Nov. 5 Is Only 3 Weeks Away. How Will New Tampa Vote? 

The Presidential Election Is The Centerpiece But County & State Races & Amendments Also Will Help Shape Life Here 

Vice-President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump: Only one can be elected the 47th President of the United States on Tuesday, November 5. (Photo: Associated Press) 

On Tuesday, November 5, voters across the U.S. will elect a new President and Vice-President. And, while there are other candidates on the ballot, there’s no doubt that either current Vice-President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump will be elected the 47th president of the U.S., and their respective running mates — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz or Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance — will become our next Vice-President. 

Yes, the election will be historic no matter who wins. Harris would be the first woman, the first Black woman and the first person of Indian descent to ascend to our country’s highest office. 

Trump would be the first President since Grover Cleveland (who won in 1884 and 1892, after losing in 1888, despite winning the popular vote) and the second in history to regain the office after losing his first attempt at a second term. And, no matter what you think about his trial for falsifying business records, Trump also would be the only convicted felon to become President. 

But, while this election also comes at one of the most volatile times in our nation’s history — with wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East, the very real threat of Chinese aggression against Taiwan and Republicans and Democrats pointing fingers at each other for the myriad of problems we face domestically — there is little doubt that this will be one of the most hotly contested Presidential elections in history. 

And, while that’s actually a good thing, because it likely means that more people will be casting ballots than ever before — probably surpassing the record 155+ million who cast ballots in 2020 — it also probably means that all of the candidates down-ballot, from U.S. Senator to local Community Development District races, can expect larger-than-usual voting numbers, too. 

Yes, some people will only vote in the Presidential race while others will vote in every race except for President, but for anyone who cares about life not only in our country but in our state and local communities, this is an opportunity to truly let your voice be “heard.” 

And, with super-controversial State Constitutional Amendments — including abortion rights and recreational marijuana — also on the Nov. 5 ballot, the hope here is that local voters will look beyond the non-stop TV ads on those issues and try to read the texts of those amendments (difficult though it may be) to decide what you truly think is the right thing to do with your vote. 

If that feels like a lot of pressure to you, just imagine what all of the candidates on your ballot (see pages 4-5) are feeling right now as they come down to this election’s home stretch. 

Speaking of which, Vote by Mail ballots were sent out beginning on Oct. 3 and are due back by no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day. The Early Voting period begins on Monday, October 21, and runs through Sunday, November 3, and the New Tampa Regional Library (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.) is the closest Early Voting site for pretty much everyone who lives in zip code 33647, although the Victor Crist Community Center Complex (at 14013 N. 22nd St.) is a reasonable alternative Early Voting site for some of you. 

The deadline to register to vote in this election was Oct. 7, so if you’re not already registered to vote in Hillsborough County, you will not be able to cast a ballot here in this election. 

I also encourage you to know your polling place. If you don’t know where you are supposed to vote on Election Day, visit VoteHillsborough.gov to find out.

Please note that what appears above and below represents the entire sample ballot for voters who live in New Tampa. 

In addition to the Presidential election, the national races being contested that you have the ability to help decide are: 

U.S. Senator – Incumbent Republican Rick Scott vs. Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell , Libertarian candidate Feena Bonoan and two candidates with No Party Affiliation (Tuan TQ Nguyen & Ben Everidge) 

Dist. 15 U.S. Congress – Incumbent Rep. Laurel Lee vs. Dem. Pat Kemp 

State Races on this year’s ballot include: 

State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit – Appointed incumbent Rep. Suzy Lopez vs. Dem. Andrew Warren 

State Senator, Dist. 23 – Incumbent Rep. Danny Burgess vs. Dem. Ben Braver & Independent John Houman 

State Representative, Dist. 67 – Incumbent Dem. Fentrice Driskell vs. Rep. Rico Smith 

Hillsborough County races on the ballot: 

Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller – Incumbent Dem. Cindy Stuart vs. Rep. Victor Crist 

Property Appraiser – Incumbent Dem. Bob Henriquez vs. Rep. John Ballance 

Supervisor of Elections – Incumbent Dem. Craig Latimer vs, Rep. Billy Christensen 

County Commissioner, Dist. 2 – Incumbent Rep. Ken Hagan vs. Patricia Altagracia Alonzo 

County Commissioner, Dist. 6 – Rep. Chris Boles vs. Dem. Sean Shaw 

Justice of the Supreme Court – Shall Justice Renatha Francis be retained? 

