The GOP race in Hillsborough County's District One County Commission race became juicier on Thursday when former state legislator Sandra Thurman entered the fray, taking on Trey Rustmann and Margaret Iuculano in the election to replace Rose Ferlita, who has all but announced she'll be leaving the seat to run for mayor in Tampa next year.
Rustmann, who served in the Marines during the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and currently works for Kforce, greeted Thurman's entry a bit unkindly, as you can detect from his press release issued today:
"We've been hearing that Sandy might enter this race, or that she might run for the State House of Representatives to unseat a current Republican incumbent. Last year she sought being appointed to be Supervisor of Elections. Is this truly the position where she wants to serve? Or is she running for opportunistic reasons? With all respect, Ms. Murman will have to explain her motives and personal ambitions with the voters for now wanting to to serve on the Hillsborough County Commission. "
All I know is voters are weary of career politicians looking for their next job. I'm not a career politician. The citizens of Hillsborough County want new voices, new ideas and new leaders who are selfless, will solve problems, and have their long-term interests in mind."
