Why Bob Buckhorn Isn't Endorsing Charlie Crist

I wish Tampa Mayor would get off the sidelines and endorse Charlie Crist. I'm sorry Mr. Mayor but the current batch of Republicans aren't interested in bipartisanship. From TBO.com.

"I've told everyone both Rick Scott and the Democratic potential nominees that I'm on the sidelines," he said. "I'm not endorsing. I'm not getting involved."

Buckhorn stressed the need for bipartisanship.

"I have to work with Democrats and Republicans," Buckhorn said. "I've been working with the governor for the past three years. I've been working with the Republican legislature for the last three years."

Translation: Buckhorn is afraid that Republicans will provide no funding in the budget for Tampa if he endorses Crist. Buckhorn is probably right. Endorsements have been a routine thing for members of both parties. Now Democrats like Buckhorn are afraid Republicans are willing to making residents in Tampa suffer over a single endorsement. The Florida legislature is willing to let millions go without health care because they don't want to provide President Barack Obama with a political victory by expanding Medicaid. They would certainly have no problem shafting Buckhorn.

Bob Buckhorn Takes the Ice Bucket Challenge

Rep. Kathy Castor dared Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn to take the ice bucket challenge. The Mayor used the newly opened Water Works Park to dump water on himself.

The ice bucket challenge is to raise awareness for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It is better known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. You can donate to help find a cure for ALS here.

Quote of the Day

"If anyone knows about grandstanding, it’s him with his 6-foot yardstick."

Frank Reddick, Tampa City Councilman

Mayor Bob Buckhorn accused members of the Tampa City Council of "grandstanding" on the red light camera program. There has been consesus to kill the program. Buckhorn and the City Council have disagreed on how revenue from tickets acquired from the program should be spent.

Reddick 's comment referred to Buckhorn's support for a six foot limit law between patrons and dancers in strip clubs. Buckhorn attempted to outlaw lap dances when he was on the Tampa City Council. Strip club owner Joe Redner vowed to take every arrest of his dancers to trial. The City of Tampa hasn't enforced the law in years.

Reddick's quote perfectly called out Buckhorn for grandstanding.

Bob Buckhorn's Hypocrisy on Pam Bondi

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn is no fan of Charlie Crist. Part of Buckhorn's displeasure with Crist is that the former governor used to be a Republican.

"I'm frustrated that our bench is not deeper than it is, the fact that we could conceivably wind up with a candidate who one or two years ago was saying something entirely different than where he is today," Buckhorn said. "Clearly Rick Scott is vulnerable. I wish we had a pro-business Democrat, a centrist, because I think that person could win."

There are many Democrats that doubt Crist's loyalty to the party's core values. If Democratic values are so important to Buckhorn than why he is attending a fundraiser for Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi?

Among the members of the event's host committee are House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, and Sens. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, Tom Lee, R-Brandon, Wilton Simpson, R- Trilby, and Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn. Gore's death warrant is for the murder of Robyn Novick, whose nude body was found in March 1988 in a rural area of Miami-Dade.

You may notice that Buckhorn is the only Democrat listed as attending the fundraiser for Bondi. In what is now a PR disaster for Bondi, she had the execution of Marshall Lee Gore postponed so she could attend the fundraiser. Does Bondi even take her job seriously.

A spokeswoman for Bondi said Friday that the Sept. 10 fundraiser had been planned before the execution date was set. Scott had scheduled two earlier execution dates for Gore this summer, but both were scuttled because of legal battles about Gore's sanity. Gore was convicted of killing two women in 1988 in Miami-Dade and Columbia counties.

Bob Buckhorn has a problem with his party's likely gubernatorial nominee. Yet, Buckhorn has no problem helping a Republican Attorney General, who blows off her duties, to fundraise. Unbelievable.

Bob Buckhorn Doesn't Heart Charlie Crist

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn made it clear to The Tampa Bay Times that he is not a fan of Charlie Crist. Buckhorn would like to see a viable Democrat run against Crist and Rick Scott. Good luck with that.