Justice of the Supreme Court – Shall Justice Meredith Sasso be retained? 

District Court of Appeal – Shall Judge Anthony K. Black be retained? 

District Court of Appeal – Shall Judge Edward C. LaRose be retained? 

District Court of Appeal – Shall Judge Susan H. Rothstein-Youakim be retained? 

School Board Member, Dist. 7 (runoff) – Incumbent Lynn Gray vs. Karen Bendorf 

Soil & Water Conservation District – Group 4 – Tyler Barrett vs. David Maynard 

State Constitutional Amendments on the ballot include: No. 1 – Partisan Election of Members of District School Boards; No. 2 – Right to Fish & Hunt; No. 3 – Adult Personal Use of Marijuana; No. 4 – Limit Government Interference with Abortion; No. 5 – Annual Adjustments to the Value of Certain Homestead Exemptions; No. 6 – Repeal of Public Campaign Financing Requirement 

Hillsborough County Referendum: No. 1 – Renewal of Community Investment 1/2-cent Sales Tax through Dec. 31, 2041; No. 2 – The School Board of Hillsborough County Millage Election for Public School Students 

Local Community Development District (CDD) Races (not shown on these Sample Ballots): 

Cory Lake Isles CDD, Seat 2 – Juan Jose Aliaga vs. Prasad Yealuru 

Tampa Palms OST CDD, Seat 4 – Louis Hector De Armas, Jr. vs. Brad van Rooyen 

Tampa Palms OST CDD, Seat 5 – Bob Lennon vs. Ram Ramadoss 

Please get out and vote, New Tampa! 

Helene Update!

Hurricane Helene has been upgraded to a Category 3 storm, with sustained winds of up to 120 mph. That’s the bad news, especially for Tallahassee and the rest of the Big Bend area of Florida. The good news for people living in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel — 25-30 miles or more from the nearest coastline — is that as of 4 p.m., Helene has been a non-event for us.

But, please — don’t assume that the storm is over or that our area isn’t going to suffer any effects from it. We already have had wind gusts of 40 mph or so and not only has the storm not yet come close to bypassing us, it also is HUGE!, with tropical storm-force winds extending out more than 300 miles from its center. As Helene passes our latitude 100+ miles out in the Gulf, we are definitely going to get hit with strong tropical storm winds (up to 73 mph) and periods of strong rain that likely will knock out power in at least some of our communities. Thankfully, Helene is moving quickly (at 20 mph or more), so it won’t be a huge rain event for us (like Debby was), but there will still be enough water to cause significant flooding in areas prone to pooling water. And yes, the storm’s path can still tick a little to the east, which would increase our area’s possible impacts.

You also should be aware that unless you know how deep the water is on a road if you are driving through it, you need to please proceed with extreme caution, especially if you’re in an electric vehicle — as the batteries can catch fire. If you lose power and have a portable generator, please never run that generator inside your home or garage. And of course, as with any major storm, beware of downed trees and especially power lines. We have seen this kind of damage in the past, without one of the largest hurricanes ever to hit the Gulf going by, so please continue to be mindful of possible local impacts from this storm.

Photo is a screenshot from meteorologist Denis Phillips of ABC Action News.

Tampa City Council Approves Funding For K-Bar Park Design! 

As we reported last issue, K-Bar Ranch is getting a 60-acre City of Tampa park and one that District 7 Tampa City Council member (and New Tampa resident) Luis Viera (photo, left) has said he hopes will include a cricket pitch as one of its amenities. 

At that meeting with about 50-60 residents (most, but not all of whom live in K-Bar Ranch) on Aug. 7, Viera said that he hoped and expected that the funding for the design of the park to be included in the city’s Fiscal 2025 budget. 

Well, on Sept. 5, the City Council did approve the roughly $1 million needed for the park’s design upon first reading of the city’s budget and Viera is thankful not only for the item passing its first muster, but also for the support of District 67 State Representative and State House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell (who also attended the resident meeting on Aug. 7). Leader Driskell wrote a letter (in the far right column) to the City Council members on Sept. 3 to let them know that she is “in strong support of the FY25 budget design money for the K-Bar Ranch Park.” 

Viera then went on his Facebook page to thank Driskell “for your advocacy in support” of the park design funding. “Rep. Driskell has been on the front line advocating not only for this park in the budget, but for a cricket component to this park…Thank you, Rep. Driskell for your advocacy for this budget item.” 

