed in 2014 by Beckner, because of their length of service on the board. After that, the chairmanship would have gone district by district.

Miller said he pulled the agenda item after Republican friends in the community called him, saying the measure wouldn’t get enough votes to pass. The reason: the Republicans didn’t want Sharpe or Beckner to be chairman.

“I don’t know what it is, but they obviously don’t want (Sharpe) in as chair,” Miller said.

In 2010, Sharpe alienated many members of his party by aggressively supporting a referendum measure that would have raised the sales tax by a penny per dollar to pay for road improvements and a light-rail system.

Still, Sharpe handily defeated Republican Josh Burgin, an opponent of the tax, in the Republican primary that year, then went on to win the general election.

In an email, Sharpe said he couldn’t speak for why the board voted the way it did, but he acknowledged being a moderate Republican might have cost him support of influential members of his own party.

“I don’t walk party lines,” Sharpe said. “My support for the transit tax and increasing impact fees for new school construction put me on the other side of certain power brokers.”

Hagan was first elected as a District 2 commissioner in November 2002 and was re-elected from the north Hillsborough district in 2004 and 2008. He ran and won the countywide District 5 seat in 2010.

During his time on the commission, Hagan has been a proponent of parks and recreation programs.

In September, he successfully won board approval for spending $15 million on a soccer complex with 14 to 20 fields. He also has pushed for talks between the county and the Tampa Bay Rays to keep the team from leaving the area.

Commissioner Murman mentioned in this Times article on organizational meeting:

Hillsborough County commissioners give parting gifts to familiar face

Bill Varian, Times Staff Writer

Published Tuesday, November 20, 2012

TAMPA — Hillsborough County commissioners presented Chairman Ken Hagan with some parting gifts Tuesday, befitting the diehard sports fan he is as he prepared to hand off the leadership title.

First came a Tampa Bay Lightning goalie stick autographed by players on the hockey team. Last was a puck signed by his fellow board members. In between, Hagan got a Lightning jersey with his name and the No. 5 on back.

Now, some might suggest a goodie bag of Tampa Bay Rays swag might have been more appropriate, if awkward, given Hagan’s frequent overtures to the baseball team on the other side of the bay. But he seemed touched nonetheless.

And that No. 5 would prove particularly fitting. Moments later, commissioners voted to select Hagan as their chairman once again — his fifth time in that role — after two of his fellow board members had their names put forward but failed to secure a majority of support.

“Do I still get to keep the gifts?” asked a stunned Hagan, who said he did not expect to be nominated, let alone selected for another run as chairman.

The chairmanship is largely ceremonial but comes with a $10,000 pay boost, putting his annual salary just over $100,000.

Current vice chairwoman Sandra Murman and Mark Sharpe, the longest-serving commissioner who has not served as chairman, both got nominated ahead of Hagan. Murman instead got picked again as vice chairwoman. Commissioners retained Les Miller as chaplain.

The annual organizational meeting came the same day that five of the seven commissioners were sworn in for new terms after surviving the fall elections. Commissioners Murman, Victor Crist, Miller, Al Higginbotham and Kevin Beckner all recited new oaths of office.

Each gave brief speeches, almost all touching on a general air of collegiality that has overtaken the board, which in the past has been marked by partisan infighting.

As if to underscore the point, Hagan’s name was put forth by Al Higginbotham, his predecessor as chairman who waged a bitter battle with him last year at this time for the leadership post. Higginbotham went one step further in relinquishing his spot on the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp., which seeks to recruit and keep businesses in the county.

“Ken did a good job this year and I’m sure he will continue to do a good a good job,” Higginbotham said.

Bill Varian can be reached at varian@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3387.