Tampa businessman, Joe Robinson, has been an outspoken critic of the Hillsborough County School District’s actions.

In a School Board meeting last Tuesday, Robinson was given his three minutes to speak, and told the board members, “mismanagement, misfeasance, malfeasance, that’s what you’re doing.”

But, when Robinson told the Board members, “three, five, seven, vote them out, School board chair, Candy Olson, ordered him to stop, accusing him of political campaigning.

“I went there to discuss operational mismanagement, and was accused of political campaigning. Two weeks ago, I asked them to define what is political speech? That’s when I discovered they have no policy on what is or isn’t political speech.”

Robinson said he has documented evidence that there are no guidelines, policies or tools regarding political speech

“So, how can I be stopped from addressing the Board because of a policy that doesn’t exist? “I feel my first amendment rights were violated.”

Robinson said the Board’s attorney cited a 2009 case out of Boca Raton where someone wore a political button, and another person wore a political tee-shirt while addressing the board.

“I did not make a political statement, and I was not campaigning for anyone. I never mentioned any candidates’ name.

“Even if they have case law, they have not adopted any policy on political speech.”

Robinson said he was contacted by a representative of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who said they were in the meeting last Tuesday, and they wanted a copy of what was sent to him.

“My plan is to file a complaint with the NAACP for violation of my first amendment rights. I have also filed a battery complaint against the men who escorted me out of the meeting.

Robinson said school board spokesperson, Linda Cobbe, sent him an e-mail and said they do have a policy for political activity. Also, spokesperson, Steve Hegarty, said Robinson had been warned about promoting political activity at the board meetings, and that we had a policy against it.

“We always let people know you can’t promote candidates at our meetings. That is a part of our policy. Also, our civility police may have been violated. We can invoke that just to restore order.”

“I’ve read the information Cobbe sent me and I don’t think it covers what happened during that meeting. The County by-law, 32-32, applies only to employees, and is protected by Florida Statute 104.31. They don’t have a policy for anyone who isn’t an employee.”

Robinson said he also feels he’s been conspired against because of the numerous complaints he’s made to the Board about its operational procedures.

Reporter Leon B. Crews can be reached at (813) 248-0724, or e-mailed at lcrews@flsentinel.com.