Page 8 - Florida Sentinel 1-19-18

Local
Activist Announces Candidacy For State Rep. 61 Post
On Wednesday, Ms. Dianne Hart announced plans to run for the Florida House 61 Seat. The posi- tion is being vacated by State Rep. Sean Shaw, who has announced plans to run for the Florida Attor- ney General’s Office. Cur- rent Attorney General Pam Bondi must vacate the seat due to term limits.
Ms. Hart filed paper- work with the Florida Divi-
sion of Elections to become the next State Representa- tive from District 61. Ms. Hart, known by many as Ms. Dee, is a lifelong East Tampa resident, commu- nity activist and small busi- ness owner who has spent a lifetime serving her com- munity.
Ms. Hart said, “I know firsthand the struggles and the needs facing this Dis- trict and spent a lifetime
MS. DIANNE HART
working to help our chil- dren and better our neigh- borhoods.
“For far too long we
have been ignored by those in power, our children de- serve a better education, our families need access to affordable healthcare and we must have better serv- ices for our elderly and dis- advantaged families. I vow to continue to work tire- lessly for and with the peo- ple of our community, small business owners, and neighborhood watch or- ganizations to improve the quality of life for everyone, not just the privileged few.”
In addition to her posi- tion as the CEO of the East Tampa Business and Civic
Association, Ms. Hart has owned and operated Ms. Dee’s World of Beauty, for over 30 years. She is a Board member of Hillsbor- ough County Children’s Advisory Board, the NFL YET Center, and member of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Task Force. She was recently appointed to serve on the Commission on the Status of Women by Commissioner Les Miller.
Ms. Hart’s community involvement spans decades. She has created and organized “Hart of the Community”, providing food to those in need on a weekly basis, organized major environmental cleanups within our area, assisted in the establish- ment of the CRA, worked to lower park fees for families and individuals, assisted in the organization of “813 Stop the Violence Group” and created a coalition with the City of Tampa to turn two of our worst retention ponds, into community lakes named after Robert Cole and Herbert Car- rington.
Ms. Hart earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services from Springfield College and at- tends New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. She is the mother of three children and she built a small business in the same community she now wants to serve in Tallahassee.
PAGE 8-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 2018