This is our Second Call for Candidates for Supervisor, District Seat 5. Qualified and Passionate members of the agricultural community of Hillsborough County should get their letter/email of intent to serve the office in No Later Than December 1st, 2025.   As of today, we have only had 1 informal conversation with someone interested in running.  

“Qualified” means a registered voter here in Hillsborough County, and supporting documents attached to the letter of intent to demonstrate a person is engaged in “AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION” or the management of “AGRICULTURAL LANDS”

A candidate need meet only one qualification of four options, and I’m clarifying below how to substantiate the qualification. While the conditions are listed in Title XXXV, Chapter 582, F.S., the definitions of those qualifications are spelled out under two Chapters – 570, Agricultural Production and 193, Agricultural Lands.

1. “Actively engaged in Agriculture” means running a for-profit farm, plant nursery, sod farm or animal husbandry operation, in order to deliver that commodity to market.
   1. Proper documents must include some kind of financial statement to prove the candidate is running a for profit agricultural commodity

1. “actively employed by an Agricultural Producer” means being a W-2 employee of a for-profit crop farm, plant nursery, fish or sod farm or animal husbandry. This DOES NOT include other businesses that provide services or vital supplies to active producers.
   1. Documents must be W-2s with a business know to be an agricultural producer in our local area.

1. Current owner of designated agricultural lands that are actively being managed consistent with crop farming, plant nursery, fish or sod farm, or animal husbandry.
   1. A property card showing that the qualifying property is designated for agricultural land use, and a TAX BILL showing that the property is receiving its “GREEN BELT DESIGNATION”

1. Employee working in the management of agricultural lands, either for an agricultural producer on that land, or for the landowner. This does not include working in any other capacity, than as a farm worker or land manager.

****Employees of government agencies, fertilizer companies, trucking companies, independent packing houses, real estate or marketing companies do not qualify.

Please understand that the failure of this District’s Board to self-police and enforce the statutory qualifications already has caught the attention of the Hillsborough BOCC and may jeopardize our substantial funding from the County Administration, as well as placing us in legal jeopardy with the State Legislature.

We are asking everyone to vigorously discuss the opportunity and encourage folks to step up to the plate. The term of office will be up for reelection in November 2026.

An Email structured as a letter of intent with a best phone number, and with the requested constructive proof of eligibility can be emailed to me at Walshjo@HCFL.gov

I will prescreen applications to make sure everything is in order for presentation to the Board, so I’ll need a phone number to call.

The Board will conduct interviews and is taking its authority for enforcing the Chapter 582 qualifications seriously.