Sandy has a long history of serving the community in which she lives for over 40 years, including a term as Hillsborough County Commissioner, District 1 from 2010 to 2020. Sandy was elected by her fellow commissioners as Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners from 2014-2015 and 2017-2018. Prior to joining the County Commission, Sandy served eight years as a member of the Florida House of Representatives and was the first Republican woman to hold the position of Speaker Pro-Tempore.
As Hillsborough County Commissioner, Sandy focused on:
- Economic development for small businesses and creating jobs
- Transportation, where she worked with local leaders to craft future effective transportation policy
- Ending homelessness and fighting the opioid crisis
- Tackling human trafficking through awareness and education
- Addressing mental health and substance issues through a successful jail diversion program
- Providing high-quality critical children's services in the county through her creation of a Blue Ribbon Committee for Child Safety
Sandy served on the Career Source Tampa Bay board for 10 years and was Vice-Chairman for the same, which gives her keen insight on the agency and workforce development issues at the local, state, and federal levels. During her tenure in the legislature, Sandy held numerous leadership positions on House Appropriations, Health and Human Services Appropriations, and Health Policy Council. She also spearheaded reforms to nursing homes, the creation of Early Childhood education funding, funding for hospitals, the creation of workforce development boards, and many more initiatives affecting children, seniors, and working citizens in the community.
Sandy has been directly involved and recognized by more than 30 organizations that support the community and enhance the lives of children and families, such as the Leadership Award by the Working Women of Tampa Bay, Junior Achievement Outstanding Alumna Award, Community Award as the founder of the Pace Center for Girls in Tampa Bay, Community Impact Award by the YMCA, and many others. She is involved with Junior Achievement, Starting Right Now, Phoenix House, Centre for Women, and Tampa Museum of Art, and she spearheaded the campaign to build the Glazer Children's Museum. She works with children in foster care through the Children's Home Network and is a Guardian ad Litem.
Prior to serving in elected office, Sandy worked for a Fortune 500 company. She is married to Jim Murman; the couple has one daughter, Michele, who is married to Dr. Michael Bradner, and they have two children.
Education
B.A., Marketing, Indiana University
Professional Associations
- American Cancer Society Board, Member
- Athena Society
- Behavioral Health Task Force
- Blue Ribbon Committee on Child Safety (BRCCS)
- CareerSource Tampa Bay Board, Member, Past Vice Chairman
- Catholic Women's Club
- Children's Home Board, Member
- Children's Board of Hillsborough County, Past Member
- Council of Governments, Past Member
- Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway Corridor Advisory Committee, Past Member
- DACCO Advisory Board, Member
- Dementia Care and Cure Initiative (DCCI) Task Force, Member
- Dream Givers, Co-Founder
- Early Learning Coalition Board, Past Member
- Eckerd Community Alternatives Advisory Council, Member
- Economic Club of Tampa Board, Member
- Economic Prosperity Stakeholders Committee, Past Chairman
- Entrepreneur Collaborative Center
- Family Healthcare Foundation Board, Member
- Firehouse Cultural Center (FCC) Advisory Board, Member
- Florida Association of Counties' Health, Human Services and Public Safety Committee, Past Vice Chairman
- Florida Healthy Kids Board, Past Member
- Florida KIDS Count, Member
- Florida Prepaid Foundation Board, Past Member
- Glazer Children's Museum Board, Member, Past Chairman
- GCM Development Committee, Chairman
- Guardian Ad Litem Program, Member
- HCC EMS Advisory Board, Past Member
- Healthy Start Coalition Board, Member
- Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) Board, Past Member
- Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), Past Chairman & Vice Chairman
- Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group (EPG), Past Member
- Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission (EPC), Past Member
- Hillsborough County Healthcare Advisory Board (HCAB), Member
- Hillsborough County Hospital Authority Board, Past Member
- Hillsborough Education Foundation (HEF)
- Jail Diversion Program Committee, Member
- Junior Achievement Board, Member
- Junior League Tampa Advisory Board, Member
- Kiwanis Club of Tampa, Member
- LEAP/HCAN Leadership Council, Past Member
- Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Board, Past Member
- MPO Transportation Disadvantaged Coordinating Board (TDCB), Past Member
- Phoenix House Board, Chairman
- Port Tampa Bay Board, Past Member
- Shriner's Hospital Corporate Council, Member
- South Tampa Chamber of Commerce Board, Member
- SouthShore Chamber of Commerce Board. Member
- Starting Right, Now! Board, Member
- Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) Board, Past Member
- Tampa Bay Water Board, Past Chairman
- Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative (THHI), Founding Board Member
- Tampa Museum of Art Board, Member
- Tampa/Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Board, Past Member
- Tourist Development Council (TDC), Past Chairman
- Transportation Management Area Leadership Group (TMA), Past Member
- United States Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) Florida Advisory Committee, Past Member
- USF Nursing Advisory Board, Past Member
- USF Women in Leadership and Philanthropy, Member
- Value Adjustment Board, Past Chairman
Honors
- Dress for Success, Community Advocate Award 2019
- Moffitt Cancer Center Momentum Award 2019
- International Propeller Club Port Tampa Bay Mainstay Award 2019
- Hillsborough Community College People's Choice Award 2019
- Mark Studstill Award of Excellence from the Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance 2019
- Honored with Starting Right, Now 2016 Soul Award for support of its work with at-risk teenagers
- Received Florida's Children First 2016 Child Advocate of the Year for work on children issues
- Manufacturing Alliance of Hillsborough County Founder's Award 2016
- Honored with Junior Achievement 2016 Hall of Fame Outstanding Alumna Award
- Named to the Tampa Bay Business Journal's Power 100 in Tampa Bay area for 2016
- American Business Women Association – Pioneering Woman of the Year
- Silver and Bronze Leadership awards for service from Junior Achievement
- Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers 2015 Achievement Award for her advancement of women
- Named as one of 25 people to watch in business in 2015 by Tampa Bay Business Journal
- Community Tampa Bay's Silver Medallion Award 2015
- St. John Progressive Fine Arts Ministry Humanitarian Award 2015
- Brandon Foundation Lifelong Contribution Award 2013
- Early Childhood Council of Hillsborough Lifetime Achievement Awards for Child Advocacy 2013
- YMCA's 2012 Community Impact Award for her positive impact to citizens of Hillsborough County
- Lifetime Achievement Award for Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
- Sun Coast Girl Scout Council Woman of Distinction Award
- Peter Bernal Award of Distinction for Florida Association of Health Care Plan
- Community Leader of the Year, Brandon Chamber of Commerce
- Davis Islands Civic Association Citizenship Award
- Community Advocate for Education award for the Hillsborough Education Foundation
- Sun Coast Girl Scout Council 2004 Woman of Distinction
- Sheriff's Association, Legislative Leadership
- Florida Medical Association, Legislator of the Year
- Florida Assisted Living Association, Legislator of the Year
- Florida Association of Community Health Centers, Legislator of the Year
- American Cancer Society, Legislative Leadership