James T. Hargrett, Jr., is a native of Tampa and served for 10 years as a Representative in the Florida House and 8 years as a Senator in the Florida Senate. His legislative resume includes stints on various appropriations committees, including serving Chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Transportation and Economic Development, Senate Transportation Committee, and Senate International Trade, Economic Development & Tourism Committee. He was a National Bank Examiner for the US Comptroller’s Office, Director of Leadership Development for the Tampa Urban League, and Chief Executive Officer of a local financial institution. He also served as Chair of the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators, Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation, Citizens Planning and Environmental Advisory Committee for the High Speed Rail Transportation Program, and Tampa Hillsborough County Expressway Authority and on the Board of TEAMFL, a cooperative organization that serves Florida’s Expressway Systems and Florida’s Turnpike districts and works closely with the Florida Transportation Commission. In 2007, he was elected into the Florida Public Transportation Association Hall of Fame. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College and a master’s degree from Atlanta University.