Below is the information I have found on the various candidates and constitutional amendments for the 2020 general election in Hillsborough County, Florida for my district. You can find your own sample ballot here. As noted, I’m politically an independent but registered as a Democrat so I can vote in Florida’s primaries. I generally try not to endorse candidates in my election guides.
(NOTE 09-12-2020: If there is information missing, it’s because I just got a copy of the ballot and am still looking for information.)
President/Vice-President
I’m fairly confident you’re not on my website looking for information about the candidates for President/Vice-President. Even so, I went ahead and put together the standard links I do for candidates.
Donald J. Trump & Michael R. Pence
Party: Republican
Background Information: Trump was in business and real estate. Pence was governor of Indiana.
Finances: Federal Election Commission
Websites: campaign website,
Joseph R. Biden & Kamala D. Harris
Party: Democratic
Background Information: Biden and Harris have been US Senators. Harris was also the attorney general of California.
Finances: Federal Election Commission
Websites: campaign website,
Jo Jorgensen & Jeremy “Spike” Cohen
Party: Libertarian
Background Information: Jo Jorgensen worked in the tech industry before becoming a professor at Clemson University, where she now teaches. Cohen is a former web-designer turned podcast and libertarian activist.
Finances: Federal Election Commission
Websites: campaign website, Twitter, Wikipedia – Jorgensen, Wikipedia – Cohen,
Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente & Darcy G. Richardson
Party: Reform Party (in Florida), Alliance Party (in other states)
Background Information: de la Fuente is in business, inheriting his father’s businesses. He’s wealthy and has engaged in some sketchy business practices. Richardson is an author and blogger focusing on third party candidates.
Finances: Federal Election Commission
Websites: campaign website, Twitter, Wikipedia – de la Fuente, Wikipedia – Richardson,
Gloria La Riva & Sunil Freeman
Party: Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) and the Peace and Freedom Party
Background Information: La Riva is an activist. Freeman is an author and activist.
Finances: Federal Election Commission
Websites: campaign website, Twitter, Wikipedia – La Riva,
Howie Hawkins & Angela Nicole Walker
Party: Green Party
Background Information: Hawkins is an activist and politician. Walker was a professional driver before becoming a union representative.
Finances: Federal Election Commission
Websites: campaign website, Twitter, Wikipedia – Hawkins, Wikipedia – Walker,
Endorsements:
Don Blankenship & William Mohr
Party: Constitution Party
Background Information: Blankenship was a coal company CEO and a convicted criminal. Mohr is self-employed in building and construction.
Finances: Federal Election Commission
Websites: campaign website, Twitter, Wikipedia – Blankenship, Wikipedia – Mohr,
Endorsements:
Representative in Congress District 14
Christine Y. Quinn
Party: Republican
Background Information: Originally from California. Graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in Child Development. Small business owner selling spices.
Finances: Federal Election Commission
Websites: campaign website, Twitter, Facebook
Endorsements:
Kathy Castor
Party: Democratic
Background Information: Incumbent candidate. Daughter of a well-known Florida politician, Betty Castor. Graduated from Emory for undergrad and Florida State for law school. Was elected to Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners in 2002. Practiced law until being elected to the US House in 2006.
Finances: Federal Election Commission
Websites: campaign website, Twitter, Wikipedia
Endorsements:
State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit
Mike Perotti
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
Andrew Warren
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
State Representative District 62
Angel S. Urbina Capo
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
Susan L. Valdés
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
Laurie Rodriguez-Person
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
Sheriff
Chad Chronister
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
Gary Pruitt
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
Ron McMullen
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
Property Appraiser
D.C. Goutoufas
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
Bob “Coach” Henriquez
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
Tax Collector
TK Mathew
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
Nancy C. Millan
Party: Democrat
Background: Has worked for the tax collector’s office for decades (31 years), rising through the ranks; served on a number of boards, including the Board of Trinity School for Children from 2005-2008 (full disclosure – my son attended Trinity School for Children from about 2012 until 2020);
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites: election website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Personal Commentary: I received a flyer for Nancy Millan that was riddled with typos. That lack of detail bothers me. Millan is also purchasing ads on Google’s search engine. The Tax Collector’s website, hillstax.org, does use Cloudfare to protect against DDOS attacks, though the settings for the protection wouldn’t let me access the website, so someone set it up wrong.
Board of County Commissioners District 3
Maura Cruz Lanz
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
Gwen Myers
Party: Democrat
Background: Tampa native; graduate of FAMU; worked for Hillsborough County for 25 years; now retired; served on a variety of local boards (e.g., Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Council;
Endorsements: County Commissioner Pat Kemp among others
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites: election website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Personal Commentary: Likes the color green. Platform seems to be focused on public transit.
