One of the most interesting of next year's local races will be the Democratic primary for the Hillsborough County Commission's District 7 seat. Tampa City Councilwoman Mary Mulhern and Hillsborough County School district chair April Griffin are both in the race, and they'll be battling for every vote between now and the August 2014 election.
Such a contest will obviously split local Democrats, and it's already dividing the Tampa City Council, which consists of seven Democrats in all. Mulhern hosts her first fundraiser this week, and Griffin announced Monday that her official campaign kickoff will take place next Monday night at Mangroves on Howard Avenue.
A number of notable Democrats will be joining Griffin at that event, including Mike Suarez and Lisa Montelione, who just happen to be colleagues of Mulhern on the City Council.
Can you say awkward?
