Plan may make mayoral post tough to create Hillsborough Commissioner Ronda Storms is posing the ballot question during the September primary.

Florida town debates 60% voter approval for amendments to charter, placement on primary ballot would discourage independents

By BILL VARIANSt. Petersburg TimesApril 13, 2006
TAMPA - Hillsborough Commissioner Ronda Storms is floating a proposal that would make it harder for voters to create a new county mayor post in the November general election...... I think it's the height of arrogance to want to stop something so bad," said Mary Ann Stiles, the lawyer and lobbyist who is leading the groupTaking Back Hillsborough County Political Committee Inc. "The only reason they want to stop the people from having the right to amend the charter and try to determine the kind of government they really want, is because they don't want to share the power with the people." .....Storms said these are no ordinary citizens pushing the mayoral proposal, but rather special interests who were once influential and are seeking to regain the clout they have lost to voters in the fast-growing suburbs. "This is not poor, disenfranchised citizens," she said. "This is a lawyer-slash-lobbyist trying to wrest access away from the unincorporated citizens."It's well-heeled, well-connected. It's not the Wal-Mart crowd, that's for sure.".....