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| {{Infobox_Politician | |||
| | name = Ronda Storms | |||
| | image = RondaStorms.jpg | |||
| | width = | |||
| | height = | |||
| | caption = | |||
| | office = ], District 10 | |||
| | term_start = 2006 | |||
| | term_end = present | |||
| | predecessor = ] | |||
| | successor = incumbent | |||
| | constituency = Eastern ], Southeast<br>] and<br>Western ] | |||
| | office2 = Hillsborough County Commission,<br>District 4 | |||
| | term_start2 = 1998 | |||
| | term_end2 = 2006 | |||
| | predecessor2 = | |||
| | successor2 = ] | |||
| | constituency2 = ], ], ], ], ], ] | |||
| | office3 = | |||
| | term_start3 = | |||
| | term_end3 = | |||
| | predecessor3 = | |||
| | successor3 = | |||
| | constituency3 = | |||
| | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|09|05}} | |||
| | birth_place = ], ] | |||
| | residence = ] | |||
| | death_date = | |||
| | death_place = | |||
| | spouse = David Storms | |||
| | civil partner = | |||
| | children = Roxanna Storms | |||
| | occupation = ],<br>] | |||
| | religion = ] | |||
| | party = ] | |||
| | website = http://www.rondastorms.com | |||
| | footnotes = | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Ronda R. Storms''' (born '''Ronda Rehnell Newcomb''' on ], ]) is a ] member of the ] of the ] of ], representing the 10th District since ]. | |||
| Storms had an eight-year tenure on the ] Commission (1998-2006), for which she is well known, and pushed a number of controversial issues. These issues included a fight against establishing the proposed ] School of Law in ], a campaign in favor of the ] of men and women convicted of ], eliminating county-appropriated money for ], and perhaps most publicized, her crusade for the county to officially abstain from recognizing ] and ] events held inside county lines, which was passed in June 2005 despite vocal opposition, most notably from openly gay topless dance club proprietor ]. She is also recognized by her quick tongue and often scathing ] remarks, many of which she does not retract, stating "I am not apologizing for who I am."<ref name="famu">{{cite web|title=FAMU remark raises eyebrows|last=Karp|first=David|url=http://www.sptimes.com/News/062900/news_pf/State/FAMU_remark_raises_ey.shtml|publisher=]|accessdate=2006-12-29}}</ref> | |||
| ==Background and personal life== | |||
| Ronda Newcomb was born in ], into a ], and moved around often, growing up in ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mincing few words, pulling no punches|last=Varian|first=Bill|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2004/04/26/Hillsborough/Mincing_few_words__pu.shtml|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|accessdate=2006-12-29}} </ref> Spending many formative years in Turkey, she used to be fluent in the ], but has had "little call for the language recently."<ref name="style">{{cite web|title=Storms Plans to Keep Her Direct Style|last=Crouse|first=Julia|url=http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20061026&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=610260425&Ref=AR|publisher=]|accessdate=2006-12-29}}</ref> | |||
| The Newcomb family finally settled in ] when Ronda was 15, and she graduated from ] in ]. She earned a ] degree in English education from the ] in ]. For a time, she taught English at ] in ], and later went on to pursue her ] at the ] in ], receiving her law degree in ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Senators' Pages: Ronda Storms|url=http://www.flsenate.gov/Legislators/index.cfm?Members=View+Page&LastName=Lee&District_Num_Link=010&Title=-%3ESenate-%3ELee%2C+Tom&Submenu=1&Tab=legislators&chamber=Senate|publisher=Florida Senate|accessdate=2006-12-29}}</ref> | |||
| She married David Storms in ] ]. They have one daughter, Roxanna (born 1999). They currently reside in her home district in Valrico. Her husband is a ] at Brandon First Baptist Church, where she has been a parishioner for over 25 years.<ref name="tested">{{cite web|title=Ronda Storms: A Tested Leader|url=http://www.rondastorms.com/MeetRonda/tabid/677/Default.aspx|publisher=Ronda Storms for Senate|accessdate=2006-12-29}}</ref> | |||
| ==Hillsborough County Commission== | |||
| In all three of her elections, Storms ran on a "responsibility" platform, believing strong moral principles from voters, politicians and other public officials were key for there to be responsible government.<ref name="tested" /> In addition to simply acting in a "morally responsible" fashion, Storms was also a proponent of ]s, believing that people can only trust government officials when they can see for themselves that they are not corrupt. Storms' other platforms included ], helping make the cost of living affordable for ] families, and lower ]es. | |||
| ===Elections and challengers=== | |||
