State Rep. Shawn Harrison has endorsed...

Our very own Florida House District 60 Representative Shawn Harrison (R-New Tampa) knows who he wants to see represent eastern Hillsborough County — which includes the New Tampa area — in the Florida Senate in the next legislative session.

Rep. Harrison recently endorsed fellow Republican Tom Lee to represent District 24, which encompasses most of the eastern section of Hillsborough County, including all of Tampa Palms and New Tampa, all the way north to the Pasco County line.

“An experienced and strong Senator representing Hillsborough County in the State Senate will be a great thing for our community and for my constituents,” says Harrison. “I have known Senator Lee since my days on the Tampa City Council. I believe his private-sector business experience and his conservative record make him the best choice in this race. I endorse him and look forward to working alongside him as fellow members of the Hillsborough County [legislative] delegation.”

Lee previously served for ten years in the Florida Senate and was Senate President in 2005-06, and it is this experience, along with his private sector business experience, that earned him Harrison’s endorsement.

“Tom’s business background (as Vice President of Sabal Homes, his family’s business) is key,” he says. “He has experience as an elected official, but first and foremost, he has worked in the private sector. His ‘real-world’ business experience sets him apart from the competition and that’s what we need.”

Harrison’s name also will be on the ballot in November, as he is running unopposed for the Republication nomination for re-election to the Florida House. Harrison has two Democratic opponents who square off against each other in the Primary Election on Tuesday, August 14. The former Tampa Palms Community Development District chair, District 7 (which includes all of New Tampa) Tampa City Council member and current District 60 Representative has been representing most of New Tampa in the Florida House since 2010.

If elected, he will be the first representative of the newly drawn State House District 63, to which all of New Tampa now belongs, after Florida’s newly rewritten legislative maps were approved by Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Supreme Court this year.

Harrison says that for now, he and his campaign team are going to begin “walking and knocking,” going door to door to introduce Harrison to voters, let them know what issues he represents and why he should be re-elected to represent New Tampa in the Florida legislature for another term.

Election Coverage? We Hope You’ll Turn To Us First!

Considering the still-tumultuous state of our economy and the fact that many Americans are disenchanted with President Barack Obama, the 2012 election season promises to be a unique ride. Will Pres. Obama or former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney provide the coattails needed to take our local county commission or state legislative races? Although we only have a Republican article in this issue, we always offer equal time for both sides in all races, so if anyone opposes Rep. Harrison’s endorsement or wants to express support for any current candidate, email your comments (200 words or less, please) to Editorial Dept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com or post them at the bottom of this page.