And of course, Viera also noted in his Facebook message that, “We have about 60 acres available — with a great deal of conservation space and a park, as well as potentially a fire-station long-term,” even though Tampa Fire Rescue Fire Chief Barbara Tripp has yet to express her support for a full fire station in K-Bar, at the park site or otherwise. 

At the Aug. 7 resident meeting, Brad Suder, the superintendent of the city’s planning design natural resources division, said that once the design money becomes available — most likely sometime in late November — the city will be able to hire a consultant to work with and the public participating in the design process could begin. The second reading of the budget is scheduled for Thursday, September 19 — or a couple of days (or so) after this issue arrives in your mailbox. 

How Much Chicken Is Too Much? Plus, Steak ‘N Shake Opening Delayed Again

First, of course, there was Chick-fil-A. Then Popeyes. And PDQ. And Chick’n Fun. And King of the Coop. And Zaxby’s. And Slim Chickens. And Chicken Boss. 

But now, Celebrity Chef Guy Fieri’s Chicken Guy is expected to open sometime next month on the north side of S.R. 56. Raising Cane’s has started to go vertical on the south side of 56 (next to Rock & Brews). Hangry Joe’s is getting ready to open in the failed King of the Coop location on S.R. 54 in front of The Grove. 

And, for those of you who prefer Korean-style fried chicken over anything American-made, Sweet Krunch Korean Fried Chicken & Boba Tea will be open in the former location of FJ Express in the Shoppes at New Tampa at 1832 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (just south of S.R. 56) by the time this issue reaches your mailbox. 

(And, for the record, Chicken Boss closed and has been replaced by Indian Street Kitchen). 

Of course, when your restaurant boasts the name of the host of “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives,” expectations are likely to be higher than for most of the other newcomers, even though the closest existing Chicken Guy location to us — in Winter Park, FL, reportedly faced eviction last year for unpaid rent and another in Michigan closed. The good news is that the fast-food joint co-founded by the self-proclaimed “Mayor of Flavortown” has several new additions to its menu, including chopped salad, Buffalo mac & cheese and hot chicken tenders. 

At the end of the day, Chicken Guy, Raising Cane’s and Hangry Joe’s are all just (primarily) fried chicken chains, so although I will try them all, anyone who has a slightly different concept is much more likely than the others to get my business on an ongoing basis. That’s why I plan to be on-site when Sweet Krunch opens on Sept. 12 (which is after this issue goes to press but before it hits mailboxes). I want to see if the fourth Florida Sweet Krunch location — with its parmesan zucchini fries, Korean-style chicken, shrimp or Bulgogi beef teriyaki bowls, Korean-style fried rice and even Japchae (stir-fry Korean glass noodles) — can keep me interested. For more info, visit SweetKrunchFL.kwick-menu.com or the Ballantrae location at 17788 Aprile Dr., Land O’Lakes.

Steak N Shake Opening Delayed Again

If you’ve been hankerin’ to try the original smashed steakburgers and delicious hand-spun milk shakes at the new Steak N Shake, located at 5542 Post Oak Blvd.  (on Wesley Chapel Blvd., next to The Palms Car Wash), we’re sorry to say that as of today, it still isn’t open — but should be sooner than later.

Owner Todd Webb says the long-awaited new Steak N Shake was (finally) set to open on Sept. 23 (tomorrow), then again on Sept. 30, but still had its final inspection delayed as we went to press with our Oct 1 Wesley Chapel issue. For more info, visit SteakNShake.com or stop in at The Palms Car Wash.

University Boba Tea House Coming To Palms Connection! 

Although it appears to be primarily catering to the USF crowd, the University Boba Tea House, located at 2828 E. Bearss Ave. (just west of BBD Blvd.), in the Palms Connection plaza, looks to be a pretty cool place. 

I stumbled upon this still-under-construction tea room when I went to see if anything had yet been announced coming to the other empty spaces that formerly housed Woodfired Pizza, Bearss Tavern & Tap and Mint Cocktail Club, but no such luck, at least not yet. 

A quick search of the UniversityBobaTeaHouseTampa.com website reveals that not only will the new tea house offer 40 different types and flavors of hot and iced teas, as well as coffee, it also will feature a USF student art gallery and different activities every night, from trivia on Tuesdays, karaoke on Thursdays, Open Mic Night on Fridays and Band Night on Saturdays. 

Although the exterior signage is already nicely done, a photo taken on Aug. 31 still showed a dirt floor inside, but we’ll keep you posted. — GN.