Osprey Observer Political Guide October 2022

Know Where And How To Vote: By Mail, Early And On Election Day

Voting is a right, not a privilege. In or der to exercise this right, every voter in Hillsborough County must be informed and must know where to vote and how to do it. In Hillsborough County, there are three ways to exercise your right to vote: Vote By Mail, Early Voting and Election Day Voting.

In order to vote in the general elec tion, set for Tuesday, November 8, you must be registered by Tuesday, October 11. When you register, you are asked to select a party. The parties are Repub lican, Democrat or No Party Afliation. You can also register as a member of a minor political party, such as the Green Party of Florida.

Florida is a closed primary state. This means that for the primary election, your ballot will reflect the party that you have se lected. In other words, you vote only for the candidates from your party as well as non partisan races, such as the judge (county and circuit) and school board.

In the general election, your ballot is based upon where you reside. You can view sample

ballots for both the primary and the general election by visiting www.votehillsborough.org.

“Many people are focused on the upcom ing general election in November, but please do not ignore the primary election. We have local school board and judge races on the pri mary ballot that are nonpartisan, so everyone votes in these races. If you are a Democrat or Republican, you will also have a say in which state and local partisan candidate moves on to the general elec tion,” said Supervisor of Elections Craig La timer.

VOTE BY MAIL

Vote By Mail is the most convenient meth od. You do not need an excuse to choose this option. If you request this method, you will receive your ballot in the mail. The dead line to request that a Vote By Mail ballot be mailed to you is no later than 5 p.m. on the 10th day before the election, and you can take your time making your voting decision. The Vote By Mail ballot must be received by the Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections Of fice by 7 p.m. on Election Day. You can mail it or drop it of in person at one of its ofces or at an Early Voting site. The supervisor of elections is also ofering curbside drop-of this year. You can request your Vote By Mail ballot and track its delivery by visiting www. votehillsborough.org.

“Election Day is your last day to vote, not your first. I encourage everyone to consider voting by mail. During the March election, it was heartbreaking to get calls from voters who could not leave home and had planned to vote on Election Day,” said Latimer.

EARLY VOTING

Early Voting is set up be fore both the primary elec

Sunday, No vember 6 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. “We will have about twen ty-six early voting locations open. We are just finalizing those details now. We will have drop-of ballot boxes at each of those sites for voters who want to drop of their Vote By Mail ballot,” said La timer.

Early Voting is just like Election Day Voting. You must bring one or two forms of identi fication that have your photo and signature. Acceptable forms of identification include a Florida driver’s license, state-issued identifi cation, U.S. passport, student ID, public assis tance ID and more.

ELECTION DAY VOTING

Polling places or precincts, noted on your voter registration card, are open from 7 a.m.7 p.m. on Election Day. You can bring your sample ballot with you and use it while you vote.

Latimer said, “We are taking great mea sures to ensure a safe and healthy in-person voting experience.” Social distancing, hand sanitizer as well as adjusted layouts will be utilized.

According to Latimer, “All of this will mean that in-person voting is go ing to be slower than in the past, but it will be healthy and orderly.”

Whichever method you choose, re

Andrew Learned andrewlearned.com

Danny Alvarez electdannyalvarez.com

STATE HOUSE DISTRICT

(D

STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 69 (R

Mike

LAUREL LEE U.S. HOUSE FLORIDA DISTRICT 15

By Kathy L. Collins

MICHAEL ISAAK COUNTY COURT JUDGE, GROUP 14

By Kathy L. Collins

Laurel Lee is the Re publican candidate for Congressional District 15.

Raised by a two-star general in the United States Air Force and a public school teacher, Lee has family ties in Eastern Hillsborough County that go back more than 70 years.

Laurel’s husband, for mer Senate President Tom Lee, also served the area in the state Senate for 18 years.

For three years, Laurel Lee served as the Florida secretary of state, but she returned home to Eastern Hillsborough County and is asking her community to allow her to represent their shared prin ciples and values in Washington D.C.

“Representing the people of Congres sional District 15 would be my honor. It is my home and I know I am the right voice to represent our hardworking res idents in Congress. If elected, I promise to serve with integrity, deliver results on behalf of our community and fight every day to ensure our principles — not the principles of Washington D.C. — are pro tected and advanced,” said Lee.

Lee, who is also a former circuit court

judge in Hillsborough County and federal prosecutor, has over 20 years of experience serving her local com munity and the state of Florida, ensuring elec tion integrity and up holding the law.

“Now more than ever, it is critical that we send the right type of leadership to Wash ington — leaders who will stand up for what’s right and truly repre sent and reflect their community,” said Lee. “We can’t a f ord to sit idly on the sidelines as inflation continues to hurt families and our econ omy, or as long as politicians think they know what is best for our children and families. In Washington D.C., I will stand up and fight on behalf of our community and its families.”

