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Roundtables Held at USF on Dec. 16 Rep. Ed Homan, who will serve as chair of the Hillsborough Delegation until the Delegation next meets, convened the annual Roundtables on Dec. 16 and expanded the invitation to include all public educators and constitutional officers along with those who have otherwise been meeting with the Legislators in the "roundtables" format over the past several years. Each entity set its own agenda, bringing to the table its concerns and goals for legislators during the upcoming 2006 legislative session.

First Up: the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners Commissioner Jim Norman, chair of the BOCC, led the discussion on behalf of the Board. To the right are Rep. Ed Homan, Commissioner Mark Sharpe, and Rep. Trey Taviesa. Commissoners listed items ranging from affordable housing to workplace violence prevention in its "A" to "Z" comprehensive presentation.

The County Administrator Speaks Up County Administrator Pat Bean was also at the Roundtable discussion as Reps. Ken Littlefield, Dennis Ross, and Bob Henriquez listen in along with Commission Chair Norman and Delegation Chair Ed Homan. Lesli Menendez, in the background, is from the Clerk's office and took the minutes of the meeting.

Sen. Les Miller Always Listens Attentively As do Reps. Ken Littlefield and Dennis Ross.

Comm. Thomas Scott Also Attends for BOCC Commissioner Scott has the county's agenda in front of him as Sen. Victor Crist looks to get the chair's attention for a question or comment. The Roundtables are held in a conversational, interactive manner to better facilitate thorough understanding of the issues.

Temple Terrace Takes a Turn The City of Temple Terrace was well-represented as Rep. Bob Henriquez, Councilwoman Glenda Venable, Mayor Joe Affronti, and Delegation Chair Ed Homan, look at the city's needs. They include such items as $200,000 for the Temple Terrace Riverside Park and funding for highway modifications to 56th Street and Busch Boulevard.

Councilman Govin Listens Intently Councilman Ron Govin was elected to the Temple Terrace City Council a year ago and was on hand to represent the City as well. Next to him is Rep. Faye Culp.

Rep. Glorioso Takes Notes Rep. Rich Glorioso took notes as he listened to the Temple Terrace presentation along side Councilman Frank Chillura. City Manager Kim Leinbach was also present at the meeting.

A Short Break... ...didn't keep Plant City Mayor John Dicks from greeting Rep. Dennis Ross--their two cities are almost "kissin' cousins" as Rep. Ross' district office is sited in Lakeland while he also has a constituency in Hillsborough County.

Plant City Goes to the Plate Mike Karr, executive assistant to the city manager, sat at the table alongside Mayor John Dicks and Delegation Chair Ed Homan. Among its list of needs is historic preservation money for the Bing Rooming House along with a number of issues relating to maintaining municipal home rule.

Public Schools Get Everyone's Attention The School District of Hillsborough County was well-represented with Superintendent Mary Ellen Elia, Chair Carolyn Bricklemyer and Board Member Susan Valdez sitting at the head table along with Reps. Homan and Traviesa.

Candy Olson Also Attends for SDHC Here she listens as Rep. Rich Glorioso makes a point. The School District has a long list of needs as it continues to fulfill its mission of providing the best public education possible to the thousands of school-aged children in Hillsborough County. The district is the 9th largest in the nation and the largest employer in Hillsborough Cunty with 32,669 on the payroll (full and part time and including substitute teachers).

Dr. Gwen Stephenson Speaks for HCC Dr. Stephenson is the president of HCC which was found ed 37 years ago and has an enrollment topping 45,000. It ranks among the nation's Top 10 in the number of associate degrees awarded and boasts six campuses in Hillsborough County.

Rep. Bob Henriquez Talks with Dr. Stephenson Rep. Henriquez took time to learn more about HCC's legislative needs from Dr. Stephenson as they both stretched their legs.

Dr. Judy Genshaft Speaks for USF Dr. Genshaft, president of USF, came to the table to speak for Hillsborough's top-notch public university. USF boasts a national reputation in a wide ragne of disciplines, including medicine, aging, public health, marine science, robotics and contemporary art. It serves 43,000 students on four campuses.

USF Student Speaks Up for Music Building James Rigsby, a student at USF, took time to tell the Legislators about the delapidated condition of the music building on the USF campus and the need for funds to building a new one. The Legislators appropriated $1M in 2005 to begin the project, but the Governor vetoed the funding.

