Less than a week ago Hillsborough County Property Appraiser Rob Turner was sitting pretty with no serious competition for a fifth four-year term in office.
But his world changed on Tuesday after he admitted to exchanging pornographic texts and emails with his department's Human Resources Director before firing her. Turner said he did so after the EEOC rejected her complaint that she had been discriminated against when he reduced her responsibilities.
On Friday two prominent Hillsborough County politicians announced they were running for the office. The biggest name challenge comes from a fellow Republican — state Senator Ronda Storms. Also filing today to run as a Democrat was former Tampa House member Bob Henriquez.
In a press conference held at the Supervisor of Elections office on Falkenberg Road, Storms blasted Turner, saying he had "embarrassed himself… embarrassed the office and has embarrassed the party." She said she was running to restore professionalism, integrity and accountability to the Property Appraisers office.
Storms called the revelations about Turner a "trauma" to the taxpayers and a "shock" to those who thought they were electing a conservative, pro-family candidate.
This article appears in May 24-30, 2012.