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25 Most Powerful Politicians in Tampa Bay - page 4

#21 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Mike Suarez

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While Mike Suarez lost his bid to stay as Tampa City Council Chair in 2018, with Mayor Bob Buckhorn sticking around, the position no longer carries the gravitas that it did to observers a few months ago. Suarez is likely to run announce his candidacy for mayor before he’s term-limited out as a councilman in the next 18 months, which will bring him more attention. “In our divided era, Mike is one of those figures who is respected by both…

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#22 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Sandy Murman

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Early last year, former state legislator Sandy Murman flirted with another run for Tallahassee, but opted ultimately not to challenge fellow Republican Dana Young in the newly created state Senate District 18 seat. Instead, Murman ran for re-election, easily defeating her Democratic opponent to keep her seat on the Hillsborough County Commission. She campaigned by taking some credit for the county’s decision to go into their own coffers earlier this year to spend more than $800 million on transportation projects…

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#23 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Ken Welch

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Ken Welch easily won another four-year term on the Pinellas County Commission last summer after drawing no opposition. While the longtime local legislator may have angered Tea Party activists who didn’t like his strong support for the Greenlight Pinellas transit issue three years ago, the rest of his constituents seem extremely pleased by his performance on the board, an agency he’s served on four more than 16 years now. He demonstrated leadership skills last summer when some members of the community…

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#24 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Darden Rice

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The current St. Petersburg City Council Chair is sitting pretty as she looks to be re-elected this fall to another four-year term, quickly rebounding from being diagnosed with breast cancer in late January. Darden Rice led the efforts to enact local campaign finance reform, and was a leader on getting the council to commit to transitioning to a goal of 100 percent clean, renewable energy, becoming the first state in Florida to make such a commitment. “Darden Rice embodies what’s known in…

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#25 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Yolie Capin

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The South Tampa representative is another member of the Tampa City Council who is keeping her options open as she contemplates life after March of 2019, when she is term-limited out of office. Yolie Capin has been a key leader in the reengagement between Tampa Bay and Cuba, and has also led initiatives in the arts, community development and others. “Yolie is a dynamic and strategic leader who is pushing our community into the future,” says Tucker/Hall executive Bill Carlson.…

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#1 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Richard Corcoran

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Not only is Richard Corcoran, the 51-year-old Land O’ Lakes state Representative, the most powerful lawmaker in the Tampa Bay area for the second consecutive year, he’s arguably the most influential legislator in Florida. Corcoran’s influence stems from his perch as House Appropriations Committee chairman, and his upcoming promotion to House Speaker after this fall’s elections. His star-making moment came in April 2015, when on consecutive days he challenged the status quo in two fiery speeches. He invited the state…

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#2 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Jack Latvala

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Although he abandoned his years-long battle to become Senate President in November, Clearwater Republican Jack Latvala actually jumps from ninth to second place in this year’s survey. That’s because, in exchange for conceding his battle to Joe Negron, Latvala will become chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations in 2017, not an insignificant position in terms of power in Tallahassee. The definition of a moderate Republican, Latvala became the first GOP state Senator to back a bill to prohibit discrimination…

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