Linda Saul-Sena is eyeing the Hillsborough County Commission seat now held by Jim Norman. Norman can not run again due to term limits and plans to run for the Florida Senate.
The LGBT-supportive Tampa City Councilwoman will face Republican Commissioner Ken Hagan for the seat. Hagan plans to resign his District 2 seat to pursue the countywide position.
“I’ve had a lot of legislative experience,” Saul-Sena said in a press conference Jan. 5. “For all these years, I’ve worked on growth management and transportation issues. I just see this as an opportunity to serve more folks and move our community forward.”
Saul-Sena, a Democrat, has served on the City Council for five terms and is ever-present at LGBT functions. She made an appearance at the short-lived Winter Pride Tampa Bay in 2008 and spoke at a Prop 8 rally in downtown Tampa last May. The gathering was to protest the California Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the voter-initiated ban on gay marriage in 2008.
“I am pleased to be here with such a positive group,” Saul-Sena said at the 2009 rally. “I think that 2010 has a positive ring to it and we have time to change this state and this country. I think if Iowa can figure things out, California can figure things out and so can we here in Florida.”
Saul-Sena has vowed to fight for LGBT equality in the state and has expressed support for the equality initiatives of Tampa May Pam Iorio since she took office in 2004. While Saul-Sena expressed hope, she said a lot of work needs to be done.
“Like any public struggle, it takes a ridiculous amount of work to make change happen,” Saul-Sena said. “Equality is the next step and we work together as a community.”
Hagan has one Republican challenger, Don Kruse. Brandon Newton, a Libertarian, is also seeking the seat eyed by Saul Sena.
Mitch Kates, who handled Kevin Beckner’s successful campaign for County Commissioner in 2008, will manage Saul-Sena in her campaign.
According to the Tampa Tribune, Saul-Sena faces a challenging race. Hagan has served on the commission since 2002 and has already raised more than $200,000 for the 2010 race.
