Jane Castor speaks at Arts and Culture Forum
By Jim Bleyer
Tampa’s uninspiring mayoral race enters its final month with
a clear leader, no spark from the seven suits seeking to succeed Bob Buckhorn,
and a questionable process in reaching the average voter.
The Big Yawn began in earnest Nov. 7, the day following the
2018 midterms. After three months, the needle hasn’t moved in any of the
private polls: former police chief Jane Castor leads the Titans of Tedium by a
healthy margin.
The low caliber slate and lack of campaign intensity is
shocking for a city with 385,000 residents, beset by mounting urban challenges,
and a negative national image fomented by Buckhorn.
The never-ending neighborhood and special interest forums
tell the story: all but one held in South Tampa were not well attended. I
witnessed the “Arts and Culture Forum” which claimed to sell out with 500
confirmed reservations. If one includes the custodial help, security, and
actors onstage, there may have been 300 in the Blake High School auditorium.
They could have squeezed into the band room.
Castor, the only female candidate, garners a solid 32-35
percent in most internal polls. Her closest pursuer with 15 percent is
billionaire David Straz. The remaining five candidates hover at ten
percent and lower.
The irony: Castor and Straz are clearly the poorest speakers/debaters.
The rest—businessman Topher Morrison, former County Commissioner Ed Turanchik,
attorney Dick Greco Jr., and City Councilmen Harry Cohen and Mike Suarez—are
far more articulate.
Topher Morrison rallies supporters in South Tampa
With the poorest communicators seemingly headed for the
April 23 runoff, the role of the so-called media and the entire campaign
process should be brought into sharper focus.
A second irony: Castor and Straz were both registered
Republicans until they decided to vie for the “non-partisan” mayor’s seat.
There’s more: both connect to Donald Trump.
Castor’s partner, Ana Cruz, was named managing partner for
the Tampa office of Ballard Partners, a prominent lobbying firm with close ties
to the President.
After announcing he would run for mayor, Straz did a mea culpa by admitting
he voted for Trump. “I made a mistake,” he said to a city where Democrats
outnumber Republicans by a 5 to 3 ratio. This epiphany occured
three months after Trump was elected but quickly following Straz’
announcement that he was running.
One must wonder what information Straz procured about Trump
in those three months to cause a 180 in his thinking. No one at the
plethora of bland candidate forums has asked him that and you can bet none
will. Those moderators, fellow candidates, and the moribund local media
have been throwing more softballs than the local beer league.
It also has been rumored but not confirmed that Straz
attended Trump’s private, $25,000-a-plate fundraiser at Tampa’s exclusive
Centre Club in July, 2016. That tariff equates to a tip to his pedicurist
for someone of Straz’ means.
In fact, the most notable aspect of Straz’ campaign is his
willingness to spread his wealth among influential individuals and groups for
their comity if not outright endorsements. This includes the Hillsborough
County Democratic Party and, most sadly, the Muslims for Democracy and
Fairness.
Payoffs to party hacks are one thing; a Trumpite bribing a
group claiming to represent an oppressed minority is beyond belief. It’s
worthy of national news coverage.
Through January, Straz had raised $1,932,610, mostly
self-funded. That’s more than double the combined opposition’s total.
Castor follows with $293,846. Turanchik has rasied $212,000 and
the rest trail by even more.
With no public record to run on, no articulation or apparent
understanding of the issues, and an empty chair at a few of the forums, Straz
and his circle are hoping an avalanche of paid media spots and an expected
negative attack against Castor will override his abundant flaws.
From what I am hearing, the Straz camp’s “March surprise”
ain’t all that much not already in the public domain. Castor’s “biking
while black” initiative received negative national publicity and a rebuke from
the U.S. Department of Justice. She was slow to admit the program was
faulty or to apologize.
In addition, Castor allegedly has not met the requirements
of a consulting contract she has with Miami-Dade. Tampanians could care
less about Miami’s problem, if there even is one.
Castor would feast on Straz, the easiest opponent for her to
beat in the runoff.
Then there’s the rest of the pack with termed-out councilmen
Mike Suarez and Harry Cohen sharing the chutzpah award.
Their rhetoric, depending on the neighborhood group they are
addressing, doesn’t match their eight-year record.
Ask the folks with road issues in New Tampa.
Greco’s father was a popular mayor decades ago but he
couldn’t make the runoff in a 2010 comeback stab. Junior’s name means
nothing to new residents and many of the older ones passed on. No chance.
Morrison and Turanchik have issued white papers on important
issues such as transit and housing, Both wear the mantle of “visionary”
with Morrison appealing to younger voters and Turanchik relying on the
establishment.
Turanchik made the rookie mistake of attacking Castor
instead of Straz who holds the second runoff spot. If he is in it to win
it and not help Straz, Turanchik embraced a terrible strategy.
The optics of six men ganging up on Castor will only boost
her in the polls. Straz hasn’t done much but spend his millions and sits
in second place. The other five need to set their sights on him in the
primary if they hope to move into the runoff mix.
Biggest disappointment of the campaign was the withdrawal of
LaVaughn King who couldn’t gain enough signatures to qualify. King, who
participated in forums until the final qualifying day, provided fresh, original
ideas. His answers, and those of Morrison, stood in stark contrast to the
canned answers from the career politicians on the panel.
The biggest question for Tampanians that witnessed any of
the candidate get togethers: which one is Dopey and which one is Doc?
Now these Seven were Magnificent
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