In Hillsborough, DeSantis appoints commission candidate to open seat

One hopeful running for the Hillsborough County Commission just got a a new title to tout on the campaign trail: incumbent.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed Christine Miller, a Republican candidate for the County Commission, to the seat recently vacated by Commissioner Michael Owen.

In a surprise resignation earlier this month, Owen announced he was leaving immediately to run for the state House. That prompted Miller, president and chief executive officer of the Plant City Chamber of Commerce, to jump from the crowded countywide race she was in to Owen’s eastern Hillsborough County district.

Miller will face real estate broker Cody Powell in the Republican primary. She could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday evening.

Jonathon T. Chaves, a recent college graduate and activist, and Nicole Payne, Hillsborough Black Chamber of Commerce President, meet in the Democratic primary. Matthew Taylor, who owns a tractor business and does stand-up comedy, is running with no party affiliation.