When Tallahassee Called, Josie Tomkow Answered
Sometimes a voting record gives you a speech without the candidate having to say a word.
Josie Tomkow’s record on preemption is one of those speeches. It says, over and over again, that when local communities want a say in their own future, Tallahassee gets the final word.
This matters now because Tomkow is running to represent Senate District 14. She wants voters in Tampa and Hillsborough County to send her back to Tallahassee. Before we do that, we should ask a simple question: would she represent us, or would she represent party leadership?
Her record in the House gives us a clear hint.
Consider vacation rentals. In 2024, the Florida House voted on SB 280, a bill about vacation rentals and state regulation. For communities like ours, this isn’t just a distant policy issue. Vacation rentals affect neighborhoods, parking, noise, housing supply, local enforcement, and whether residents have a say in shaping their community.
During that vote, Karen Gonzalez-Pittman, a Republican from Hillsborough County, voted no. She wasn’t the only one who saw issues with the bill. The vote was close, and one House member argued that vacation rentals should be managed at the local level.
Tomkow voted yes.
That’s what matters. When she had a chance to stand apart from those favoring state control, she stuck with them. While another Hillsborough Republican said no, Tomkow said yes. Apparently, Tallahassee tugged the leash, and she came trotting.
Subtle? No. Accurate? Pretty much.
This wasn’t a one-time mistake. Tomkow also voted for HB 1417, which took away local tenant protections and landlord-tenant regulation. She supported the Live Local Act, which put major state limits on local housing and land-use authority. She voted for SB 1434, the Infill Redevelopment Act, which reduced local control over zoning, subdivisions, and development decisions.
That’s a real problem for South Tampa.
We deal with the effects of growth every day: traffic, drainage, redevelopment pressure, old infrastructure, school capacity, and neighborhood character. Those are not issues that can be managed well from an office in Tallahassee. They need local knowledge, local judgment, and local accountability.
Tomkow’s record suggests local judgment is optional.
She also voted for bills that put state rules on local school boards, classroom materials, library materials, and how schools handle sensitive issues with students and families. Once again, Tallahassee gets the script. Local people get the homework.
She even voted for HB 433, the bill that preempts local employment regulations. Worker protections matter, but the bigger issue is the same: if a city or county wants to respond to local conditions, Tallahassee reserves the right to shut it down.
This is the heart of the matter. Preemption is not just a legal doctrine. It is a power grab with nicer shoes.
Sometimes statewide standards matter. They should protect basic rights. They should stop abuse. They should set the floor. But Florida’s current preemption machine too often sets the ceiling. It tells local governments, local school boards, and local voters that they may not do more, know more, or care more than the politicians in Tallahassee.
That brings us back to Tomkow.
She’s new to this district. She represented Polk County for years, and after only a short time in South Tampa, she wants voters here to believe she understands our needs. Maybe she’ll learn them in time. Tampa is a nice place to cram for an exam.
But voters do not have to grade on a curve.
Her record is already clear. On tenant protections, she supported preemption. On land use and infill development, she supported preemption. On vacation rentals, she supported preemption. On civilian oversight, she supported preemption. On school-board authority, she supported Tallahassee mandates.
That is not representation. That is delivery service.
Josie Tomkow’s record says Tallahassee knows best.
Ours should say: not in this community.
Brian Nathan says local neighbors know what’s best for their community. He believes in home rule. That’s why I’m voting for Brian Nathan for Senate District 14.
