I think Kevin Beckner will be a great help to Hillsborough county!

I'll support Kevin Beckner for sure!  Blair is a waste of taxpayer money.
Has Kevin got the necessary # of signatures yet to qualify?

Hi Wendy, I was at a recent fund raising event in Tampa for Kevin, and yes they are still collecting petitions. I visited his website at www.KevinBeckner.com and downloaded the petition, signed and mailed it to the campaign headquarters.  I would encourage you and all of your friends to do the same.  Brendan, kudos to you and your program for enlightening us on all the issues you bring us weekly.

It is about time we elect a calm voice of reason to Hillsborough County Commission.  Brian Blair has been a hypoctrical buffoon and an embarrassment to us all.

Hello Friends Church Lady here. Well isn't this special. We finally have a candidate who is more qualified than our current Commissioner Blair. Hmmmm.....Divine Guidance from above is telling me the Brian Blair Bad.......Kevin Beckner Good! Its a no brainer. Brian wants your money. Kevin wants to help you save it. Brian the Killer Bee likes to wear tights, and wrestle defenseless wheel chair bound Commissioner Al Higganbotham down into the ground with a headlock. Kevin believes in responsible government and is willing to work, and connect with the Hillsborough County residents. Brian is just a little pushy. Kevin has the skills in working with people. Hmmm....Brian is wanting to pave over wetlands in order to get more sweet deals from land developers and special interest groups. Kevin wants to put end to all this senseless spending of tax paying citizens by Brian, and to make sure every voice is heard. I feel a divine intervention that Kevin is most qualified for the job. And Brian may want to wash his tights, because they stink to high heaven, and God is all about holiness. Bye friends see you in the front pew.

Sincerely,
Church lady

It will be interesting to see whether Beckner beats Blair in the general election.  Even though he is eminently more qualified, the extremist religious right would probably back Blair once again and possibly re-elect him.  They are a powerful political machine in Hillsborough County and have been able to stack the current county commission with their people.

It's interesting to see a pattern emerging though.  The so-called self-professed Christian candidates seem to be refusing to talk to the media when they know that they can't win their argument with logic.  Storms refused to debate her opponents in her race for Senator, and Faliero and Blair both refused to go on Flashpoint with their opponents.  What is more freightening is that this tactic, at least in Storms' case, seems to work.  It is yet to be seen if it works for the others.  

Refusing to debate or even discuss issues in a forum where they can't hide behind their rhetoric doesn't seem to bother their constituents though.  They're often the flag-waving, God-fearing people who like to think of themselves as good Americans.  For whatever reason, they don't seem to think that this flies in the face of our most basic democratic ideals.  It seems that they must have an "understanding" with their candidates that they're not publicly sharing with the rest of us.  I would think that that should send a red flag up to any thinking person.

As a life-long Hillsborough County Republican, I am relieved to know that a fiscal conservative like Kevin Beckner is running for our County Commission. My family and I will work hard to educate our fellow Republicans to work and vote for Kevin Beckner!

I cannot believe that a region as large as Hillsborough would vote in the clowns we have at the county commission.  They really give government a bad name.  Plus, it is so obvious that Blair is a tool of developers.  I think the Christians need to ask themselves, 'what would Jesus do'....vote for someone who is a possible crook and liar or someone who is trying to do the best thing for our region.  I think if they do that, Beckner wins hands down.  The religious right needs to wake up and realize that they have been taken by fools like Blair.  Wake up Hillsborough and take your government back.  I really think it is only a matter of time until the FBI or some other law enforcement agency takes a close look at the doings in Hillsborough.  It wouldn't surprise me to see some of these people in handcuffs with all the crookedness going on...

I'd like to see our county commission be comprised of a group of well-educated, level-headed, fair-minded individuals.  From this interview with Kevin Beckner I see that he appears to fit these qualifications.  Many of the people on the county commission now lack those basic ideals.  I can already feel my ballot pen swaying in Beckner's direction.

I live in Ruskin/ SouthShore and will be supporting Kevin Beckner. The recent BOCC issue regarding the future of the EPC showed that Blair is a developer's lap dog. This is underscored by the fact that Stephen Dibbs  is raising money for Blair.
Kevin Beckner will bring honesty, integrity and fairness for all people to our BOCC.
I watched  Mr. McLaughlin's FLASHPOINT when Mr, Beckner was interviewed and I believe that Mr. Beckner will put fairness for all  before developers' demands.
I  am married with children and believe that there should be fairness for all kinds of families.
 Mr. Beckner's personal relationship is as real and valid as anyone's. While the BOCC is on record against human rights, this is something of which we should be ashamed. I will vote against all candidates who do not  support human rights.
This means as an ethical human I cannot vote for Brian Blair.
This means Mr. Beckner will receive my money, time and my vote.

