Saying that the Florida Democratic Party is weak and moribund is not exactly breaking news, and that often translates to the local level.
Hillsborough Democrats also don't have a lot to show for themselves in the upcoming local elections. Republican County Commissioners Sandy Murman and Victor Crist are on the ballot this year, but are facing no Democratic opposition (Crist is being challenged by Tea Party member Sharon Calvert in a Republican primary).
In the Florida District 22 state Senate race that combines parts of Pinellas and South Tampa, Republican legislators Jim Frishe and Jeff Brandes are dueling it out, with no Democrat within sight of that race.
The fact is that there are more than 20,000 more registered Democrats than registered Republicans in the county. But out of the 347 voting precincts in Hillsborough, Democrats only have precinct captains in 89 of them, or 26 percent.
"Republicans are going to outspend us," Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee Chair Chris Mitchell told a large room full of Democrats at their monthly meeting Monday night at the Children's Board in Ybor City. "We have to out-organize them."
He then began detailing a new strategic plan to "define a new management structure" that he says will make the party more competitive in future elections.
But although the majority of Democrats voted to approve the changes, there was a contentious debate, with several people strongly disagreeing with the prescription.
This article appears in Jun 14-20, 2012.