Tampa – Two-term Hillsborough County commissioner Kevin Beckner has announced that he will be running for Hillsborough County Clerk of Court. Beckner was elected to the county commission in 2008 as the first openly gay elected official in Hillsborough County. He easily won re-election in 2012 and has reached his term limit.
His filing challenges current clerk of court and fellow Democrat Pat Frank, who said she will seek re-election in 2016.
“The clerk of the court acts as the chief financial officer for the county,” said Beckner. “He manages the county’s investment portfolio and serves as both auditor and recorder. My 16 years as a certified financial planner will be a great asset to bring this to this position.”
Beckner, 44, said the second area of responsibility for the clerk is maintaining all the county court records. He said his expertise in technology will be helpful in that regard. He helped integrate several differing computing platforms for the juvenile welfare system, allowing the systems to seamlessly communicate with each other where there had been problems in the past.
Frank, 85, is a former county commissioner and state legislator. She was first elected clerk of the circuit court in 2004 and was re-elected without opposition in 2008 and 2012.
During his tenure as county commissioner, Beckner distinguished himself as a champion of human rights. Among his accomplishments were the passage of a human rights ordinance, the passage of a domestic partner registry and being instrumental in repealing the county’s ban on recognizing LGBT Pride events.
He was also instrumental in championing several public safety initiatives, including founding the Juvenile Justice Task Force that led to the expansion of the Civil Citation program for first-time misdemeanor offenders, introducing and passing ordinances that shut down pill mills and reduced epidemic insurance fraud related to staged auto accidents and forming a countywide violence prevention initiative to reduce the frequency and severity of violence in our communities.
In addition to public safety and human rights issues, Beckner espouses fiscal responsibility and transparency in government, sustainable growth with respect for the environment and the importance of investing in a multimodal transportation system.
The post of clerk of the court will require travel to Tallahassee, Beckner said, and he hopes to use that opportunity to further human rights issues by talking to legislators when he is in the capitol.
Beckner said that when he first considered running for county commissions there were political consultants that told him not to reveal his sexual orientation. For him that wasn’t an option.
“I ran openly and honestly about who and what I am and I believe the voters responded the way they did because they want political representatives who have integrity and will be honest with them,” said Beckner.
Beckner went on to say that in today’s world the only problem he sees with openly gay candidates running for any office is if they aren’t honest with the public about themselves and try to run for office “in the closet.”
“Voters want someone they can trust,” he said. “If you are lying to them about who you are then how can you expect them to trust you in the role you are seeking?”
Is the clerk of court position a political stepping stone for Beckner? Will we be seeing a run for higher office such as mayor, governor or a role in Congress?
“My philosophy has always been to take a look at my talents and areas of expertise and see where they could best be put to use to help the public I serve,” said Beckner. “I’ve never been about seeking certain titles or positions for their prestige or political gain. I want to be able to serve where I can make the most difference.”
That message is very similar to his two successful commission campaigns.
“I got into politics to make a difference and I have a proven record of being able to get things done,” said Beckner. “But there is a high level of burnout with people in public office. You are virtually always on the job. I talk politics with people in line at the grocery store who recognize me.
“That can be tough, but as long as I feel like what I bring to the table can help- people I’ll probably stay in public life. If I start to feel otherwise is when I might go back to the private sector.”
The burnout factor can be an issue at home, but Beckner says his spouse, Gil Sainz, a Tampa Police officer, has been very supportive of his political life.
“It can be tough because the job often requires you to be away from your spouse more than either of you would like,” Beckner said. “It’s critical to have the support at home or it doesn’t work. Gil has been wonderful and very supportive of everything I do. I couldn’t do it without that.”
A native of Michigan City, Indiana, Becker graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 1990 and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice with minors in Business and Psychology from Indiana University in 1993. He attended Harvard Kennedy School’s Executive Leadership program in 2013.
Kevin has been a Certified Financial Planner for more than 16 years.
For more information about Beckner’s run for clerk of the court visit KevinBeckner.com. Frank has yet to set up a campaign website.
