Nicole Payne and Sean Shaw would help restore sanity to the Hillsborough County Commission

Hillsborough County’s Board of County Commissioners has been a depressing body as of late. Last month, just like it did last year, the body voted 4-3 to slash $8 million of an affordable housing fund and use it for reduced property taxes, sidewalk repairs, and other investments. Now, affordable housing efforts will get only $2 million of the county funds.

That vote happened along party lines, with Republican Ken Hagan being the swing vote. While Hagan gets props for standing up for the arts, and for joining Democrats in signing a Tampa Pride proclamation that didn’t officially make it to the chamber, we’re torn on whether or not he should be replaced by Democratic Party volunteer worker Patricia Alonzo.

Instead, we hope that Democratic challenger Nicole Payne can help balance the increasingly red commission with wins over a DeSantis appointee (Christine Miller, District 4) while seasoned local politico Sean Shaw can keep the District 6 seat Pat Kemp is vacating blue.

District 2
Ken Hagan (REP)
Patricia Altagracia Alonzo (DEM)

Endorsement of the Democratic Women's Clubs of Florida

Dear Ms. Payne:
Democratic Women’s Club of Florida, Inc. (DWCF) is pleased to announce our official
endorsement for the Hillsborough County Commission, District 4 race.
We welcome you to display our seal on your print and social media. The DWCF is
providing voter education across the state through our grassroots efforts. Our work is
very effective in increasing voter turnout and engagement.
Candidates who are officially endorsed by DWCF become eligible for consideration to
receive campaign support through the DWCF Political Action Committee.

Endorsement: Democratic Public Education Caucus of Florida and Hillsborough County Chapter

Congratulations on your candidacy! The Democratic Public Education Caucus of Florida and the Hillsborough County Chapter wishes to acknowledge your support for public education by offering you our endorsement. We appreciate your stance on public education and your commitment to work to provide a quality public school system for our students, their families and the education employees. Public education is the foundation for our democracy. It is under attack. We need strong leaders, such as yourself, to continue the fight for public dollars for public education and for the safety of our students and public school employees.

Endorsement: HCLGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus

Dear Nicole:

The Hillsborough County LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus is pleased to notify you that we  have endorsed your campaign for election as County Commissioner District 4! We are  proud to support your efforts toward full equality for all LGBTQ+ residents throughout  Hillsborough County and look forward to working with you toward this goal.  

Endorsement: Democratic Progressive Caucus of Tampa Bay

Dear Nicole,

On behalf of the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Tampa Bay, we are pleased to inform you that your 2024 campaign has received our endorsement as well as the endorsement of The Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida.

Thank you for stepping up to run for local politics and for representing our progressive values. We recognize it takes commitment and teamwork to drive a progressive agenda and look forward to working with you to make that a reality.

Nicole Payne wins the 509 Committee straw poll on June 27th, 2024.