County Commissioners’ Bio’s

During her tenure in the House of Representatives, Murman worked on issues such as nursing shortages, long term care reform for elderly services, nursing home litigation reform, and critical reform of child protective services and foster care. She also spearheaded growth management legislation to address school facility issues, financial practice reviews of our school districts, and keeping adult entertainment establishments from being located near schools and children. Murman has lived in Hillsborough County for more than 35 years and has spent many hours volunteering her time as an active community advocate as well as a public policy leader. She has been directly involved in more than 20 organizations that support our community and enhances the lives of children and families.

Murman was selected to serve on the Prepaid College Foundation Board, the Florida Taxwatch Commission on Education Performance and Accountability, and the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County. She also serves as a civic leader on many other boards and commissions that help children such as past chair of the board of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce, past chair of the Brandon Regional Hospital Board, and for the Brandon Community Foundation, Hillsborough Kids, Inc., PACE Center for Girls, The Children’s Home, Healthy Start Coalition, Communities In Schools, founding director of LLT Charter School, The Children’s Museum, and Dream Givers.

As part of her duties as County Commissioner, Murman will serve on the following Boards and Councils: Florida Association of Counties Urban Caucus Representative, HART Authority Board, Metropolitan Planning Organization, Southwest Florida Water Management District Liaison, Tampa Port Authority, Tampa Bay Water, Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance, Inc. and Value Adjustment Board.

Murman is a native of Indiana and a graduate of Indiana University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Marketing. She is married to local attorney Jim Murman and they have a daughter, Michele, who graduated from Florida State University and is currently in graduate school to be a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

For more than two decades, Commissioner Crist has been shepherding civic engagement, economic development, and innovative public/private partnerships to prevent crime, improve quality of life and help thousands of people become productive citizens.

As part of his duties as County Commissioner, Crist will serve on the following Boards and Councils: Aviation Authority, Council of Governments, Florida Association of Counties Board of Directors, Friendship Trailbridge Oversight Committee, Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group, Public Transportation Commission, Tampa Bay Estuary Program Policy Board, and Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.

Victor Crist was born in New Orleans, LA, grew up in Treasure Island, Florida and has lived in north Hillsborough County for more than 30 years. He graduated with honors from the University of South Florida in 1983 with a B.A. degree in Communication, a minor in Business Administration, and additional graduate studies in Communication. While working his way through college, he started Metropolitan Communications, Inc., an advertising agency, of which he is still president.

Commissioner Crist and his wife Angela enjoy traveling, outdoor activities, the arts, sports and time with their chocolate Labrador dog Coco

Miller also previously served as the director of the Office of Community Relations and Office of the Student Ombudsman for the University of South Florida, and as the manager of Minority Business Development and Governmental Relations for Tampa General Hospital.

Miller has been recognized over the years by many organizations and has received the Florida Education Association President’s Award; the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Memorial Service Robert W. Saunders Awards for Efforts to Promote Civil Rights; the University of South Florida Presidents’ Distinguished Citizens Award; the Early Learning Coalition Legislative Excellence Award; Florida League of Cities Legislative Award; and the Florida Housing Coalition Legislative Award.

He also is active in civic affairs, including being a life member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; a member of the Harram Temple No. 23, Prince Hall Shriners; member of the Prince Hall Masons; life member of the Landmark Lodge No. 93; member of the East Tampa Business and Civic Association; a life member of the Tampa Branch of the NAACP; and a deacon and trustee of the New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church.

As part of his duties as County Commissioner, Miller also will serve on the following Boards and Councils: Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission Vice-Chairman, Affordable Housing Advisory Board, Expressway Authority, Fair Authority, an alternate on the Emergency Policy Group, Hospital Authority, the Juvenile Justice Council, Metropolitan Planning Organization, and Public Transportation Commission.

Les Miller served in the United States Air Force as an administrative specialist from 1971-1974. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of South Florida in 1978, undertook studies of public administration at the master’s level from the University of South Florida in 1978, and received an honorary doctorate degree in humane letters from FAMU in 2005.

Commissioner Miller is married to Gwendolyn Miller, who currently serves on the City of Tampa Council, and has four children and six grandchildren.

Higginbotham moved into the private sector by starting a real estate brokerage firm, and served for three years as chairman of the Hillsborough County Republican Party.

Higginbotham was elected to the County Commission in November 2006 to represent District 4, which encompasses eastern and southern Hillsborough County. He served as the County Commission’s Chaplain for two years, and was appointed the Chair in 2010.

Commissioner Hagan also serves as the Board of County Commissioner’s representative on the Committee of 6, Florida Association of Counties Board of Directors, an alternate on the Emergency Policy Group, Hospital Authority, Tampa Bay and Company, Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority, and Tampa Sports Authority. In addition, Commissioner Hagan has chaired the County’s Transportation Task Force.

Ken Hagan has a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Tampa. He and his wife, Susan, have a son, Jake and daughter, Elizabeth.

Beckner’s professional background includes ownership of a musical entertainment business and now as a Certified Financial Planner. He has served as President, Leadership Tampa Bay, Class of 2006; was a member of Ybor City Chamber of Commerce; and has supported various human rights’ organizations throughout the Tampa Bay region.

Since entering office, Commissioner Beckner has been a champion for at-risk children and their families. He created the Juvenile Justice Task Force whose mission is to help at risk youth become more productive citizens within our community. He continues to promote fiscal responsibility, sustainable growth with respect for the environment and transparency in government, as well as advocating for a multimodal transportation system.

As part of his duties as a County Commissioner, Beckner currently serves on the following Boards and Councils: Chairman of the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission, Arts Council, Children’s Board, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, Metropolitan Planning Organization, Public Safety Coordinating Council, and Value Adjustment Board.

Prior to his election, Sharpe served eight years as an active-duty officer in the U.S. Navy. He retired after two decades of service, which included 12 years in the U.S. Naval Reserves. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in multinational business from Florida State University, he earned a master’s degree in strategic studies from the University of South Florida.

Sharpe is working to address the transportation needs of our community by emphasizing a regional, multi-modal solution. He is an active member of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, Metropolitan Planning Organization and served three years on Hillsborough County’s Transportation Task Force.

Economic growth and workforce development comprise his other top priorities in office. He is on the board of directors for Tampa Bay Partnership for Regional Economic Development and, in July, 2008, Governor Crist appointed Sharpe to the state workforce board, Workforce Florida, Inc.

He also is Chairman of the Health Care Study Committee, which reconvened in May, 2009 to evaluate Hillsborough Health Care, the County’s managed care program for uninsured, low-income residents.

Additionally, Sharpe represents the Board of County Commissioners the following boards and committees: Committee of 6, Emergency Policy Group, Museum of Science and Industry, and Tampa Bay Water.