"I'm frustrated that our bench is not deeper than it is, the fact that we could conceivably wind up with a candidate who one or two years ago was saying something entirely different than where he is today," Buckhorn said. "Clearly Rick Scott is vulnerable. I wish we had a pro-business Democrat, a centrist, because I think that person could win."

Nan Rich has no support with the Florida Democratic establishment. Alex Sink looks like a scared candidate. Dave Aronberg couldn't win the Democratic primary for Attorney General in 2010. Crist is going to be the nominee. Democrats and progressives may like not like it but beating Rick Scott will be their first priority.

Siobhan Harley Hired By Calvert Street Group

Rising Tampa Democratic superstar Siobhan Harley is moving to Tampa for her new job.

Harley will leave City Hall on Friday to take a job as a campaign manager with the Calvert Street Group, which does work in 30 states and Canada. There, she will be closer to her boyfriend, Patrick Kavanaugh, a law student at Vanderbilt University.

"I am a campaigner at heart," Harley said Monday. "I love the adrenaline rush. I love going out there and campaigning for a cause. I love going out and getting voters to the polls. I love winning."

Harley was the unofficial and very young campaign manager of Mayor Bob Buckhorn's successful victory over Rose Ferlita.

The Calvert Street group is run by Darden Copeland. CSG has been accused of being an Astroturf group for its opposition to the redevelopment of the Nolensville Pike fairgrounds. Copeland helped ran fundraising for Rep. Dick Gephardt's political action committee. Copeland went on to work on the Al Gore presidential campaign and later worked with former Bill Clinton with pollster Stan Greenberg.

Copeland is someone that could teach Harley political activism on a national scale. I wish Harley the best in Nashville. Her next stop might be the District of Columbia.

City of Tampa May Make Unauthorized Peeking Cameras Legal

I can't believe the Tampa City Council is even debating whether or not surveillance cameras can peek into homes without a warrant.

Today Tampa City Council approved changes to an ordinance reinforcing that would make it a crime for Tampa Police to use surveillance cameras purchased for the Republican convention for unauthorized peeping on residents inside their homes. But they put off a decision about whether the cameras will be a permanent part of the city’s landscape. There’s been ongoing friction between council and the mayor’s administration about who has the authority to authorize deployment of the cameras. To help clear that up council scheduled a workshop for next August suggested by member Harry Cohen.

The correct answer should be no one should have the authority for "unauthorized peeking." Perhaps Mayor Bob Buckhorn and the Tampa City Council need a refresher course on the Fourth Amendment.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Tampa Police chief Jane Castor says that the cameras will not be used to peek into homes. We were goiven assurances that the Patriot Act was temporary and would only be used against terrorists. We have seen warrantless wiretapping on law-abidding American citizens since the Patriot Act became law.

I was in downtown Tampa during the Republican National Convention. The excessive security kept Tampa residents away from downtown. Out of town Republicans went to Ybor City to spend their money. Downtown Tampa is already a mess. Intrusive surveillance cameras will only make downtown Tampa less friendly to visitors.

Update: Mitch Perry reports that the decision to have the surveillance cameras is strictly up to Mayor Bob Buckhorn. He has already decided to keep the cameras. It appears that the ACLU is going to have the City of Tampa to court.

Email Updates From the City of Tampa

You can sign up to receive email updates on the latest that is going on with Mayor Buckhorn, the police department construction projects and other City of Tampa-related events.

Mayor Buckhorn Will Sign Gay Domestic Partnership Registry

The Tampa City Council recently passed a domestic partnership registry that would cover both straight and gay couples. Tampa mayor Bob Buckhorn will sign the ordinance into law at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

The registry will be public and accessible online from smart phones and mobile devices, guaranteeing partners access to their records 24 hours a day.

The measure was introduced last month by Councilwoman Yvonne “Yolie” Capin on the day her first grandchild was due to be born. She said at the time she wanted to make Tampa a place he could be proud the grow up in.

Councilwoman Capin deserves credit for taking the initiative and getting this done. I wish more Democrats (such as our president) would be more proactive in standing up for gay rights.

Mayor Bob Buckhorn on Current TV

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn discusses how the Republican presidential candidates failed to address major policy concerns. Buckhorn believes that jobs can be created in Florida through solar energy and research and development.

