Prosecutors and Red Tides and bears! Oh my! All in the past week in Tampa Bay | Editorial
A roundup of the good, the bad and the worrying this week across Tampa Bay and Florida.
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Clockwise: The Safety Harbor bear, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Red Tide threatens Tampa Bay, Allison Miller [ Times files ]
This article represents the opinion of the Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board.
Published 51 minutes ago
After decades, voters have a choice.For the first time in 30 years, voters will have a choice for the top law enforcement officer in Pinellas and Pasco counties. Allison Miller filed this week to run in 2022 as a Democrat against Republican incumbent Bruce Bartlett for state attorney in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which covers Pinellas and Pasco. Miller, 38, a longtime assistant public defender, said she would make broader use of criminal diversionary programs and establish a civil rights division to track racial disparities in prosecutions. Bartlett took over in January after the death of his old boss, longtime State Attorney Bernie McCabe. Bartlett said he is looking forward to the campaign to discuss his officeâs âunwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law.â These two candidates appear to have sharply different visions for the local justice system. Having the race on the ballot for the first time since 1992 will at least give voters the opportunity to say in which direction they want the office to head.