Jen McDonald is running for the District 1 seat on the Hillsborough County Commission.

TAMPA – Local business owner and community leader Jen McDonald has announced her candidacy for Hillsborough County Commission, District 1.

“I can’t sit back, I had to get involved so that we have solutions to move Hillsborough County forward,” McDonald said. “I love our community – but on key issues like jobs, transportation, and sustainable growth we just aren’t seeing the progress that the people of Hillsborough County deserve and expect.”

McDonald has lived in Hillsborough County for 15 years and works across the Tampa Bay area connecting entrepreneurs with their communities and helping small businesses with their risk management and insurance needs. She has served as chair of the Hillsborough Community College Business Advisory Board, president of the Historic Hyde Park Neighborhood Association, and is on the board of directors for the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce. She’s also actively involved in Working Women of Tampa Bay and the Junior League of Tampa Bay.

“People have always turned to me for solutions. I’ve spent my career working with small business owners and helping them be successful. I’ve also dedicated my time to dozens of organizations and non-profits that do great work here in Hillsborough County. I’m ready to do more for our community and take on the challenges we face,” McDonald said.

McDonald grew up riding public transit to school every day and working multiple jobs to pay for college. McDonald comes from a working-class family and now runs a successful small business. She said she understands the day-to-day challenges facing people in Hillsborough because she has faced those challenges, too.

“Not long after I moved to Tampa it took me over an hour to ride a bus and then the trolley from South Tampa to Ybor City,” McDonald said. “And when it was time to go home I found myself stranded in downtown because the buses had stopped running by 9 p.m. Today, our transportation system is even worse. Not only is there no plan to improve, most of our current county commission won’t even show basic leadership on this issue.”

Jen is riding a wave of enthusiasm about female candidates and said she promises to bring a fresh and direct approach to the county commission.

“This county commission is failing our families, veterans, and small business owners. Every day the status quo continues, we lose out on new investments for our community and new jobs for our people,” McDonald said. “That’s why we need someone with a proven track record of service. I look forward to sharing my experience and my priorities with voters.”

McDonald is running for the District 1 seat held by Sandra Murman, who is running for the District 7 seat on the commission.

McDonald is the only Democrat in the race so far. Two Republicans – C. Todd Marks and Aakash Patel – are also running.

For information about McDonald, go to facebook.com.

Jen McDonald | Hillsborough County Commission | Sandra Murman | Politics | Elections | Tampabay News

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