Board of County Commissioners District 6
Sandra L. Murman
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
Patricia “Pat” Kemp
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
Justice of the Supreme Court
Shall Justice Carlos G. Muñiz of the Supreme Court be retained in office?
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
District Court of Appeal
Shall Judge Drew Atkinson of the Second District Court of Appeal be retained in office?
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
Shall Judge Morris Silberman of the Second District Court of Appeal be retained in office?
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
Shall Judge Daniel H. Sleet of the Second District Court of Appeal be retained in office?
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
Shall Judge Andrea Teves Smith of the Second District Court of Appeal be retained in office?
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
County Court Judge Group 7
Monique Scott
Party: nonpartisan race
Background: BA in Criminology and Psychology from USF; former Tampa police officer (left for health reasons) and public school teacher; worked as an assistant state attorney; accident attorney; volunteers with epilepsy groups; married to a chiropractor
Endorsements:
Personal Commentary:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Judicial Candidate Forum responses
Websites: election website, Franchi Law firm
Bill Yanger
Background: Admitted to Florida Bar in 1989; admitted to Texas bar in 1986; graduate of Jesuit High School; went to University of Florida for undergrad; South Texas College of Law for law degree; founder of Yanger Law Group; works on complex business litigation; former Chair of the Tampa Chamber of Commerce; Board of Fellows member at the University of Tampa (full disclosure, I am a professor at the University of Tampa); Presbyterian – goes to Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church
Endorsements: local firefighters unions, Tampa City Council members Guido Maniscalco, Charlie Miranda, and Luis Viera; Tampa Bay Times
Personal Commentary: He drives a truck, per his flyer he circulated (seems important to him).
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Judicial Candidate Forum responses
Websites: election website, Facebook, Instagram
School Board Member District 1
In the primary election, no candidate received sufficient votes to win the election outright. The two candidates below are the top vote getters and are competing in this runoff election.
Nadia Combs
Party: nonpartisan race
Background: BA in Social Studies Education and MA in Educational Leadership from USF; taught in Japan; taught in Hillsborough County Schools for 10 years; founded a company in 2005 as part of the Supplemental Education Services – provides free tutoring to students in Hillsborough County; opened Brighton Learning tutoring center in 2014
Endorsements: Tampa Bay Times
Personal Commentary:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites: election website, Brighton Learning
Steve Cona
Party: nonpartisan race
Background: Tampa native; Bachelor’s from USF; CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors Florida Gulf Coast Chapter; on the Board of Trustees of Hillsborough Community College; platform is to improve Florida’s skilled labor force; incumbent
Endorsements:
Personal Commentary: Platform is three-fold: fiscal accountability, school security, and addressing maintenance problems in schools. Raised almost 10 times as much money as all the other candidates combined. Pretty telling that the Tampa Bay Times didn’t endorse him as the incumbent.
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites: election website,
School Board Member District 7
In the primary election, no candidate received sufficient votes to win the election outright. The two candidates below are the top vote getters and are competing in this runoff election.
Lynn Gray
Party: nonpartisan race
Background: worked for over 20 years as a teacher in Tampa; incumbent on the school board; platform – healthier kids (healthier foods and recess); more support for students; improved literacy
Endorsements: Tampa Bay Times
Personal Commentary:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites: election website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Sally A. Harris
Party: nonpartisan race
Background: South Tampa native; owner of Circle C Ranch Academy – early care and education company; focus is on safety, discipline, and management
Endorsements:
Personal Commentary: She seems to care more about policing the kids than educating them.
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites: election website
Soil and Water Conservation District Group 2
Erik S. Challenger
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
Michael Harvey
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
Karen Cox Jaroch
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
Douglas “Doug” Rivero
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
Soil and Water Conservation District Group 4
Sonja P. Brookins
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
D.B. “Brig” Maynard
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
Mark Proctor
Party:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
No. 1 Constitutional Amendment
Citizenship Requirement to Vote in Florida Elections
This amendment provides that only United States Citizens who are at least eighteen years of age, a permanent resident of Florida, and registered to vote, as provided by law, shall be qualified to vote in a Florida election.
Because the proposed amendment is not expected to result in any changes to the voter registration process in Florida, it will have no impact on state or local government costs or revenue. Further, it will have no effect on the state’s economy.
My Translation:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
No. 2 Constitutional Amendment
Raising Florida’s Minimum Wage
Raises minimum wage to $10.00 per hour effective September 30th, 2021. Each September 30th thereafter, minimum wage shall increase by $1.00 per hour until the minimum wage reaches $15.00 per hour on September 30th, 2026. From that point forward, future minimum wage increases shall revert to being adjusted annually for inflation starting September 30th, 2027.
