Meetup Recap: Billy Christensen for Supervisor of Elections

Hey Bitcoin Bay crew! Another Thursday meetup has us buzzing with excitement, and this time, we had a powerhouse guest who tied together election integrity, Bitcoin’s potential, and the strength of our Tampa Bay community. We welcomed Billy Christensen, a candidate for Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections, whose story and insights left us fired up. Let’s dive into the highlights of this incredible night!

Key Ideas from the Meetup

• Election Anomalies Exposed: Billy dropped a bombshell—21,884 blank ballots were cast in Hillsborough County in 2020, a 3% anomaly that could swing local races, yet the current Supervisor dismisses it. Transparency is non-negotiable!
• Bitcoin’s Blockchain Fix: We geeked out over how Bitcoin’s Open Timestamps protocol could lock in vote data, making tampering impossible. Billy’s on board—could this be the future of secure elections?
• Censorship-Resistant Living: With 27 local businesses—from ranchers to gas stations—accepting Bitcoin, we’re building an economy where no one can dictate your choices, like how much beef you eat or gas you pump.
• Local Action, Big Impact: Billy’s pushing for accountability with quarterly town halls and practical election fixes, aligning perfectly with Bitcoin Bay’s mission to empower our community from the ground up.

Unpacking the Meetup: Billy Christensen Takes the Stage

The room was electric as Billy Christensen stepped up. A husband, father, and proud veteran, Billy brings serious credentials: nine years in the U.S. Air Force in Intel Operations, followed by nine more at US Central Command working under heavyweights like Petraeus and Austin. Now, he’s channeling that experience into a run for Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections—and he’s not messing around.

Billy’s why? It’s personal. In 2023, a data breach in the Supervisor’s office exposed 58,000 residents’ Social Security and driver’s license numbers—including his wife’s, a naturalized citizen from Colombia. “They dismissed it as trivial,” he said, voice tight with frustration. Then there’s the 2020 election: 21,884 blank ballots in Hillsborough alone—3% of the vote—enough to tip local races. Compare that to past years’ 1.3-1.8% blank ballot rates, and you’ve got a red flag. Yet the incumbent, in office 12 years unchallenged, shrugs it off. Billy’s response? “Ask him to prove your vote counted. He can’t.”

That’s where Bitcoin Bay’s ethos clicked with Billy’s vision. We’re not just a meetup group—our 200-ish members across St. Pete, Sarasota, and Tampa, plus 27 businesses (think ranchers, plumbers, HVAC pros, even gas stations), are proving Bitcoin’s more than an asset. It’s a tool for freedom. “Visa can’t tell you you’ve eaten too much beef or driven too far,” one member quipped. With Bitcoin, we’re building a censorship-resistant economy right here—because, as Billy put it, “it’s about community, not magic internet money.”

The crowd lit up when we pivoted to Bitcoin’s blockchain potential. Billy leaned in as we unpacked Simple Proof’s work in Guatemala—hashing vote tallies onto the Bitcoin blockchain via Open Timestamps. It’s simple: a precinct submits 27,000 votes by 9 p.m., it’s timestamped, and no one can later claim it’s 26,000. Tamper-proof, transparent, and decentralized—just like Bitcoin itself. “It’s embarrassing what we’re doing now,” Billy admitted, referencing outdated Windows 7 election machines in Pinellas County and Wi-Fi-connected tabulators with login info taped on. Could Hillsborough lead the charge with a blockchain pilot? With Billy’s push for accountability—think quarterly town halls and real fixes—we’re dreaming big.

Billy’s no politician by choice—he’d rather be in real estate—but he’s stepping up because “it has to be done.” From $2.9 million in unaccountable Zuckerberg grants in 2020 to thumb drives left on “sanitized” election workstations, he’s seen the swamp up close. His fix? Objective administration, no thumb on the scale, just a system everyone can trust. “Americans love a fight,” he grinned. “Let’s win this one.”

Join the Bitcoin Bay Revolution!

This meetup wasn’t just talk—it was a call to action. Bitcoin Bay started as a technical BitDevs group, but we’ve evolved into a 501(c)(3) powerhouse making Bitcoin accessible and actionable. Whether it’s funding grassroots activism (shoutout to upcoming speakers Liudmila Klauskova and Jorge Ventura on July 19th) or securing elections, we’re all in. Want to join the movement? Our meetups are every Thursday, and they’re the place to learn, connect, and build a freer future. From “What is Bitcoin?” workshops on July 20th to our booth at Bitcoin Nashville (July 25th, use code BitcoinBay2024 for 10% off!), there’s something for everyone. Swing by next Thursday—bring a friend, grab some BTC, and let’s make Tampa Bay a beacon of liberty together!