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Pat Frank, Kevin Beckner, trade endorsements in Hillsborough Clerk of the Courts race

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1593 (ATU), which represents hundred of Hillsborough Area Regional Transit workers, has endorsed Kevin Beckner for Clerk of the Circuit Court for Hillsborough County.

Beckner is challenging three-term incumbent Pat Frank in an increasingly vitriolic Democratic primary taking place next month. The winner will face Republican Eric Seidel in the fall.

“Since elected to the Board of County Commissioners you have stood up for the citizens, employees, residents and business partners with integrity, fairness, justice and compassion. We believe that you will keep on working for the future of Hillsborough County,” said Daniel Silva, President ATU Local 1593.

“It has always been one of my priorities to ensure working families have government that is responsive to their needs and listens to their concerns. There is more work to do within the Clerk’s Office and I am looking forward to going to work everyday to provide leadership to more than 700 Clerk employees. I have been hearing from many voters across Hillsborough County that we can and we must do better.” Beckner said.

Frank was endorsed last week by the West Central Florida and Tampa chapters of the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) in her bid for re-election.

“Pat Frank has brought integrity, accountability and transparency to every office that she’s held, and her hard work as Clerk of the Circuit Court has earned the respect and trust of our men and women in law enforcement,” said Nick Marolda, President of the West Central Florida PBA.
 
“We can count on Pat Frank to do the right thing,” said Vincent Gericitano, President of the Tampa PBA. “We are asking our members, their families and friends and all citizens in Hillsborough County who respect the strong and efficient enforcement of our laws to cast their ballots in support of Pat Frank.”
 
“I am so proud to have the support of the law enforcement community,” said Frank. These officers and police staff are on the front lines of ensuring the safety of our neighborhoods. They respond to tough situations at great personal risk, but are also there to comfort victims and provide support and resources. These endorsements mean a lot to me.” 
 
In the battle for endorsements, Beckner has received backing from AFSCME Local 79, The League of Humane Voters, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 123 and The Victory Fund.
Frank has received endorsements from SEIU Florida, Ruth’s List, Hillsborough County Firefighters, Teamsters, United Food & Commercial Workers, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, among other elected officials.
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Mitch Perry has been a reporter with Extensive Enterprises since November of 2014. Previously, he served as five years as the political editor of the alternative newsweekly Creative Loafing. He also was the assistant news director with WMNF 88.5 FM in Tampa from 2000-2009, and currently hosts MidPoint, a weekly talk show, on WMNF on Thursday afternoons. He began his reporting career at KPFA radio in Berkeley. He's a San Francisco native who has now lived in Tampa for 15 years and can be reached at [email protected].

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