State and local government costs will increase to comply with the new minimum wage levels. Additional annual wage costs will be approximately $16 million in 2022, increasing to about $540 million in 2027 and thereafter. Government actions to mitigate these costs are unlikely to produce material savings. Other government costs and revenue impacts, both positive and negative, are not quantifiable.
This proposed constitutional amendment is estimated to have a net negative impact on the state budget. This impact may result in higher taxes or a loss of government services in order to maintain a balanced state budget as required by the constitution.
My Translation: This amendment would increase Florida’s minimum wage over time. I am fascinated by the estimates that are included with this amendment. They seem like a straightforward effort to try to dissuade voters from approving this.
Background Information: Florida’s minimum wage does increase slightly with inflation at present. However, as of 01/01/2020, minimum wage in Florida is $8.56.
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites: sponsor’s website,
Endorsements:
No. 3 Constitutional Amendment
All Voters Vote in Primary Elections for State Legislature, Governor, and Cabinet
Allows all registered voters to vote in primaries for state legislature, governor, and cabinet regardless of political party affiliation. All candidates for an office, including party nominated candidates, appear on the same primary ballot. Two highest vote getters advance to general election. If only two candidates qualify, no primary is held and winner is determined in general election. Candidate’s party affiliation may appear on ballot as provided by law. Effective January 1, 2024.
It is probably that the proposed amendment will result in additional local government costs to conduct elections in Florida. The Financial Impact Estimating Conference projects that the combined costs across counties will range from $5.2 million to $5.8 million for each of the first three election cycles occurring in even-numbered years after the amendment’s effective date, with the costs for each of the intervening years dropping to less than $450,000. With respect to state costs for oversight, the additional costs for administering elections are expected to be minimal. Further, there are no revenues linked to voting in Florida. Since there is no impact on state costs or revenues, there will be no impact on the state’s budget. While the proposed amendment will result in an increase in local expenditures, this change is expected to be below the threshold that would produce a statewide economic impact.
My Translation:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
No. 4 Constitutional Amendment
Voter Approval of Constitutional Amendments
Requires all proposed amendments or revisions to the state constitution to be approved by the voters in two elections, instead of one, in order to take effect. The proposal applies the current thresholds for passage to each of the two elections.
It is probably that the proposed amendment will result in additional state and local government costs to conduct elections in Florida. Overall, these costs will vary from election cycle to election cycle depending on the unique circumstances of each ballot and cannot be estimated at this time. The key factors determining cost include the number of amendments appearing for the second time on each ballot and the length of those amendments. Since the maximum state cost is likely less than $1 million per cycle but the impact cannot be discretely quantified, the change to the state’s budget is unknown. Similarly, the economic impact cannot be modelled, although the spending increase is expected to be below the threshold that would produce a statewide economic impact. Because there are no revenues linked to voting in Florida, there will be no impact on government taxes or fees.
The financial impact of this amendment cannot be determined due to ambiguities and uncertainties surrounding the amendment’s impact.
My Translation: Per this article in the Tampa Bay Times, it’s not clear who funded this amendment, but it appears to be right-leaning corporations that are frustrated with the ability of Floridians to occasionally govern themselves. Powerful entities from political parties to corporations in Florida are frustrated when the citizens actually enact legislation that a super-majority wants. This is another attempt by shadowy figures to attempt to reduce the ability of the people to govern themselves by making it harder to pass a constitutional amendment. I’ll go ahead and make my position on this clear – vote NO on Amendment 4.
Background Information: Currently, in order for an amendment to be added to the Florida constitution it requires just one election and a supermajority of voters to approve it of 60%.
Finances: I have not found any information on the finances.
Websites: sponsor’s website
Endorsements:
No. 5 Constitutional Amendment
Limitations on Homestead Property Tax Assessments; increased portability period to transfer accrued benefit
Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution, effective January 1, 2021, to increase, from 2 years to 3 years, the period of time during which accrued Save-Our-Homes benefits may be transferred from a prior homestead to a new homestead.
My Translation:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
No. 6 Constitutional Amendment
Ad Valorem Tax Discount for Spouses of Certain Deceased Veterans Who Had Permanent, Combat-Related Disabilities
Provides that the homestead property tax discount for certain veterans with permanent combat-related disabilities carries over to such veteran’s surviving spouse who holds legal or beneficial title to, and who permanently resides on, the homestead property, until he or she remarries or sells or otherwise disposes of the property. The discount may be transferred to a new homestead property of the surviving spouse under certain conditions. The amendment takes effect January 1, 2021.
My Translation:
Background Information:
Finances (per voterfocus.com)
Websites:
Endorsements:
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