Pinellas County voters will have plenty of familiar faces to choose from for county commission seats during the Aug. 26 primary.

Residents will vote for commissioners in Districts 2, 4 and 6. The primary will decide one district while winners in the other two districts will advance to the November general election.

Turnover and other possible changes to the commission come as Pinellas lawmakers are dealing with county transportation changes, long-range economic concerns and the St. Petersburg homeless problem.

District 2

This is a two-man race between incumbent Norm Roche and challenger Ed Hooper.

Roche, 52, was elected to the board in 2010 and was previously a county employee. Hooper is an ex-firefighter who most recently served as a state representative after being a Clearwater city commissioner from 1996 to 2000.

Both men oppose Greenlight Pinellas, the penny tax increase proposal to fund expanded bus service and a light rail system. But while Roche says he will continue to concentrate on reducing homelessness in Pinellas County and accountable commission spending, Hooper's focus is on helping employers bring in new jobs.

"Stabilizing our county’s budget, spending, taxation, and organizational operations is paramount," Roche said. "I have stayed focused and worked hard on this goal since I was first elected in 2010, and I will continue my diligence in this area in my second term."

Hooper, 66, who has reached his term limits in the state House, wants to focus on jobs, strengthening Pinellas small business owners and improve beach renourishment.

"(In) this county, we have so many employers that are defense-contract related and now that we don't have Congressman (C.W. Bill) Young to make sure our employers get the contracts that they need," Hooper said. "There's a great danger that we're going to lose a lot of really high-tech manufacturing jobs and employers to other parts of the country."

The winner will face Largo Mayor Pat Gerard, a Democrat, in the November general election.

District 4

With longtime commissioner Susan Latvala retiring after 14 years on the commission, there will be a new addition in District 4. The republican primary will have seven candidates vying to replace her, including former Dunedin city commissioner and current mayor Dave Eggers.

"I believe my business experience, my business degree and leadership in the Chamber of Commerce put me directly in touch with small business community, an approach needed on the County Commission," said Eggers, 57. “Jobs, economic development and redevelopment will continue to be an area of focus as well a consistent focus and priority on public safety, infrastructure, homelessness and veteran affairs."

Former Tarpon Springs city commissioner Peter Nehr, 62, also is running for the District 4 seat, along with ex-Oldsmar mayor and current city council member Jim Ronecker, 49, digital printing business owner Tim Keffalas, 59, of Tarpon Springs and Largo firefighter Macho Liberti, 35.  

"Pinellas County will go through some difficult times in the next few years," Nehr said. "And I believe my public service experience as both a local city commissioner in Tarpon Springs for four years  and as a Florida state representative for six years will serve the citizens of Pinellas County well.”

Two others vying for the seat include Wanda Kimsey, 59, who, for 30 years, was an assistant for two county commissioners and three county administrators and Johnny Johnson, a Palm Harbor dentist and newcomer to running for public office. Johnson, 58, is best known locally for swaying commissioners to add fluoride back in county water.

Ronecker, meanwhile, said his business background makes him the right candidate.

"I have had the pressure of making payroll," Ronecker said. "(And) paying insurance, taxes and leading employees in a difficult and challenging time in our community."

The Republican who emerges in this race will face a Democrat and two no-party candidates in the general election in November.

District 6

This race is open to all county voters and with only Republicans running in this district, the winner will be decided in the primary.

Three-term incumbent John Morroni is being challenged by newcomer Tom Rask.

Morroni, a 59-year-old Treasure Island resident, is a backer of Greenlight Pinellas and has served on the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. He also has backed new homeless facilities and affordable housing.  

"We're the only area in the state of Florida that doesn't have an integrated transit system," Morroni said. "And there's people who can ride the bus at six o' clock but when they get off work, there's no buses."

Rask, 50, who has been a critic of county government, said special interests have a stranglehold on Pinellas County. He says his oppoent has had his seat too long and when special interests like win, poor and middle class people lose.

"We no longer have government for the people, we have government for special interests," said Rask, of Seminole. "Sadly, the rot in Washington has reached Pinellas County. My opponent's support of Greenlight Pinellas is evidence of exactly that. Our citizens deserve better, and change always starts at the local level."

Referendum question

Property tax exemptions to new business and expansions of businesses to create full-time jobs? (Yes or No)

In an attempt to compete with other cities and counties around the state, Pinellas officials are appealing to incoming or expanding businesses.

How?

By offering tax breaks.

Pinellas voters will be asked on Aug. 26 whether they agree with those tax breaks to businesses that offer new full-time jobs.

The idea is to offer those breaks to bring more businesses and job to the county. Under state law, the exemption could be up to 100 percent of the value of the business and last for 10 years.

Locally, Hillsborough and Sarasota are among the 38 Florida  counties have a similar tax exemption program. Cities offering tax exempt programs include Tampa, St. Petersburg and Largo.