| Storms was first elected to the Hillsborough County Commission in 1998. She was re-elected in 2002 and 2004. Her opponent in 2002 was Arlene Waldron, who claimed that Storms' comments had polarized too many constituents. Since both candidates were Republican, Storms won the election in 2002 at the state ] level.<ref>{{cite web|title=Forthright Storms fends off challenger|last=Ballingrud|first=David|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2002/09/11/news_pf/Hillsborough/Forthright_Storms_fen.shtml|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|accessdate=2006-12-29}}</ref> Her opponent in 2004 was Jean Batronie, who ran as an ].<ref>{{cite web|title=From different worlds: For the most part, Ronda Storms declines to discuss Jean Batronie's personal life.|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2004/10/26/news_pf/Knowyourcandidates/HILLSBOROUGH_COMM_4.shtml|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|accessdate=2006-12-29}}</ref> | |||
| ===Issues and controversies=== | |||
| Due to Storms' aggressive nature and unpredictable choice of words, she found herself embroiled in a number of controversies while on the Hillsborough County Commission. | |||
| ====Florida A&M School of Law controversy==== | |||
| In the summer of ], alumni from Florida A&M University asked the Commission for a $1,000,000 commitment to start a School of Law in Tampa (the main branch of Florida A&M is based in ]). Storms, attending the meeting that night, made a remark that she said was intended to mean that creating a ] law school will not increase the number of minority lawyers in the state. Storms said, "We can get them through law school, but we can't get them to seem to pass the ]."<ref name="famu" /> The comment met with much controversy in the black community of Tampa, as well as with the Florida A&M alumni still living in Florida, as it was perceived that Storms made a remark that minority students were not smart enough to be capable of passing the state Bar exam. | |||
| Two anonymous people offended with Storms' quote called her office the next day, with no comment made on what their exact message was, or if any threats were made against Storms. Storms was unruffled; she apologized if anyone took offense, but noted, "I believe it is an attempt to intimidate honest public discourse...This is how (they) can tar and feather me...By accusing you of racism, (they) can turn you into someone you are not. I know who in my core I am."<ref name="famu" /> | |||
| When asked if the comment about minorities being capable to pass the Bar was offensive to her, Mary White Darby, president of the Florida A&M Tampa alumni association, responded, "How could she not offend you?"<ref name="famu" /> Carolyn Collins, former vice president of Florida A&M's national alumni association, said, "I don't think (Storms) is important enough. All someone has to do is look at her track record or watch her on TV and see how she responds. She has not been stable in some of her comments."<ref name="famu" /> After the backlash, Storms took on a more conciliatory tone and openly apologized, stating that she is not a racist, and personally tried to make amends with Thomas Scott, who at the time was the only black member of the Commission. He said of her, "She wanted me to understand that she isn't a racist, and that is not my perception. She's a very vocal person. It's just her style."<ref name="famu" /> | |||
| Even though her comment created controversy, Storms was adamant in not allowing Florida A&M to open a law school in Tampa. It was eventually opened in ] in ]. | |||
| ====Child abuser sterilization plan==== | |||
| In ] and ], Storms tried to introduce a law which would approve sterilization for men and women convicted of child abuse in Hillsborough County. The original motion was approved by all commissioners in attendance in February 2005.<ref>{{cite web|title=Commission backs sterilization for abusers|last=Varian|first=Bill|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2005/02/03/news_pf/Hillsborough/Commission_backs_ster.shtml|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|accessdate=2006-12-29}}</ref> When the County Attorney, Renée Lee, made it known to Storms that only the state legislature could pass such statutes, not the County Commission, she made it high priority to lobby for the bill to various legislators. Originally the bill called for sterilization to be voluntary, but between February and April 2005, Storms rewrote the bill, which would make sterilization a mandatory part of sentencing.<ref>{{cite web|title=County commissioner again pushes to sterilize child abusers |url=http://www.abcactionnews.com/stories/2005/04/050419storms.shtml|publisher=]|accessdate=2006-12-29}}</ref> The Florida legislature turned down Storms' bill in 2005, citing lack of time to discuss it. The bill also did not come up for discussion in 2006, meaning the ruling from the Commission in early 2005 does not have any legal standing. | |||
