{"id":124172,"date":"2026-01-19T21:45:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T21:45:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/124172\/"},"modified":"2026-01-19T21:45:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T21:45:09","slug":"hillsborough-commissioners-cepeda-wostal-and-miller-skip-signing-mlk-day-commendation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/124172\/","title":{"rendered":"Hillsborough Commissioners Cepeda, Wostal, and Miller skip signing MLK Day commendation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A(L-R) Hillsborough County Commissioners Donna Cameron Cepeda, Joshua Wostal, and Christine Miller. Credit: Photos via Hillsborough County<\/p>\n

The Hillsborough County Commission\u2019s annual commendation for the Tampa Organization of Black Affairs (TOBA) Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast is only signed by four of seven commissioners.<\/p>\n

Appearing in the program for TOBA\u2019s annual MLK Day breakfast at W Marriott, the only signatories are Gwen Myers, Harry Cohen, Ken Hagan and Chris Boles. Signatures from commissioners Donna Cameron Cepeda, Joshua Wostal and Christine Miller did not appear on the commendation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Commendations are regularly circulated for county commission, and fairly easy to approve. Since only four commissioners agreed to sign the commendation, it failed to meet the criteria for an in-chamber presentation, which requires six signatures.<\/p>\n

The recognitions are fairly common; last year alone saw commendations for Greek organizations, lung cancer screening, Tampa General Hospital and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In part, the commendation reads, \u201cSince 1979, TOBA has been steadfast in its work to advance the opportunities and rights of people of color.\u201d<\/p>\n

While two Republicans\u2014Hagan and Boles\u2014did sign the commendation, the three non-signatories for the MLK Day breakfast are members of the GOP.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Wostal told Florida Politics that he didn\u2019t sign the commendation because of a grievance from a past MLK event where speakers allegedly implied that Gov. Ron DeSantis \u201cwas racist,\u201d adding that, \u201cthey were promoting division, not the unity MLK demanded, while being subsidized with our residents\u2019 property taxes.\u201d<\/p>\n

As reporter Janelle Irwin points out<\/a>, Wostal, Cepeda and Miller, have all been opposed to DEI programs.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Tampa\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tby Ray Roa<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMarch 20, 2024June 3, 2025\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Today isn\u2019t the first time commissioners have skipped commendation or proclamation.<\/p>\n

In 2024, Tampa Pride<\/a> didn\u2019t receive a fully-signed, in-chamber commendation from the BOC. The board cited a 2023 policy stating that six signatures are required to present commendations considered \u201ccontroversial or sensitive because they address matters of political controversy, ideological or religious beliefs; one\u2019s individual conviction; or address matters which do not serve a public interest.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since only four commissioners signed that commendation, it failed to meet the criteria for an in-chamber presentation, breaking Tampa Pride\u2019s tradition of nine years. Wostal and Cepeda,<\/a> along with former Board Vice chair Michael Owen, were the three that didn\u2019t sign it.<\/p>\n

\"AA 2026 commendation for the Tampa Organization of Black Affairs. Credit: Courtesy<\/p>\n

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This article appears in Jan. 15 \u2013 21, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n

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