Government and Politics
The Board of County Commissioners governs all unincorporated areas of the county under the state's constitution, with the power to adopt ordinances, approve the County budget, set millages, and provide services. The county's municipalities, while governing their own affairs, may call upon the County for specialized services. The County Administrator, appointed by and reporting to the Board, oversees most of the day-to-day operations of the county.
The county's government website won a "Sunny Award" in 2010 for its proactive disclosure of government data from Sunshine Review.
Pinellas County, like much of the I-4 Corridor stretching from Tampa Bay to Orlando, is an important swing county in one of the nation's most important swing states and is closely divided between its predominantly liberal largest city (St. Petersburg) and its predominantly conservative north and beaches. In 2008 Barack Obama won 53% of the county's votes with 248,299 votes while John McCain won 45% of the vote or 210,066 votes. In 2004 Pinellas swung the other way, with George W. Bush winning a plurality of 50% with 225,686 votes and John Kerry following closely behind with 225,460 votes and 49.51% of the vote.
In national politics, portions of Pinellas fall into Florida's 9th, 10th, and 11th congressional districts, served by Republican U.S. Representatives Gus Bilirakis and C.W. "Bill" Young, and Democrat Kathy Castor, respectively.
In state politics, portions of Pinellas are represented in the Florida Senate by Republican State Senators Jack Latvala, Dennis L. Jones, and Mike Fasano, and Democratic State Senator Arthenia Joyner. In the Florida House the county is represented by Republicans Peter Nehr of Tarpon Springs, Richard Corcoran of New Port Richey (representing parts of Dunedin), Ed Hooper of Clearwater, and Larry Ahern, Jeff Brandes, and James Frishe of St. Petersburg and Democrats Rick Kriseman and Darryl Rouson of St. Petersburg.
| Year | Democrat | Republican |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 53.6% 248,299 | 45.3% 210,066 |
| 2004 | 49.5% 225,460 | 49.6% 225,686 |
| 2000 | 50.3% 200,657 | 46.4% 184,849 |
| 1996 | 49.1% 184,748 | 40.4% 152,155 |
| 1992 | 38% 160,528 | 37.6% 159,121 |
| 1988 | 41.7% 152,420 | 57.8% 211,049 |
| 1984 | 34.8% 128,574 | 65.2% 240,612 |
| 1980 | 40.1% 138,428 | 53.8% 185,728 |
| 1976 | 48.0% 141,879 | 50.8% 150,003 |
| 1972 | 30.0% 77,197 | 69.8% 179,541 |
| 1968 | 32.3% 68,209 | 51.7% 109,235 |
| 1964 | 55.0% 98,381 | 45.0% 80,414 |
| 1960 | 36.31% 58,054 | 63.7% 101,779 |
Read more about this topic: Pinellas County, Florida
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