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