Mitch PerryJim Norman ended a two-decade career in politics in 2012, when he announced he would not run for re-election for the state Senate seat that he won in 2010.
It came after Pasco legislator John Legg decided to challenge him in the GOP primary, and it became apparent that the GOP establishment was abandoning him. Why? Well, there was that nasty little ethics situation, where in February 2012 Norman admitted his guilt in failing to disclose a $500,000 “gift” from the late Ralph Hughes that went to purchase Norman’s vacation home in Arkansas in 2006.
But in an interview in today’s Tampa Tribune with Mike Salinero, Norman says he’s being courted by “five or six influential groups” to run for a Hillsborough County Commission seat next year.
Say what?
It was not a happy ending for Norman because not only did he leave politics in disgrace, but also lost his $95,000 job with the Salvation Army. The revelation that the nonprofit organization was paying him that much for what was considered a part-time gig resulted in a severe backlash for the social service organization.
Now he wants back?
Salinero asks a number of Hillsborough Republicans their thoughts on the matter, and gets conflicting responses as to whether they think it’s a good idea.
Norman says he if he does run, it will be for the District 6 countywide seat held by Democrat Kevin Beckner, who will be term-limited out. One would think that there would be a contested GOP primary there.
As far as the Democrats? Well, when it hit the fan about Norman in 2010, the man still won his Senate seat, since the Hillsborough/Pasco Democrats never even fielded a candidate against him. Just remember that before you think he couldn’t get elected again.
In other news …
Elizabeth Warren has made absolutely zero indications that she intends to run for president in 2016, but that’s not stopping a very dedicated group of supporters from attempting to draft her to run. Wednesday the group Run Warren Run announced poll results that show that even a majority of Hillary Clinton fans would welcome a primary challenge from the Massachusetts Democrat.
It’s starting to get near crunch time, so there will be more reports from the Tampa City Council election for the rest of the month in this section. With the recent breakthrough in relations with Cuba, the candidates the other night were asked their thoughts on housing a Cuban consulate in the Cigar City.
Meanwhile, District 6 candidate Jackie Toledo leads all of the candidates in fundraising total so far.