| ====Ending county funding to Planned Parenthood==== | |||
| In ], Storms called for the elimination of funding for a teenager outreach program funded by ], which teaches adolescents about safe sex, drugs, gangs, and family violence. The refusal for funding was passed by the board by a vote of 5-2. By doing so, the Commission cut off any aid to Planned Parenthood, as the county does not fund any other Planned Parenthood initiatives.<ref name="backs">{{cite web|title=Commission backs off Planned Parenthood|last=George|first=Justin|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2005/07/29/Hillsborough/Commission_backs_off_.shtml|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|accessdate=2006-12-29}}</ref> | |||
| After Barbara Zdravecky, who oversees Planned Parenthood for 15 counties throughout central Florida, asked Storms to reconsider her proposal on ], ], Storms said she told Zdravecky, "I am pro-life and you're not...There is nothing you can say or do for me to support you. Thank you very much for your comments." After the exchange, Storms recalled smiling at Zdravecky and thanking her again for her request to reconsider. Zdravecky, however, recalls that Storms was much more blunt, saying "I am pro-life, you are pro-death" twice. Recalling her side of the events, Zdravecky said, "I have to say I was pretty shaken. I'm used to taking hits. But I was surprised at her lack of humanity...I believe anyone who professes to be a proponent of Christianity would treat me with more dignity than the way I was treated."<ref name="backs" /> | |||
| ====Storms' positions on gay issues==== | |||
| In June 2005, some library patrons complained about a book display at the West Gate Regional Library in ] honoring June, which is Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. Storms heard about the complaints and decided to put to a vote to ban such book displays in county libraries. On ], however, she moved for the Commission to "adopt a policy that Hillsborough County government abstain from acknowledging, promoting or participating in gay pride recognition and events, little g, little p." In effect, by adding the footnote "little g, little p," the county would be abstaining from acknowledging, promoting or participating in any recognition or events for gay pride at any time, not just during "Gay and Lesbian Pride Month," with "big G and big P."<ref name="bans">{{cite web|title=Hillsborough bans county from recognizing gay pride|last=Varian|first=Bill|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2005/06/16/Hillsborough/Hillsborough_bans_cou.shtml|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|accessdate=2006-12-29}}</ref> | |||
| The vote was passed 5-1, with Commissioner Ken Hagan out of the room during the vote, and ] dissenting, saying "I think it's inappropriate for government to promote discrimination." Storms then asked that an addendum be placed upon the bill, that it cannot be repealed without a ] vote of at least 5-2, and a public hearing. This time Hagan joined the vote and the addendum was passed 6-1, with Castor again being the only dissent. In the public hearing portion of the meeting, which occurred before the meeting, many people spoke out against the removal of book displays, not knowing of the impending vote. | |||
| Vonn New, the central Florida director of ], an ] group, said, "I think that Hillsborough County commissioners sent a very clear message that not everyone is welcome here. I think it's shameful what the commission has done." Reverend Phyllis Hunt, the pastor at the local ], said, "I'm stunned, disappointed and shocked that there was zero conversation about the vote."<ref name="bans" /> | |||
| In October 2005, Kathy Castor proposed a statute which would prohibit discrimination on the basis of ] in the workplace in Hillsborough County, in both the public and private sectors. The statute, which was once law in Tampa, was repealed in 1995 and rejected in 2000. The commissioners, led by Storms, voted 5-2 to reject Castor's statute. Castor and Thomas Scott were the dissenters. Storms then asked for a motion to raise the number of votes needed from commissioners to place the issue on direct referendum to county voters from four commissioners to five.<ref>{{cite web|title=County Commission votes against gay protection|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2005/10/06/Hillsborough/County_Commission_vot.shtml|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|accessdate=2006-12-29}}</ref> | |||