Lee has also been engaged in local civic organizations, including ECHO of Brandon and the Pepin Academies, serv ing as president of the board for both or ganizations. In the legal community, she actively supports the organized bar and has served as president of the Federal Bar Association, Tampa Chapter and the Givens Family Law Inn of Court.

According to Mike Isaak, who is running for Hillsbor ough County court judge in Group 14, “I believe that per forming the duties of a judge is an art form. Successful execution requires proper morals and values, appropriate legal and life expe riences and a dedi cation to public service.”

Isaak has practiced law for 30 years. He began as an assistant state attorney. Isaak received a long-term service award for his dedication to protecting the citi zens of Florida. He then opened his own law practice. “I have focused on crimi nal defense for the past 25 years. As a criminal defense attorney, I protect and defend the Constitution. I have also rep resented clients in a variety of civil cases and am a member of numerous profes sional organizations,” explained Isaak.

He has tried more than 150 jury trials and more than 500 nonjury trials, and he has written more than 300 appeals. In addition to his private practice, Isaak has taught thousands of lawyers. “I have lectured locally, on a statewide level and nationally. I often lecture on recent de cisions in constitutional law in criminal

cases and teach Fourth and Fifth Amendment con stitutional law liti gation. I also have more than 120 published court de cisions,” said Isaak. Isaak explained, “My legal experi ence has a unique balance. While most trial attor neys do not write appeals and most appellate attorneys do not try cases, I have done both.”

“I will serve the citizens of Hillsborough County with dedication and commitment. I have always wanted to be a judge. I be lieve that I am qualified to take on the challenges that accompany the role of a judge,” said Isaak.

Isaak’s family moved to Tampa in 1968, and he has called Hillsborough County his home for the past 53 years. He sup ports numerous local charities and serves on the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation Board of Directors.

He is married to Betsy Goode Isaak, and together they have two children. Betsy is a professional musician, having played with many of the local orchestras and other concerts in the Tampa Bay area.

Visit www.votemikeisaak.com.

DANNY ALVAREZ SR FLORIDA HOUSE, DISTRICT 69

Danny Alvarez is a Florida native, veteran and attorney who is run ning to become the rep resentative for District 69. Alvarez, a Republican, has been involved in the community for over 20 years. He is a member of both the Riverview and Plant City chambers of commerce.

On why he is running for a seat in the Florida State House, Alvarez explained, “I have been involved in the commu nity for many years. With the current po litical and cultural environment, I could not stand by and watch parents and police be attacked. I could no longer stand by and watch. I want to stand up for parents, pro tect children and stand up for law enforce ment. I want to keep Florida free.”

Alvarez added, “I am extremely honored that the Florida House leadership has en dorsed me. This will allow me to represent the district because I will be able to work with the leadership.” Alvarez further ex plained, “This will allow me to get maxi mum results for my constituents by work ing within the relationships established in Tallahassee.”

Alvarez is an attorney who practices in

By Kathy L. Collins

all facets of family law and is a business consultant with sig nificant experience in corporate com munications, market ing and messaging management. Within family law, Alvarez helps families through some of the most dif ficult times. His prac tice’s focus is to help children and families navigate through the process and emerge healthy and ready to prosper.

Alvarez is a veteran who was commis sioned as an infantry ofcer in the United States Army in 1997. He is a graduate of the Infantry Ofcers Basic Course, Bradley Fighting Vehicle Leaders Course, Basic Air borne Course and Jump Master Course.

Between his professional and education al experience and his real-world, on-theground community service, Alvarez will be able to represent the people of District 69. He said, “You have to represent all of the people in the district. I will accomplish all I can while preserving the Constitution and freedom.”

For more information, please visit his website at www.electdannyalvarez.com.

KIMBERLY OVERMAN COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 7 Staf Report

A 38-year resident of the Tampa Bay area, Kimberly Overman was elected to the county commission in 2018. Overman earned a Bachelor of Science in agricultural and resource economics from the University of Maryland, raised two children and has the joy of raising one of her four grandchildren as a single parent. Overman has also owned and op erated successful businesses.

She is a certified financial planner, for mer owner and CEO of a fee-only reg istered investment advisory firm, vice president of strategic planning for Con cierge Financial Organization, owner of The Heights Exchange LLC — a commer cial space in Seminole Heights — and the chairwoman of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commission, District 7 countywide. She also recreated a business chamber of commerce for the Tampa ur ban core. A longtime advocate of smart planning, economic growth, strong fami lies, sustainable communities and the im portance of education, Overman has a long history of public service volunteerism and community involvement.

