Three major Tampa Democrats – Betty Castor, Jim Davis and Ed Turanchik – are all endorsing Pat Kemp in the Hillsborough County Commission District 6 contest.
“I see Pat as being cut from the same cloth as strong woman leaders, like Sylvia-Kimbell Rodriguez, Phyllis Busansky, Kathy Castor and Pam Iorio,” Castor said in a statement. She’s the mother of U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, who Kemp worked for as an aide during Kathy’s time on the county commission a decade ago.
“Pat has the spirit, intellect, experience and integrity we like to see on our county commission,” Davis said. She noted Kemp’s strong run for the board two years ago, when she narrowly lost to Republican Al Higginbotham in the countywide District 7 contest.
“I have no doubt that she will win in 2016,” Turanchik said. “And with her victory, there will be a new day in Tampa Bay.”
Kemp is battling it out in a contested Democratic primary that includes three other Democrats: former County Commissioner Tom Scott, former Plant City Mayor John Dicks, and attorney and transit activist Brian Willis.
The winner on Aug. 30 will take on the Republican opponent for the open seat. Jim Norman and Tim Schock are competing for the GOP nomination.
