Republican Hillsborough County School Board member Stacy Hahn has filed to run for the Hillsborough County Commission, challenging another Republican in a gambit for the countywide District 5 seat.

Hahn, who has served on the Hillsborough County School Board since 2018, announced her candidacy by citing her experience with the School District as evidence of her fiscal responsibility and belief in limited government.

The countywide District 5 seat is currently held by incumbent Republican Commissioner Donna Cameron Cepeda, who won election in 2022 as part of a broader GOP sweep that flipped control of the Hillsborough County Commission. 

The race is already drawing significant attention, with well-funded Democratic challenger Neil Manimala also vying to claim the seat. Manimala has a significant lead in funds raised, with his campaign already reporting more than $121,000 compared to $6,000 raised by Cepeda, according to Supervisor of Elections records. Hahn has not yet been required to submit a funding report.

Hahn described herself as a conservative who supports limited government and fiscal discipline, arguing that government is most effective when it empowers individuals, families and businesses rather than expanding bureaucracy.

In a statement, Hahn said her time on the School Board gave her a firsthand view of how county-level decisions affect classrooms, neighborhoods and the local economy, touching on issues such as public safety, infrastructure, housing affordability and budgeting.

“As a School Board member, I worked closely with families, educators, and community partners, and I saw firsthand how county decisions impact our classrooms, neighborhoods, and local economy — from public safety and infrastructure to housing affordability and responsible budgeting,” Hahn said.

“Hillsborough County is a unique and beautiful place with tremendous potential. To unlock that potential, we need common-sense leadership at the County Center — leaders who are focused on improving quality of life for every neighborhood, supporting local businesses, and being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.”

First elected to the School Board in 2018, Hahn has focused her tenure on financial transparency, literacy initiatives, workforce and career pathways, and early childhood education. She has pointed to her oversight of the School District’s roughly $4.4 billion budget and management of the county’s largest employer as preparation for the demands of county government, saying that experience helped her balance budgets, manage growth and deliver results.

Hahn has also been involved in a range of community and nonprofit efforts, including literacy- and STEM-focused programs, according to her campaign materials. She lives in Tampa with her husband, Jeff, their three children, Ethan, Jackson and Aidan, and their dog Rocky.

Hahn said she is “excited about the work ahead and the opportunity to serve.”

A Senate bill proposing more regulations on e-bikes and scooters is gaining traction, though with some modifications.

The Senate Transportation Committee unanimously approved a measure (SB 382) sponsored by Sen. Keith Truenow, a Tavares Republican, that calls for increased regulation and data collection on e-bikes and scooters. Those devices have grown in popularity in recent years, with more accidents involving the devices occurring as well.

In the committee meeting, Truenow said he provided a strike-all amendment to revise his original draft of the bill.

“As we know it’s been a fad for a lot of reasons,” Truenow said of the growing popularity of e-bikes. “They’re causing more and more problems.”

He said his original draft called for an increase in enforcement of e-bikes and scooters. But he acknowledged that, as the original bill was scrutinized, stakeholders worried provisions in the original proposal “would be difficult to accomplish.”

A major amendment calls to establish an “electric bicycle task force.” Truenow said the issue of e-bikes in particular needs thorough study before enforcement stipulations are settled.

“The purpose of the task force is to examine and recommend improvements to state law and regulatory framework governing electric bicycles in order to encourage the safe operation of electric bicycles and to prevent traffic incidents, injuries, and fatalities involving such bicycles,” the bill states.

The Electric Bicycle Safety Task Force would collect data on e-bike and scooter accidents, provide recommendations on enforcement, and submit a report to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The e-bike task force would be composed of representatives of law enforcement, the e-bike industry and other “stakeholders,” and will be charged with completing its report in the Fall.

The amended bill still calls for e-bike operators to be restricted “above a certain speed limit.” Truenow said, at least initially, he would like to see speeds capped at 10 mph on sidewalks, trails and pathways.

But Sen. Shevrin Jones, a Miami Gardens Democrat, wondered how that speed limit would be enforced.

Truenow acknowledged that would have to rely on “best judgment,” and it’s doubtful that radar detector devices would be readily available in pedestrian areas.

Other members of the committee wondered if increased enforcement of e-bikes and scooters would reduce access to easy and affordable transportation for some Florida residents who rely on them.

“We’re not seeing the problems coming from those folks,” Truenow said, noting that more rowdy operators and “YouTubers” are the main target of increased enforcement, which would ultimately result in a noncriminal infraction.

Republican Rep. Yvette Benarroch is sponsoring a similar bill in the House (HB 243). That bill has three committee stops ahead.

E-bikes have been increasing in presence on roads, especially in the Sunshine State, where tourist-rich areas are seeing a striking rise, with accidents increasing as well.

Some local governments have already enacted some e-bike regulations. The Palm Coast City Council passed an ordinance in October that makes it illegal for owners of the vehicles to modify the battery-powered engines to exceed 30 mph, along with other stipulations.

The St. Johns County Commission passed a resolution in August to join forces with the Sheriff’s Office and the St. Johns County School District to promote more awareness and safety for the operators of e-bikes, e-scooters and other electronic motorized devices.