During her career, Overman served on

several professional and community boards includ ing: Tampa Bay Estate Planning Council, past president; Financial Plan ning Association of Tam pa Bay, past president; Financial Planning Asso ciation of Florida, past member and legislative delegation; Business and Professional Roundtable, founder and board mem ber; Soroptimist Interna tional, member and Young Careerist Award; Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Associa tion, board member; Hillsborough County Housing Financial Authority, chairperson; Heights Urban Core Chamber, president; Women’s Yacht Racing Association of Tampa Bay, member; and Hillsborough Ed ucation Foundation Finance Committee, member/advisor.

The commissioner currently serves on numerous boards and councils including: Board of County Commissioners, District 7 County Wide (chairwoman); Afordable Housing Advisory Board (chairwoman); Commission on Human Trafcking (chair woman); Tampa Bay Transportation Man agement Area Leadership Group (includes MPO/TPO representatives from Pasco, Pi nellas and Hillsborough counties) & more. www.kimberlyoverman.com.

Elected county-wide to the Hillsborough County Commission in 2018, Commissioner Overman has utilized her experience as a successful business owner and public servant to successfully implement policy at the countywide level and lead the people of our county with courage and govern for its citizens—not special interests. She has been a champion in the battle against COVID-19, a fghter for equal economic opportunity for all, an unwavering advocate for increasing investment into Hillsborough’s transportation infrastructure, and became the Commission’s leading voice on com batting human trafcking in Hillsborough County. At the heart of Commissioner Overman’s service is always how she can help to improve the lives of her fellow citi zens and be the leader they deserve—be cause she still believes that Leadership Matters.

About Commissioner Overman

Commissioner Kimberly Overman is a 37year resident of the Tampa Bay Area, a proud mother and grandmother, a leader in Hillsborough’s business community as a successful small business owner in the fnancial planning sector, and a lifelong community leader. A longtime advocate for smart planning, equitable access to transportation, economic growth, aford able housing, and access to education, Commissioner Overman has a long history of public service and community advocacy in Hillsborough County.

MIKE BELTRAN HOUSE DISTRICT 70 Staf Report

Mike Bel tran is run ning for re election to the Florida House of Representa tives. Beltran is running in House Dis trict 70, a newly config ured district in the newly redrawn leg islative maps. District 70 includes Sun City Center, Apollo Beach, Ruskin and northern portions of Manatee County.

For nearly four years, Beltran has been serving the people of Southern Hillsbor ough County as their voice in Tallahas see. Beltran is a leader on issues related to the judiciary, is the former Commerce Committee Whip and is a fierce advocate for Hillsborough County.

“The past two years have shown that freedom is under assault,” Beltran said when asked about his reason for seeking a third term. “And no other state in the union has been a more hospitable home for freedom than Florida. I’m running for reelection to fight alongside Governor Ron DeSantis to defend the Constitution, preserve individual liberty, uphold the rule of law and preserve the American

Dream for my sons’ gen eration.”

Beltran at tended the University of Pennsylvania and graduat ed in 2005 with a B.A. and honors in internation al relations, magna cum laude. He then went on to earn his law degree from Harvard Law School in 2008 before mov ing to Florida in 2010, where he served as a law clerk to a federal district judge. He is still a practicing attorney by trade, and he is happily married to his wife, Hope. The couple have two young sons, Michael and Ross.

Beltran is also an Eagle Scout and takes pride in this formative experience he had growing up. He has been recog nized as an Outstanding Young Florida Lawyer and has been appointed by Gov ernors Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis to the Judicial Nominating Commission for Florida’s Thirteenth Circuit Court in Hills borough County.

For more information, please visit Bel tran’s website at www.electmikebeltran. com.

DR. CHRISTINA PAYLAN STATE SENATE, DISTRICT 16

In 30 years, there has not been a single doctor who has served in Flor ida Senate to represent the voices of patients and to the sanctity of the doctor-patient re lationship. Dr. Christina Paylan is running for Florida Senate District 16 to change this dire statistic and to bring common sense to law making in Tallahassee.

Dr. Paylan believes that in order for a gov ernment to be representative for all, there must be people from all walks of life serving as elected ofcials. Currently, we have only one walk of life in government, and that is lawyers. Dr. Paylan is not against lawyers being elected to represent people, but she is against government being 98 percent made up of lawyers.

A daughter of an immigrant family, Dr. Paylan completed her earlier education in California, moving to Florida in 2001 to work at Tampa General Hospital to com plete her fellowship in plastic and recon structive surgery.

When COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, Dr. Paylan realized more than ever before that Florida citizens would be well served by having a doctor as their representative

By Kathy L. Collins

in Tallahassee to make laws that directly im pact their health care and the health care of their children. Her candi dacy and position on the issues can be summa rized as follows: 1) Dr. Paylan strongly believes that parents should al ways choose when it comes to their children, 2) Dr. Paylan strongly believes in having an informed and educated voice in the Senate de ciding Floridians’ health care, 3) Dr. Paylan firmly stands by the fact that there has to be accountability and transparency by judg es and prosecutors, 4) Dr. Paylan strongly believes that we have an outdated court system that needs to be updated and mod ernized and 5) Dr. Paylan stands for com mon sense lawmaking instead of writing confusing laws that are hundreds of pages long with loopholes.

