BlogWood: MT Archives

Developers' money fuels local races

Surprise: DINO (Democrat in Name Only) Hillsborough County Commission candidate, the self-appointed moralist Bob Buckhorn, is being backed by developers and Republicans. His opponent, ex homo-erotic wrestler Brian Blair, is getting money from the same sectors. So, flip a coin - no matter who wins this race, developers will be happy, and Hillsborough will suffer.

More than half of the nearly $589,000 drummed up by nine remaining candidates for the Hillsborough County Commission has gone to two established politicians: Commissioner Ken Hagan and former Tampa City Councilman Bob Buckhorn.

Running for separate seats, Hagan has banked $159,367 to Buckhorn's $156,776, according to the latest campaign finance reports.

Brian Blair, Buckhorn's opponent, has raised $104,804, but David Cutting, Hagan's challenger, has collected only $372.

Much of the money, directly or indirectly, comes from the building industry in fast-developing Hillsborough. Conservative businessmen, the mobile home industry and fireworks sellers also are bankrolling local races.

Buckhorn and Blair are running for one of two countywide seats left open for the general election Nov. 2: District 6, being vacated by term- limited Democrat Jan Platt.

Buckhorn, a Democratic political consultant, has a lengthy and diverse donor list reflecting the eight years he worked for Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman and the eight he spent as as a councilman.

Through the reporting period that ended last week, Freedman gave him $250, and former city police spokesman Joe Durkin chipped in $100. Former County Attorney Emmy Acton also gave $100, and her former chief assistant, Jim Porter, donated $500.

Lawyer Kevin Platt, son of the commissioner Buckhorn hopes to succeed, gave $50. Prominent defense attorney Barry Cohen contributed $500.

Deanne Roberts, a public affairs consultant and former Tampa Chamber of Commerce chairwoman, delivered $2,000 - half as a personal donation, and half from her company.

Kimmins Corp., one of the area's biggest construction concerns, gave $500, as did its chief executive, Fran Williams.

Buckhorn is reaching out to Republicans, too. Former Commissioner Stacey Easterling gave him $500, and her fiance, investor John Jaeb, donated $1,000.

DeBartolo A Blair Contributor

Blair, a Republican businessman making his second commission run in two years, has a donor list long on names that are less familiar in the public eye. But he, too, has collected heavily from the building industry and mobile home parks.

Among Blair's more prominent donors, developer Edward DeBartolo and restaurateur Chris Sullivan each gave $500. Lobbyist Todd Pressman contributed $250, and former Hillsborough GOP Chairwoman Margie Kincaid gave $200.

Former Commissioner Joe Chillura and businessman Ralph Hughes are key advisers for Blair. Chillura donated $250; Hughes and his companies have given at least $1,500.

Publisher Dick Mandt added $500, and prominent farmer Roy Davis gave $200.

George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees, gave $500 each to Buckhorn and Blair.

Fireworks vendors and developers... maybe a “tragic” sparkler accident could lead to the destruction of a brand new subdivision or 2, but I’m not holding my breath. I can’t see any other good resulting from the election of either of these clowns.

Unless prude extraordinaire Ronda Storms is caught crawling across glass with Brian. If we could get past the “ew” factor, that might be somewhat entertaining.