The election of openly gay candidates to the Hillsborough County Commission and the St. Petersburg City Council are among the Tampa area’s Top 10 news stories of the decade, according to Creative Loafing columnist Mitch Perry:

7. Tampa Bay chooses LGBT leaders (2008, 2009)
Kevin Beckner (pictured) was elected to Hillsborough County Commission in 2008, Steve Kornell elected to St. Pete City Council in 2009 and Jane Castor was named Tampa Police Chief in 2009. The significance of these three individuals is that they’re all openly gay or lesbian, and there was little if no controversy in either their campaigns or appointments.   At the end of the decade, it could be argued that the moves weren’t that historical, but coming after the 2005 vote in Hillsborough, it was definitely significant that Kevin Beckner won, and won decisively over Brian Blair.

In 2005, the Hillsborough County Commission voted to ban gay pride events at official government entities such as county libraries.  That story, which garnered national headlines, was No. 6 on Perry’s list.