O Governor, Where Art Thou? Senator Victor Crist went to bat for his alma mater on the music building funding. He and Sen. Sebesta also listen to Student James Rigsby in his comments about the needs of USF music students (as the tune "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" perhaps wafted through his mind).

The President of the FL Senate also Attends Senate President Tom Lee also attended the Roundtables and here talks with Sen. Jim Sebesta.

Mayor Iorio Beams as She Waits Her Turn Mayor Pam Iorio from the City of Tampa brought the City's list of needs to the table on Dec. 16. She, of course, named the Riverwalk Project among several of those needed by the City. The Legislature did provide funding in 2005, but the veto pen took its measure on this project as well.

Legislators Listen, Ponder Photographed are Rep. Faye Culp, Sen. Les Miller, Rep. Kevin Ambler, and Rep. Ken Littlefield.

Those Seats Really Were Uncomfortable! Rep. Ken Littlefield and Rep. Kevin Ambler took time to stand for a few minutes as the Roundtables shifted to the next entity. The meeting ran for about 5 hours.

The Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Speaks Up Next at the table were Chief Judge Manuel Menendez while Judge Jack Espinosa also had comments. Listening are Rep. Ed Homan and Rep. Trey Traviesa.

Child Protective Investigations Move to Sheriff Sheriff David Gee addressed the Delegation about the continuation of the phased assumption of child protective investigative responsibilities beginning July 6. Rep. Ed Homan listens carefully.

Dick Donohoe Speaks in Behalf of the State Attorney State Attorney Mark Ober was unable to attend the Roundtables, but his executive director, Dick Donohoe, let the Delegation know the needs of the office, including assistant state attorney pay equity (Phase II), workload staffing for new judges, and staff salary adjustments.

Clerk of the Court Discusses Cap Restrictons Clerk of the Court Pat Frank talked about budgeting shortfalls resulting from statutory cap restrictions as well as addressing shortfalls left by a prior administration and costs imposed from the outside. She also noted that she was not yet ready to make specific recommendations for legislation at the time of the Roundtables.

Rob Turner Did His Homework Property Appraiser Rob Turner had already begun legislative monitoring for the 2006 session and came to the table with specific recommendations on bills already filed although the primary thrust of the conversation was "Amendment 10" also known as the "Save Our Homes" amendment, including such matters as its portability and the impact of adding an owner.

Supervisor of Elections Tops Off the Roundtables Buddy Johnson, Supervisor of Elections for Hillsborough County, engaged the members in conversation about the selection of additonal early voting sites. Unable to attend the Roundtables was Public Defender Julianne Holt although she sent a letter, requesting funding for 37 new positions to support two new juvenile divisions created by the courts and the addition of six new judges. She also requested that additional state attorney and public defender staffing occur comcomitantly with new judgeships.

A Trio of "Top Guns" Talking among themselves but willing smiling for the "photo op" are Dr. Gwen Stephenson, HCC President, Pam Iorio, Mayor of Tampa, and Dr. Judy Genshaft, President of USF. They are " unquestionably "up there with the best of the best."

Rep. Trey Traviesa Talks with the President The USF Foundation hosted a meet-and-greet breakfast for legislators and guests prior to the Roundtables. Rep. Trey Traviesa had something he wanted Dr. Judy Genshaft to see.

Senator Les Miller A Legislator Since 1992 Senator Les Miller greets Dena Leavengood, well-known for her work with the League of Women Voters and on health care issues in the community. Sen. Miller was elected to the FL House in 1992 , has been in the FL Senate since 2000 ,and is the first person in the history of the State of Florida to serve as Minority Leader in both bodies.

EPC Attends the Meeting Rick Tschantz, chief general counsel of the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission, chatted with Sen. Jim Sebesta during the continental breakfast. Centered in the background is USF Associate Provost Kathleen Moore.

Keeping the Public Record Lesli Menendez from the Clerk of the Court's office served as recording secretary of the Roundtables. Her job is one of the singularly most important of the meeting as she has responsiblity for keeping the public record.

Last But Not Least A. J. Topp is a sound technician with USF Classroom Technology Services. He makes sure that the microphones and recording equipment are working correctly at all times, another invaluable contribution to the success of the meeting.