Hillsborough needs someone who will seek out intelligent solutions to this county's growing needs in zoning, pollution, roads, water management and transportation.  These concerns are not to be administered by the developers lapdog but someone who has a financial and moral obligation to his constituents. That person is Kevin Beckner and I don't care about his being gay.  I consider his occupation and his experience more important.  What did blair do for a living before county commissioner? Wrestling? That explains a lot....sadly but true.

Kevin Beckner is the strong voice for change in Hillsborough County.  He will bring his committment to serving ALL the people of the County and will bring back the integrity and ethical decision making to the BOCC that has been woefully missed since such Commissioners as Sylvia Kimball, Jan Platt, and Phyliss Busanksy graced the board.  Citizens for change need to throw their support...$$ and time to elect Kevin Beckner.

Kevin has my vote.  It's time the we cleaned up Hillsborough County and put someone with intelligence, honor and ethics on the Board.

A calm, well spoken, natural leader of the community.  With his qualifications and priorities, Kevin will make an outstanding addition and change to our County's current government.  Kevin has my vote and support.

The Last Word
Our voices must not be restricted!
Hi Folks,
Thank you for emailing, writing, and calling our Board of Hillsborough County Commissioners to save Public Access. It definitely sent a strong message to the Commission that many of us still believe in education, Freedom of speech, and support Public Access. There was even packed rooms during the BOCC meetings during the months of July, August, and September where many residents of Hillsborough County pleaded with Commissioners to continue funding Public Access. But the vote came up short to continue funding, when Commissioners decided to put their own interests ahead of Hillsborough County residents once again. This means that residents who live in Hillsborough County will not be able to view Public Access on Brighthouse, Verizon, or Comcast anymore. Second, County residents will also not be allowed to produce shows, or take classes. That's right. The Commission could care less about education, and freedom of speech. This is pure discrimination against residents who live in the Hillsborough County. Cable companies such as Brighthouse, Verizon, and Comcast have all stated that their hands are tied, and they have to go with whatever County Commissioners decide. While at the same time each cable company stated that they will still support our freedom of speech, and education. So if these cable companies believe in freedom of speech and education, then wouldn't they speak out on behalf of their cable subscribers and give the County channel back for Public Access? No, because these cable companies have worked a sweet deal with these Commissioners. The County Commissioners cut funding for Public Access so these cable companies would have a freed up channel for whatever they wanted to put on it. These cable companies can then turn around and make a profit from future advertisers. In return these cable companies as a good will gesture at cable subscribers expense have decided to give funding towards Jim Normans sports complex. So how do you now feel about how our County Commissioners silencing our community as far as freedom of speech, and education? How about County Commissioners receiving donations from these cable companies at cable subscribers expense? How about the irreversible damage this would cause to our environment/eco-system when this sports complex is built on a new proposed wetland at tax payers expense? Once again The Board of Hillsborough County Commissioners do not care how residents feel because all they care about is building Jim Normans sports complex so they can make a profit. If your upset as some of us tax payers, and cable subscribers are then take action into our own hands. Contact the Federal Communications Commission and let them know exactly how you feel about Brighthouse, Verizon, and Comcast increasing your rates for cable service in order to give donations to the County Commissioners. At the same time contact Governor Charlie Crist to let him know what Commissioners are doing with your tax dollars, and how they are funding their own campaign, and killing our environment, and natural resources. At the same time get registered to vote, and vote for someone who believes in freedom of speech, and education.

Federal Communication Commission contact information:
http://www.fcc.gov/contacts.html
Governor Charlie Crist contact information:
http://www.charliecrist.com/contact_us.php
Public Access Website:
http://www.speakuptampabay.org/

Kevin Beckner sounds intelligent, thoughtful, politically astute and inclusive...almost the exact opposite of Brian Blair.  Voters shouldn't have a difficult time making a choice here, should they?

I have been working with Kevin Beckner for some time now and what you see is what you get with him. He is a calm, intellegent, compassionate young man - someone we can be proud of as our representative on the County Commission. My time, money, support and vote will go to Kevin Beckner.