Hillsborough County Commission District 2, Republican primary

Winner: Ken Hagan

Incumbent Ken Hagan is running on his six-year record, including the last 10 months as commission chairman. Activist Tom Aderhold, a business owner, argues the record is meager, and he is the more aggressive problem-solver.

	Tom Aderhold, 64	Ken Hagan, 40
Experience	For 27 years, Aderhold ran a company providing human-resources and risk-management services. He helped draft Keystone’s growth plan. He convinced the county in 2000 to ban cell-phone towers near homes. Since then, he served on countywide advisory boards for setting transportation priorities, combating drug abuse and managing lake ecology. He is president of the Keystone Civic Association.	Hagan worked in insurance and investment jobs before winning his commission seat in 2002. He won re-election in 2004. Kept a low profile until last year, when he chaired a task force that devised $500-million in transportation projects by borrowing against future sales-tax money. Hagan also worked to procure new parks and libraries in District 2; championed child-protection measures and voted against all tax hikes.
The pitch	He thinks big, and considers Hagan timid. Aderhold asks: Why can’t the county, city and school system merge fleet maintenance, purchasing, information technology, law enforcement? Why not build government facilities in power-line corridors? Thinks developers should pay for the infrastructure to support projects. He says public-private solutions can be found for every major problem. “I’m not a wallflower.”	Hagan wants to map a second round of transportation funding for long-range plans like light rail and express buses and is on a regional body that could implement such a plan. Wants to increase the county’s attention on affordable “workforce housing.” A Little League coach who grew up in youth sports, he wants to continue to push expansion of recreation. He helped save after-school programs from budget cuts.
County mayor proposal	Supports it, barring “hidden details.”	“Decidedly opposed,” saying it would add bureaucracy.
Extend ELAPP — Yes or no?	Yes, with conditions: Buy the proper land, maintain them with volunteers as much as possible.	Yes. He supports the ballot proposal that would extend the environmental land acquisition program.
Let voters decide comp plan changes?	Leaving it solely to voters “can become rather cumbersome,’’ but current system is too adversarial. Open to a compromise.	Supports voters deciding things, but sees problems: hard to make ballot item out of some plans; south county would vote on north county plans.
Assets	Investments	Home, investments
Liabilities	Loans	Loans
Net worth	$3.75-million	$824,000
Income	Investments	County salary
Personal	Keystone resident. Married to Barbara, two daughters, three grandchildren.	Carrollwood resident. Married to Susan Hagan, two children.
Web site	Yes	Yes
E-mail	Yes	Yes

About the job: County Commissioners approve a $3.9-billion budget, run the Environmental Protection Commission, and approve local ordinances and zoning. District 2 covers north Hillsborough County, from Westchase to Thonotosassa.