FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Betty Castor and Sheriff Chad Chronister Conclude Service After Guiding Committee Since 2018
Tampa, Fl. (December 10, 2025) – Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) has announced the appointment of former Florida Senate President Tom Lee to the district’s Citizen Oversight Committee, the independent body established to provide transparency and accountability for the half-penny sales tax approved by Hillsborough County voters in 2018.
Lee, who represented the Tampa Bay area in the Florida Senate for 18 years and served as Senate President from 2004–2006, brings a long history of public service, fiscal oversight, and experience chairing major legislative committees.
His appointment comes as two founding members of the Citizen Oversight Committee, The Honorable Betty Castor and Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, conclude their service after serving on the committee since its inception in 2018.
“Tom Lee’s leadership record and deep understanding of public finance make him an outstanding addition to our Citizen Oversight Committee,” said Superintendent Van Ayres. “We are grateful that he is willing to continue his public service on behalf of Hillsborough County’s students, families, and taxpayers. At the same time, we offer our heartfelt thanks to Betty Castor and Sheriff Chad Chronister, whose steady guidance since 2018 has helped build and maintain public trust in how these critical funds are used.”
The Citizen Oversight Committee was created following voter approval of a half-penny sales tax in November 2018 to improve school facilities across Hillsborough County, including projects such as air conditioning upgrades, roof replacements, safety and security enhancements, and technology improvements. The committee’s charge is to review spending, monitor project progress, and provide regular, transparent reporting to the community on how referendum dollars are invested.
The Honorable Betty Castor has served as chair of the Citizen Oversight Committee since it was established. A former Florida Commissioner of Education, three-term state senator, and the first woman president of the University of South Florida, Castor has been a champion for public education at both the state and local levels for decades.
Sheriff Chad Chronister, who has served as Hillsborough County Sheriff since 2017, brought a public safety and community perspective to the committee’s work. His participation helped ensure that safety and security needs across school campuses were prioritized as the district implemented referendum-funded projects.
Tom Lee’s appointment continues the tradition of appointing experienced public servants to the Citizen Oversight Committee. Throughout his tenure in the Florida Senate, Lee chaired multiple major committees and was widely recognized for his work on budgeting and accountability in state government.
“Public trust is earned when government is transparent and keeps its promises,” Lee said. “Hillsborough County voters made a powerful statement in 2018 by choosing to invest in their public schools. I’m honored to join this committee and will work to ensure those dollars continue to be spent wisely, efficiently, and with clear benefit to students and our school communities.”
In addition to his legislative service, Lee currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Pepin Family Office, where he oversees strategic initiatives and guides the family’s philanthropic and investment efforts that support healthcare, education, and mental wellness programs for first responders across the Tampa Bay region. His work further reflects his commitment to community impact and responsible stewardship.
Lee will join newly appointed chair Jose Valiente and fellow committee members Bonnie Carr, Ed Narain, Rick Lott former Mayor of Plant City, and Temple Terrace Mayor Andy Ross.
For more information about the Citizen Oversight Committee and referendum-funded projects, visit the hillsboroughschools.org.
