Citrus County Commissioner Ronald E. Kitchen, Jr. has been elected Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC) chairman for 2019.

In 2015, Citrus County became a member of the TBRPC and elected Commissioner Ronald E. Kitchen, Jr. to represent the county on the TBRPC.  Commissioner Kitchen is the Immediate Past Chair of the Citrus County Commission and prior to that served as Mayor of the City of Crystal River for 10 years.

He serves as Chair of the TBRPC’s Executive/Budget Committee, and is a member of the Florida Regional Council’s Association Policy Board.

He is also a member of the Hernando/Citrus Metropolitan Planning Organization, a board member for the Florida Association of Counties and is a member of the Tourist Development Council.

Chairman Kitchen will be in the TBRPC leadership role along with Councilman Patrick Roff, City of Bradenton, as Vice Chair; Councilor Bob Matthews, City of Seminole, as Secretary/Treasurer and Commissioner Janet Long, Pinellas County, Immediate Past-Chair.

About the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council

TBRPC serves as a forum to foster communication between local governments and Kitchen’s focus as Chair of the Council will center around collaboration on emerging issues facing local governments. Under his leadership, Council Members will be encouraged to discuss emerging issues that they face as elected officials in service to their communities and the region. Council Members will take an active role in submitting issues as well as sharing best practices that are working in their jurisdictions.

“The Tampa Bay region is a complex mosaic. Within five minutes our citizens can travel from a heavy industrial area to a rural countryside, having one foot in the global economy and the other in an agriculturally-based economy. We span the entire range, not only economically, but culturally. Although we embrace our diversity as a region, we also share in the challenge of maintaining our quality of life within our individual communities.   As we embark on our 57th year as a Regional Planning Council, we will continue to convene local governments to help shape our region as a vibrant, exciting place to live, work and play,” stated Kitchen.

Sean Sullivan, TBRPC Executive Director for the Council said, “Commissioner Kitchen has supported the Council’s mission through his reliable and dedicated service and we are looking forward to having the value of his expertise and years of experience in local government to further the important endeavors of the Council.”   For more information on the TBRPC, visit www.tbrpc.org.

Photo L to R: Commissioner Janet Long, Pinellas County, Immediate Past Chair; Patrick Roff, City of Bradenton, Vice Chair; Councilor Bob Matthews, City of Seminole, Secretary/Treasurer and Commissioner Ron Kitchen, Chair being sworn in by Pinellas Park City Clerk Diane Corna on Monday, December 10, 2018 at the TBRPC offices in Pinellas Park, Florida.