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

Published: November 19, 2012

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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.

Commissioner Murman mentioned and quoted in this special feature in the Sunday Tampa Tribune:

 Published: November 04, 2012

Let’s talk turkeys

By RENEE GARRISON

A tiny turkey and pumpkin perch in the wreath on Sandy Murman’s front door, hinting at the holiday spirit inside.

“A wreath on the door sets the mood,” Murman says. “It welcomes your guests — that’s so important.”

County Commissioner Murman and her husband, Jim, moved into their Davis Islands home in 1996. They’ve been hosting family and friends for Thanksgiving ever since.

“I am a big cook,” Murman says. “I make everything from scratch, and my menu doesn’t vary from year to year. That’s the secret. That’s why people want to keep coming back.”

She keeps stacks of old family recipes in a box that looks like a book titled “The Perfect Pumpkin.” It rests on a console in her spacious kitchen, surrounded by family photographs and items from her collection of ceramic and straw turkeys.

Murman, who says she is “pretty particular” about the turkeys she collects, scatters them liberally throughout her home: Glittering versions guard linen hand towels in the powder room, while turkey plates and candles are propped amid acorns and squirrels on the dining room buffet. A Thanksgiving turkey sign hangs above her desk near glass vases filled with colorful gourds, holiday cookbooks and a rooster lamp — that looks somewhat like a turkey.

She usually spends two days decorating and has learned to choose pieces that stay timely through the holidays — or can be updated in a snap — to save space and money. Pinecones, dried berries and twigs stay up-to-date through the winter. After Thanksgiving, pumpkins and acorns can be swapped out for faux-snow and ornaments to give the same decor a new Christmas presence.

Small but unexpected details go a long way at the dinner table. Murman ties napkins with plaid ribbon and tucks in pieces of dried wheat to continue the harvest theme. Inexpensive antique postcards (“May the one who guarded your life throughout the year increase his blessings on this Thanksgiving Day”) are placed among the gourds and antique Wild Turkey whiskey decanters in the center of the table — lovingly loaned by her friend Julie Whitney.

Pilgrim place cards purchased at a local stationery store add a touch of whimsy while controlling the seating arrangement.

“Place cards on a dining table are very traditional, but I also feel they’re very welcoming,” Murman says. “It lets your guests know that you were expecting them.”

Though she prepares as much as she can the day before (cranberry relish, corn pudding, sweet potato casserole), Murman is in the kitchen by 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, making pies while watching the Macy’s parade.

When finished, she squeezes in a two-mile run “to build up my energy.” Guests arrive in the afternoon to watch football and enjoy a glass of wine. Dinner is served at 4.

No matter how many actually sit at her table, Murman cooks enough to feed 16 people. “That way we have leftovers to last the entire weekend,” she says with a grin.

It appears not much has changed since the original Thanksgiving in 1620, when American natives and pilgrims celebrated a three-day feast in Plymouth, Mass.

Since the essence of the celebration is to show gratitude, the Murmans ask family and friends if there are any blessings or prayers they want to add before the meal.

To make Thanksgiving especially memorable, Murman gives chocolate turkeys as parting gifts — but sharing her recipes also would be wonderful. Retailer Pottery Barn suggests collecting recipes before the feast, and making a ribbon–tied booklet for each guest to cherish for years to come. For another great memento, consider printing a menu listing all of the dishes you and your guests have prepared.

Family reunions are the charm of the Thanksgiving holiday, and the Murman family loves to share stories at their table.

“We’re passing the tradition on to the next generation,” Murman says. “It’s the glue that holds families together.”

Hillsborough County News

Nov. 1, 2012

Contact: Brenda Eighmey, Economic Development, 813-914-4028

County’s Small Business Information Center Offers Workshops To Help Start Or Grow Your Business

 Hillsborough County Economic Development Department’s Small Business Information Center (SBIC) is offering more than two dozen FREE or inexpensive workshops throughout November and December at various locations.  The workshops are designed to assist potential and existing business owners start or expand their small, minority, veteran or women-owned businesses.

 The workshops tackle topics and issues that are important to today’s small-business owners and are planned to help improve networking skills, marketing strategies, financing opportunities, bookkeeping, and overall business plans. 

 Free workshops offered during November and December include:

Bookkeeping Essentials – Learn how to maintain necessary records, accounts receivable/payable, payroll, sales taxes and other procedures.

 Business KIT – Learn the basics for starting a small, minority or women-owned business. The following topics will be covered: Smart Start Your Business, Preparing a Business Plan, SBA Programs, Loans and Financing, Managing Your Money, Marketing, IRS Regulations and Grant Availability.

 Business Plan Series – At the conclusion of this four-part series, participants will have all the necessary components to create their business plan.

 Como Empezar un Negocio – Infórmese sobre el proceso a seguir, las entidades legales a escoger y los documentos requeridos al momento de empezar su negocio.

 Doing Business With Local Government – This workshop will cover how to register with local agencies, how to find bidding opportunities and where assistance can be found.