Florida Democratic Party Has Horrible Fundraising Quarter

It is no coincidence that the Florida Democratic Party had their lowest fundraising quarter since 2006. The FDP raised only $894k in the third quarter of this year. There are several reasons for this.

Tallahassee Republicans are running their version of the K Street Project. Republicans are telling lobbyists to stay away from Democrats.

Lobbyists and big donors saw the Florida Democratic Party get rocked in the 2010 election. I wrote about this in detail. People aren't going to contribute to a state party they believe cannot win elections. Karen Thurman may be gone but Democrats are cleaning up the wreckage.

The FDP needs to learn how to use new media better to get contributions. If they don't adapt they won't survive.

The good news is Rod Smith is getting Democratic activists to help win elections. Peter Schorsch informed me that the FDP had a huge presence that help Bob Buckhorn win the Tampa Mayoral race. Alvin Brown's victory in Jacksonville was another success story for the FDP.

Mayor Buckhorn Promotes R & D Jobs

Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Kathy Castor want to create research and development jobs through the Moffit Cancer Center.

Mayor Bob Buckhorn Online Townhall Meeting

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn is doing another Facebook townhall meeting. The meeting will be held on August 30, 2011 at www.facebook.com/#!/TamapGov. Tthe virtual townhall starts at at 7:00 PM.

Mayor Buckhorn will be meeting you in your office, home or wherever you have an internet connection when he hosts his Facebook Town Hall. Just submit a question in the comment box below or send it over to AskTampa@Tampagov.net and tune in for the answer Tuesday night at 7 p.m.!

Bob Buckhorn Online Townhall Meeting

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn will host a virtual townhall meeting tonight at www.facebook.com/TamapGov. The meeting will start at 7:00 PM tonight. You can ask questions by posting on the TampaGov Facebook wall.

Bob Buckhorn Honored by NewDEAL

Congratulations to Mayor Bob Buckhorn. The mayor was selected as the ten rising stars of the NewDEAL.

“Senator Begich and I have joined the NewDEAL because we believe we need to look for fresh ideas not just from the top down in Washington, but also from the bottom up, where innovative leaders like Mayor Buckhorn are developing and testing their ideas out on the ground,” said Governor O’Malley, Honorary Co-Chair of the NewDEAL.

“In communities throughout the country, rising state and local leaders such as Mayor Buckhorn are proving that you can be both pro-growth and progressive. The NewDEAL is designed to foster these types of ideas and these types of leaders,” said Senator Begich, Honorary Co-Chair of the NewDEAL.

“I am proud to be recognized by the NewDEAL for my focus on improving our economic competitiveness so the world knows that Tampa is open for business,” said Mayor Buckhorn.

I gave a generally good review to Buckhorn's economic plan. Buckhorn has thought about job creation.

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-Md.) and Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) wrote about why they started NewDEAL.

That’s why we have joined with the NewDEAL, a newly launched national network searching the country for pro-growth progressive state and local elected leaders in order to help them share their innovative ideas to win the future.

We believe that in order to build the vision of progressive growth that the President has laid out, we need to look for fresh ideas not just from the top-down in Washington DC, but also from the bottom up, where local leaders are developing and testing their ideas out on the ground.

Finding the best pro-growth progressive ideas is especially important now, as we make tough choices to jumpstart our economy. But make no mistake: to win the future, we can no longer afford to choose between growing the pie and making sure everyone gets a decent slice.

Unfortunately, job creation is being stopped at every turn by Republicans. Obama political adviser David Plouffe said that the unemployment rate and GDP growth are not an election issues.

“The average American does not view the economy through the prism of GDP or unemployment rates or even monthly jobs numbers,” Plouffe said. “People won’t vote based on the unemployment rate, they’re going to vote based on: ‘How do I feel about my own situation? Do I believe the president makes decisions based on me and my family?’”

Leaders such as O'Malley, Begich and Buckhorn have to counter the economic stupidity of Republicans and their own Democratic president to create jobs. At least they are trying. That is more than can be said for the elected leadership in the Beltway.

