HTV is Hillsborough County’s cable TV channel that provides programming about County government and the services it provides. For the Black Heritage Celebration, HTV planned a half hour show about blacks in politics. As part of the show, producers wanted an interview with a black politician, and asked Joyce Russell, Hillsborough County’s African-American liaison, to set it up.
I’m guessing that wouldn’t be an easy task. Imagine Ms. Russell on the phone:
Hi there! I’m looking to book an interview for our show on TV…
Yeah, HTV…
No it’s Hillsborough County Television…
No, well, it’s kinda like public access, but just government…
No, I’m not sure what channel it is on…
Well, yes, I am certain that somebody has actually at least flipped by it at some point.
Ok, well thanks for your time.
And that is about how it went. She asked School Board member Doretha Edgecomb, and was denied. She asked Sen. Arthenia Joyner, but there was a conflict. She tried Rep. Betty Reed, who was unavailable. She reached out to Tampa City Council member Tom Scott, and he too couldn’t make it.
Then she was able to corner former state Senator Les Miller at a meeting they both attended. And he agreed to do it!
The interview was taped, and the show was all set to go. But then one of your County Commissioners heard about it. And I know you haven’t missed it, but the show has not yet made it to your television set.
See, Les Miller recently announced he was going to run for the County Commission, targeting Kevin White’s seat (next year). County Commissioner Kevin White learned of Miller’s pending TV appearance, and had a cow. He sent an email to Russell, pointing out that that he too was a black politician, and should have been invited on the show:
White wrote that he found it “reprehensible and personally offensive” that he hadn’t been asked to be on the program.
“At what point does it dawn on you to ask the ONLY African American elected official on the (County Commission), who also happens to be a Black in Politics, and who also went to the inauguration and was intimately involved in the 2008 presidential process,” he asked.
What a jerk. Russell was just trying to do her job, and this knucklehead wants to blame her for his low profile. It’s a close cousin to “Don’t you know who I am?”
Seriously, Kevin, chill out. We’re talking about being on a channel that basically collects dust. This interview is not going to be shown at halftime of the Super Bowl.
I understand that they will both be competing for a spot on the vaunted Hillsborough County Commission (next year). But do you REALLY think one interview on H-freaking-TV 18 months before the primary is going to make much of a difference?
If so (and we wouldn’t be surprised), then you got bigger problems than this, brother.
Jo
1 year ago
Kevin White is a jerk. The only place he is going to is to jail, so yes, chill out, your time on TV is coming!
crack ho
1 year ago
i like Kevin.
Anonymous
1 year ago
Kevin “I’m kind of a big deal” White
Meredith
1 year ago
Isn’t he part of the Gang of Four? Maybe one of his corporate sponsors can get him some air time to make him feel better.
Tony
1 year ago
I personnaly think he did the right thing. Like him or hate him he’s got the position and for now theirs not a damn thing we can do about it.
Jessica
1 year ago
Hey Jo where is all this jail stuff coming from? He’s not in bed with Frank Sanchez and that crew is he?
Patsy
1 year ago
Sounds like something Pam would do!
jason
1 year ago
hell, why didn’t they ask ME to do it? I was not called and I have been told I have a very nice tan.
Anita B
1 year ago
I think it’s amazing Tommy how you feel you can make attacks against a politician without really understanding the context of the functions and responsibilities of government. You and others like Sue Carlton can think what you like about Commissioner White, but you cannot deny that the liaison made a poor choice in selecting Les Miller… not to mention completely excluding Commissioner White in the entire process of planning for the show, especially considering that he is in fact the only African American on the board and also attended the inauguration.
Since you, Tommy, are so all-knowing about Hillsborough County politics, I am sure you also know that it is against county policy to have a candidate running against an incumbent featured on htv… a clear conflict of interest don’t you think? Which brings me to probably the only valid point that Kevin White-haters have brought to the table… that perhaps the commissioner himself should not be featured in the program. Fair enough, but do your research before making judgments.
Clyde
1 year ago
My question is what is Hillsborough County doing running a TV station? And why should the station be subject to political pressure??? Are we supporting a private campaign network for the BOCC?? Some seem to think so. This particular incident just highlights the arrogance and hubris of the BOCC.
Anita, which function and/or responsibility of government permits a politician to influence the content of public access TV??
Anita B
1 year ago
Clyde, I am not saying that the BOCC should micro-manage htv. However, htv, like any other county department, is subject to the criticism of the board of any of its members, and any commissioner (whether you like him/her or not), has the right to request that a procedure inproperly followed be corrected. That’s why they are the elected officials.
And you are absolutely right, the station should not cover political material to the benefit of one politician over another (I thought I made that point clear before). Which goes back to my main point that some people are having difficulty understanding… A competent county employee would not have placed a political rival on the public tv show… again, a conflict of interest.
And by the way, Hillsborough County has in fact had a tv show for a number of years. It allows citizens to watch live and pre-recorded public meetings, but it also provides other informational materials. If you really dislike the idea of the county running a tv show, maybe you should come out and lobby against it. I am sure you are not alone.
Anita B
1 year ago
Clyde, I am not saying that the BOCC should micro-manage htv. However, htv, like any other county department, is subject to the criticism of the board of any of its members, and any commissioner (whether you like him/her or not), has the right to request that a procedure improperly followed be corrected. That’s why they are the elected officials.
And you are absolutely right, the station should not cover political material to the benefit of one politician over another (I thought I made that point clear before). Which goes back to my main point that some people are having difficulty understanding… A competent county employee would not have placed a political rival on the public tv show… again, a conflict of interest.
And by the way, Hillsborough County has in fact had a tv show for a number of years. It allows citizens to watch live and pre-recorded public meetings, but it also provides other informational materials. If you really dislike the idea of the county running a tv show, maybe you should come out and lobby against it. I am sure you are not alone.
crack ho
1 year ago
here’s a video of Tommy, of Sticks of Fire fame.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHUD_lk2rYw
most of the video clips were taken from shows on Hillsborough County’s TV network.
is this appropriate use of government resources? i would say yes, it supports the arts, but i think resonable people could certainly disagree. Maybe Kevin White should be in this video instead!