 Food Industry Series – This 2-part series will provide the basic requirements for operating a restaurant, catering business or a mobile food dispensing cart (e.g. hot dog cart) as well as how to market a food industry business.

 Getting Your Business Online – Ready to get on the World Wide Web? We will discuss how to locate a website host, site design, best practices, design software and eCommerce. This is a very basic class.

Marketing Series – This 2-part series will introduce marketing fundamentals, help clarify target markets, discuss competition, develop marketing strategies, and teach techniques to enhance a small business.

 SBA Loans And Other Programs – Learn about various SBA Loans and requirements, as well as other programs such as HUB Zones and 8(a) firms doing business with the government.

 The SBIC’s complete calendar of workshops and additional information are available at: www.hillsboroughcounty.org/sbic/. The SBIC’s website also includes additional helpful information for local small businesses, such as links to local, state and federal regulations, answers to frequently asked questions, and recommended best practices.

 To register for a workshop or find out more information, log onto the website or call the SBIC at 813-914-4028, Option #4.

 About the Small Business Information Center

The Small Business Information Center, a section of Hillsborough County’s Economic Development Department, coordinates small business development and advocacy for small, minority and women owned businesses in Hillsborough County. The SBIC offers small business workshops and free business counseling and has small business resource material available.  The Small Business Information Center is located at Corporate Square, 7402 N. 56th St., Building 400, Suite 425, Tampa, FL 33617.

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Anti-bullying program to kick off at Riverview High School

18/10/2012 13:40:00 Mitch_Traphagen

During the regular meeting of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 3, Commissioner Sandra Murman read a proclamation stating that October would be set aside as National Bullying Prevention Month in Hillsborough County.

By Mitch Traphagen

TAMPA – During the regular meeting of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 3, Commissioner Sandra Murman read a proclamation stating that October would be set aside as National Bullying Prevention Month in Hillsborough County. She also provided a status update on the county’s anti-bullying project, now in its third year.

According to Murman, an anti-bullying advisory committee began with former commissioner Rose Ferlita in January of 2010. The resulting youth program, Bully Busters, has since won five national and multiple state and local awards. The second phase of the project will partner with Hillsborough County Schools, beginning at Riverview High School on Oct. 19. At the beginning of the school year, seven have formed clubs known as SAVE, Students Against Violence Everywhere. Today the number of clubs is up to 14.

“Our momentum right now for anti-bullying is really picking up, and as other schools learn about SAVE, the word is spreading,” Commissioner Murman told the board. “This is a real significant achievement in such a short period of time of a little over two and a half years. It was my dream that we would have anti-bullying [efforts] present in all of the middle schools and high schools in Hillsborough County.”

Dr. Tom Massey of the University of South Florida and the chair of the anti-bullying advisory committee said, “Research suggests that as many as 30 percent of children either witness or experience bullying on a regular basis. Since the advent of electronic media, cyber bullying is a rising concern, and so bullying extends beyond the school and into the individual youths’ homes. [Combating] this is very much a community effort, it’s beyond the schools and into the community where it needs to be.”

The Tampa Police Department and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office are also members of the advisory board. During the meeting, Commissioner Murman pointed out that the award-winning program does not involve the use of tax dollars.

For information about the national SAVE program, visit www.nationalsave.org

Commissioner Murman quoted in this Tribune article on Shimberg Gardens dedication:

 Monument honors Town ‘N Country founding family

 By GEORGE WILKENS | The Tampa Tribune
Published: October 17, 2012 Updated: October 17, 2012 – 12:00 AM

 TOWN ‘N COUNTRY —

Shimberg Gardens has unveiled its monument dedicated to the philanthropic family that launched this community of affordable homes in the late 1950s.

Mandell “Hinks” Shimberg was among family members at the Oct. 10 dedication of the 3-foot-high gray granite pillar with four polished sides. He and his late brother, James Shimberg Sr., helped develop Town ‘N Country beginning in 1959.

Speakers at the ceremony arranged by the Town ‘N Country Garden Circle said the project is not completed.

“This is a work in progress; we’re not done,” said Barbara Beauregard, president of the 50-year-old garden circle.

Rob Gamester, the circle’s community projects chairman who has spearheaded the garden’s development since 2003, said the public/private partnership raised more than $100,000 from businesses, civic groups, Hillsborough County government and Town ‘N Country Youth Council volunteers.

“We’re not going to stop with this. This is going to grow over time,” said County Commissioner Sandy Murman. “It takes these partnerships to make things happen.”

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, said Town ‘N Country was the area’s first major affordable housing community “that allowed so many families to flourish and prosper. Hinks and Jim weren’t the kind of developers who came in and left.” The Shimberg name is known for generosity to area nonprofit agencies, she said.

Jim Shimberg supported the creation of University Community Hospital and was the first chairman of its board. It opened in 1968.

Commissioner Murman quoted in this Tribune article on HART, PSTA merger:

Merger of Pinellas, Hillsborough transit agencies studied

By TED JACKOVICS, The Tampa Tribune

October 16, 2012

 If the Hillsborough County and Pinellas County transit agencies were to merge, they would buck a national trend, according to a consulting firm.