As a political outsider, and as an everyday average person wanting to represent every day average people, Dr. Paylan is asking for your vote for Florida Senate District 16.

For more on her position on issues, you can directly reach her at 813-919-6299 or visit her website at www.paylan4sta tesenate.com.

Mike Beltran

ANDREW LEARNED FLORIDA HOUSE, DISTRICT 69 Staf Report

Andrew Learned has been a staple in our community for years. Before going of to the Navy, he grew up here in Blooming dale and returned af ter his service to open GradePower Learning, the local tutoring cen ter so many of us have relied on.

It caught all of us who knew him of guard when he first announced he was running for political ofce; frankly, as a lifelong Republican turned Democrat, we didn’t know what we’d get. The attack ads against him claimed he was an extremist that none of us who knew him thought to be true.

Since getting elected just two years ago in 2020, Learned has been on a sin gular mission: to fix the roads in Brandon and Riverview. He’s brought back millions of dollars via the Bipartisan Infrastruc ture Law, and the U.S. Highway 301 and Bloomingdale Avenue, Big Bend Road and Boyette Road I-75 interchange improve ments are all a result of that mission.

He was named the vice chairman of the Veterans Caucus, where he helped pass the largest tax break for military families in state history. He passed a bill to reward military-friendly schools and help improve

A N D R E W L E A R N E D

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M i l l i o n s f o r o u r s c h o o l s V i c e C h a i r o f t h e V e t e r a n s C a u c u s B i p a r t i s a n s u c c e s s

L o w e r e d t a x e s F i g h t i n g a g a i n s t r i s i n g p r i c e s R e s p e c t f o r Y O U R c h o i c e

parent choice and helped tran sitioning military spouses have an easier time with state professional licensing require ments.

Learned has also focused on lowering the cost of living for Florid ians. This year in Tallahassee, he fought and delivered reforms to make homeownership more afordable and to ensure that the state’s savings go back into the pockets of consumers. He took on powerful insurance companies and lawyers to address roofing scams that are causing homeowners insur ance rates to skyrocket.

Even the gas tax holiday was his original work. While paired down from his original immediate and long-lasting proposal, the upcoming gas tax holiday in Florida was first called for by Learned.

When asked why he’s running for reelec tion, Learned simply pointed out the choice.

“I am fighting to make our schools safer and better funded, our roads wider, and to respect individual choices. I’m running be cause we need less polarization and more people doing the actual work for the peo ple,” he said.

Visit www.andrewlearned.com.

MELISSA CORDON BLACK COUNTY COURT JUDGE, GROUP 14

Melissa Cordon

Black is running for Hillsborough County court judge in Group 14. Black is a seasoned attorney, an experi enced public litigator and a compassionate community advocate, and she would like your vote on Tuesday, August 23.

Black served as an assistant attorney general in the Chil dren’s Legal Services Department before starting her own family law practice, where she has served as a pro bono attor ney for hundreds of Hillsborough County’s youth and foster care children. As the mother of three boys herself, Black has been an unwavering advocate for foster children, teens and children with special needs across Hillsborough County.

Black was born and raised in Brandon. Black’s parents, the late Dr. Pacifico Cor don Jr. and Dr. Yolanda Cordon, grew their medical practices in Brandon for over 35 years, with her father being the medical director of Hawthorne Village Retirement Community for 25 of those years. As a child, Black attended Nativi ty School, was the runner up in the Little Miss Brandon competition and was a vol unteer at Brandon Regional Hospital.

By Kathy L. Collins

Black is a graduate of the University of Florida and earned her law degree from the Stetson University Col lege of Law.

Black said, “I will build on my years of community service to Hillsborough County by serving as county court judge.”

Black is a volunteer with the Challeng er Baseball program, which is designed for children in Hills borough County that live with physical or mental disabilities. She is a member of the Johnny Ferlita Memorial Fishing Tournament committee to benefit the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, a member of LAMPLighters (Ladies Assisting Met ropolitan People), a parishioner of Christ the King Catholic Church and an active member of the CKS Parent Teacher Club (PTC).

Black is endorsed by the honorable Ralph Stoddard; retired Chief Judge Manuel Menendez; and Plant City Com missioner Bill Dodson and his wife, Syl via; Sun City Center Honorary Mayor Joe Zuniga; and former Honorary Mayor of Brandon Sherry Stewart.

For more information, please visit www.melissablackforjudge.com.