| In December 2005, ], who owns the nationally-known strip club ], filed a lawsuit against every Commission member except for Castor, alleging discrimination as a result of the June 15 vote. At the same time, Redner, who people had believed was straight, ] on a ] morning show broadcast.<ref>{{cite web|title=Redner stirs up Storms with gay revelation in suit|last=Liberto|first=Jennifer|coauthors=Bill Varian|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2005/12/14/Hillsborough/Redner_stirs_up_Storm.shtml|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|accessdate=2006-12-29}}</ref> Redner and Storms had fought before, most recently in November 2005 over a donation Redner had made to needy children. Storms had been a longtime foe of Redner, as she has tried to curtail Redner's business on many occasions, due to his occupation, in Storms' words, as the "purveyor and seller of female flesh."<ref>{{cite web|title=Charity finds itself in middle of Storms-Redner flap|url=http://wfts.com/stories/2005/11/051114charity.shtml|publisher=WFTS-TV|accessdate=2006-12-29}}</ref> | |||
| ==Florida Senate== | |||
| ===Senate race=== | |||
| In April 2006, Storms announced her intention to run for the state Senate seat that was being vacated by Senate President ]. From the outset, her ] challenger was ] veteran and ] staff member ], a newcomer to politics. Shortly after her announcement to run for the Senate seat, Storms spoke out against the virulent backlash she had received in the gay community, and made it known that she would try to bar gays and lesbians from being foster parents, saying "I don't support putting at-risk children in homes that I think are at-risk themselves."<ref name="vow">{{cite web|title=Storms makes political vow|last=Smith|first=Adam C.|coauthors=Bill Varian|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2006/04/28/Brandontimes/Storms_makes_politica.shtml|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|accessdate=2006-12-29}}</ref> Of the response she received from Tampa's gay community, Storms said, "I've had all sorts of threats and horrible things said and done to me...things done to my church, things done to my home, and personal threats...never attacked anybody's appearance and in fact worked very closely with people who are out-of-the-closet homosexuals and they will tell you I have never done anything but treat them with dignity and respect in my personal working relationship with them." | |||
| During the summer, Shelby McIntyre of Tampa started ''UNbanned.org'', a reference to, among other issues, Jean Batronie being banned from appearing on public access television for a debate, implying that station owners choose to only air programming Storms approves of, lest Storms try to convince the Commission that public access television not receive funding by the county.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Facts and Details|url=http://www.unbanned.org/UNbanned.asp?page=1|publisher=UNbanned.org|accessdate=2006-12-29}}</ref> Filmmaker Amy Nestor also created a video documentary, ''UNbanned'', about the Ronda Storms gay pride vote.<ref>{{cite web|title=UNbanned|url=http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2783322|publisher=Amy Nestor/iFilm|accessdate=2006-12-29}}</ref> | |||
| Despite the campaigning against Storms by the gay community of Tampa, and Gorham hitting hard with campaign television advertisements<ref>{{cite web|title=Storms, Justice Win Tough Senate Races|url=http://www.tbo.com/news/politics/MGBM8BQA9UE.html|publisher=]/TBO.com|accessdate=2006-12-29}}</ref> and insisting that Storms was an "empty suit who's all style and no substance,"<ref name="vow" /> and that "the thing about Ronda is that she only will look out for the interests of folks who look and act like her...she pretty much ignores everyone else,"<ref name="style" /> Storms won the Senate seat in a close match in November 2006. | |||
| ==="Pole Tax"=== | |||
| In February 2008, Storms introduced a bill that immediately became known as the Florida "Pole Tax". Florida Senate Bill 1520 would tax adult entertainment, including escorts and strippers, and use the money to fund additional DCF services.<ref name="S1520">{{cite web|title=Florida Senate Bill 1520|last=Storms|first=Ronda|url=http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Year=2008&BillNum=1520|publisher=The Florida Senate|accessdate=2008-02-11}}</ref> | |||
| ==References== | |||
| <div class="references-2column"><references /></div> | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| * '''official government website''' | |||
| * profile | |||
| *''Follow the Money'' - Ronda Storms | |||
| ** campaign contributions | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Storms, Ronda}} | |||
| ] | |||
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Revision as of 20:07, 25 March 2008
YA BITCH YAAAAAAAAAA