Hillsborough commissioners save Maricela Medrano’s job

By a narrow 4-3 vote, the Hillsborough County Commission this morning passed a motion that will retain the job of the Hillsborough County Land Use Ombudsman, Mariecela Medrano.

As the County faces a $65 million budget reduction, County Administrator Mike Merrill had presented a list of 73 terminations, including 19 in the County's Planning and Growth Management Department.

But a campaign amongst – but not exclusively – Latinos throughout the county to advocate for her retention ultimately proved successful this morning, after Commissioner Kevin White made a motion to retain Medrano, saying "it would be a disservice to eliminate this position."

This article appears in Jul 22-28, 2010.