 The Florida Legislature is requiring the transit authorities in both counties to report by Feb. 1 on a potential merger, additional consolidation or reorganization of each agency. Legislators hope one or more of the options would result in lower costs.

 The two agencies already share intercounty bus routes and buy fuel together to trim costs.

 Of eight merger or consolidation attempts studied by McCollom Management Consulting of Darnestown, Md., all but one resulted in no changes or only small steps toward consolidation.

 “It’s remarkable how many cities have considered transit consolidation, but Hampton Roads, Va., is the only one that’s done it,” said Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority chief executive Brad Miller.

 During a joint meeting Monday of the agencies’ boards, Miller and Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority chief executive Philip Hale outlined the next steps the two agencies will pursue.

 The consultant will produce a report this month for the two agencies, which will evaluate the merger scenarios and present their findings to an oversight committee.

 Drafts of the findings will be presented at a HART meeting on Dec. 3 and at a PSTA meeting on Dec. 5. The boards will discuss the issue on Dec. 10, with final recommendations on Jan. 14.

 “Obviously, the public is going to be very concerned,” HART board member and Hillsborough Commissioner Sandy Murman said in calling for open comment at the meetings.

 It’s possible a merger would require approval through a public referendum, depending on how revenue from the counties would be managed.

Commissioner Murman is mentioned and quoted in this article in the Observer News regarding her South County Job Fair:

Marlene Elizabeth Taylor-Williams of Ruskin, recently discharged from the military, has experience in both social work and education. She was one of the 250 job-seekers to talk with potential employers at the South County Job Fair Sept. 28, Photo Mitch Traphagen

By PENNY FLETCHER

RUSKIN — Marlene Elizabeth Taylor-Williams of Ruskin, recently discharged from the military, has experience in both social work and education. One of the 250 job-seekers to talk with potential employers at the South County Job Fair Sept. 28 held at the South Shore Regional Service Center, 410 30th St. in Ruskin, Taylor-Williams was especially interested in an on-line position being offered by Steve Goodfriend, strategic partnership manager for Rasmussen College.

Goodfriend currently has five openings for on-line positions. Although the site is in Brandon, on-line employees may work from anywhere in the world. Still, he says it’s nice to be able to interview prospective personnel and talk one-on-one.

“Our position for instructors is a unique opportunity and I saw a lot of extremely well-qualified applicants today,” Goodfriend said as the event drew to a close at noon after more than four hours of steady traffic.

The job fair was the brainchild of County Commissioner Sandra L. Murman, the vice chair (and currently the only woman) on the Hillsborough County Commission. Murman represents the county-wide District 1, elected in 2010. She also served the area as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1996 to 2004.

“South County is very close to my heart,” said Murman, who has family living in Apollo Beach. “With the challenges we are facing in the downturn of the economy, the most important thing we can do in county government is to help our unemployed and under-employed citizens find jobs.”

Murman pointed out that when more people are working, more are saving and spending money at local businesses and in that way, the economy improves.

Commissioner Murman’s aides Della Cury and Jeffrey Huggins took the helm of arranging the event in cooperation with representatives of the Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance based in Tampa that opened a branch at the Ruskin service center earlier this year.

Chris Rivera, business services director from the Workforce Alliance’s corporate office, was on hand for the job fair and said it had exceeded the Alliance’s expectations.

While about 150 job-seekers were expected, more than 250 showed up, starting at 7:30 a.m.

“We weren’t going to open the doors until 8:30,” said Huggins. “But we opened up at 8 because there were already some people waiting outside.”
Rivera and Huggins said this was the first such event been held jointly in South County although similar job fairs have been held in the northern part of the county.

Huggins said the last two weeks were hectic as he and others manned phones making certain there would be a good range of employers present to interview those seeking work.

“We saw employers in retail, education, transportation and for both state and county jobs,” Huggins said.

Small businesses – owned and operated by an individual- were also represented, like Immaculate Janitorial Service, LLC, based in Brandon, owned and run by LaShunda Mangum. “My service covers three counties,” she said. “Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas. I interviewed 25 people for 6 openings. There are a lot of qualified people seeking jobs.”

It was good to see both large and small businesses represented, Huggins said. “We had a man from Fed X come over from Daytona Beach. We also had people from the local Home Depot and Lowes.”

Cookies and drinks were provided by Publix.

The event took between 30 and 45 days to plan, Huggins said.

“We really made a hard push these last two weeks to be sure there were plenty of employers,” Huggins stated. “It was worth it. The morning exceeded everyone’s expectations.”

To find out more about the Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance stop by the South Shore Regional Service Center, 410 30th Street, Ruskin, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or visit www.workforcetampa.com.

Commissioner Murman quoted in this article in Hillsborough County News:

Posted on: October 2, 2012

Hundreds Attend Commissioner Sandy Murman’s South County Job Fair