Hillsborough commission chooses Hagan as new chairman

TAMPA -- Hillsborough County commissioners chose Ken Hagan as their new chairman this morning, replacing Jim Norman, the dean of the commission and Hagan's former Little League coach.

Commissioners elected Mark Sharpe vice chairman over Kevin White, the commission's lone Democrat. Brian Blair will remain as chaplain.

Commissioners also made choices for other governmental boards and agencies, ousting Commissioner Rose Ferlita from a seat on the Tampa Port Authority and giving it to Commissioner Brian Blair.

Ferlita, whose district includes the port and Hillsborough's shoreline, argued to keep her post on the Port Authority. After losing it, she cited "scuttlebutt" that Blair had wanted to be vice chairman of the County Commission but other commissioners had decided to give him the Port Authority assignment as "a consolation prize." Blair denied that and said he had not been a candidate for vice chair. "I enjoy being chaplain."

Norman retained his longtime seat on the Tampa Sports Authority without any discussion. Blair relinquished his chairmanship of the Environmental Protection Commission to Al Higginbotham, a position Higginbotham had voluntarily ceded to Blair last year.

- Bill Coats, Times staff writer