The Police Benevolent Association’s West Central Florida and Tampa Chapters have endorsed Democrat Brian Willis in the highly competitive Hillsborough County Commission District 6 race.
“We know Brian is a leader that will take action to build safer and stronger neighborhoods and fix our broken transportation system. We trust Brian to put the community first when he is on the commission,” said Nick Marolda, President of the West Central Florida Chapter of the Police Benevolent Association. “Willis has built a strong, countywide campaign that is in the best position to communicate to voters and win in August and November.”
“I am honored to receive the endorsement of the men and women of these police unions. I am thankful for the work they do every day to keep our community safe and their continued work building relationships with people in every neighborhood,” said Willis.
Willis notes in his statement that he has more cash on hand that the rest of the Democratic field in the District 6 contest, which includes Tampa attorney Pat Kemp, former Commissioner and Tampa City Council member Tom Scott, and former Plant City Mayor John Dicks. His overall total of more than $97,000 raised is second of all the candidate in the contest, trailing only Republican Jim Norman, who has raised a total of $119,000 to date.
A St. Pete Polls survey released last month shows Kemp leading the in the Democratic race. Team Willis strongly disputed the findings of that survey, saying that because St. Pete Polls doesn’t include cellphones in their sampling, they missed out on the younger demographic that would be more favorable to his candidacy. In response, Willis released an internal poll to the Tampa Bay Times that actually shows him leading in the contest.
The winner of the Democratic Primary on Aug. 30 will take on either Norman or the other Republican in the race, Tim Schock, in the fall.