Mayor Buckhorn's Cut and Invest Plan

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn's economic plan is following the Bill Clinton strategy of "cut and invest" 1993 budget. That isn't a bad thing. Clinton's 1993 budget was brilliant and paved the way to reduce the deficit. Gulf Coast Business Review looks at Buckhorn's economic agenda.

The Cuts

The City of Tampa has a $24 million budget shortfall. Buckhorn indicated that he is likely to layoff city workers. In the long run less workers makes government more inefficient. We saw how the Bush administration cut domestic departments and turned a surplus into a deficit. The flip side is the City of Tampa relies on tax revenue from sales and property taxes. The housing market went bust and wages are stagnant.

Tampa is facing increased costs in its pension plan. From 2009 to 2010, Tampa's payments into the pension fund went from $20 million to $40.6 million. My question for readers is the City of Tampa investing its pension fund into a hedge fund? That would explain the cost increase.

Buckhorn intends to sell buildings that the city no longer needs. This will bring in revenue and get rid of overhead cost. The question is are there buyers in the market for office space?

Tampa appears to be stuck with its parking garages from the Greco administration. No one in their right mind would want to buy a parking garage. Buckhorn said the cost for the upcoming year will be $7 million.

Investment

Buckhorn to increase research and development. I noted before that research and development has good longterm economic benefits. The problem is scientific breakthroughs can take time and R&D is not the biggest job creator. That doesn't mean Buckhorn shouldn't pursue federal R&D grants and in encourage tech companies to move to Tampa. He should.

Buckhorn has big plans for the Port of Tampa. Buckhorn went down to Panama to help spur trade. Buckhorn is looking at the highway construction connecting to port to I-4 as a way to make Tampa a major shipping player.

Buckhorn is interested in Tampa have rail. The sales tax vote for light rail failed. Gov. Rick Scott killed the high-speed rail line connecting Tampa to Orlando. It will be interesting to see if Buckhorn makes a push for rail.

Update: Buckhorn responded on Twitter if the City of City's pension fund is invested in a hedge fund. Buckhorn said no.

@pushingrope no, they do low-risk investments

Meet the New Boss & the Rising Dem Strategist Star

Bob Buckhorn and unoffical campaign manager Siobhan Harley ran a brilliant and muck free campaign. Buckhorn is going to have a massive influence on the entire Tampa Bay area, as the City of Tampa Mayor. Buckhorn has proposed the smartest policies I have heard from a Tampa area candidate. Buckhorn's proposals turned me from a cynic into a supporter of his candidacy.

Harley is an oppimistic progressive. If the Florida Democratic Party is smart they would recruit Harley to run as a candidate, after she graduates from college. The young lady has energy and charisma. Two things that are in short supply from Florida Democratic candidates.

I look forward to seeing Buckhorn and Harley reshaping Tampa politics and policy.

Update: Benjamin Kirby shares his thoughts on Harley.

Bob Buckhorn Wins Tampa Mayoral Race

Alex Leary of the St. Petersburg Times fires off this tweet.

Bob Buckhorn wins Tampa mayoral race.

Yes!

Buckhorn is a policy wonk's dream as a mayor. I wish other areas of Florida would chose their elected leaders as wisely.

Update: Buckhorn blew out Rose Ferlita.

With 103 of 121 precincts counted – nearly 40,000 votes – across the city, Buckhorn has almost 63 percent of the vote, compared to Ferlita's 37 percent.

Ferlita and Buckhorn Leading Tampa Mayor Race

All the reports I have read indicate is that Rose Ferlita and Bob Buckhorn are going to face each other in a runoff race to be Tampa's next mayor. The Dick Greco era is over.

With only one precinct left Ferlita had about 26 percent, while Bob Buckhorn had 23.5 percent and former Tampa mayor Dick Greco with 22.6 percent.

Greco is about 400 votes behind Buckhorn. Turanchik had 19.4 percent and Scott had 8.5 percent.

Greco has officially conceded.

Bob Buckhorn Walk Event

Tampa mayoral candidate will have a walk event this Saturday.

Come out for my last WALK EVENT! Saturday 9:00am; meet at the campaign office (1701 N 14th Street; Ybor) Call (813)453-6234 for more info.