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Thanks, Joe Smith, For Uniting Us

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 21, 2007

Suffering the fatigue and muscle-weakening effects of post-polio syndrome, Joe Smith has nevertheless become the most energetic local advocate of better transit and roads.

A man who can barely move has helped focus the Tampa Bay region on mobility.

Smith's boss, David Hanson, of developer Walbridge Aldinger Company, loaned him to the Tampa Bay Partnership to help build support for a regional transportation authority - an example of good corporate citizenship that other firms should emulate.

Given the opportunity to help with a difficult project, Smith never complained, made excuses or lost heart.

"The average family is struggling with the cost of a car," Smith says. "A regional transportation system would change people's lives."

Last week the partnership recognized Smith for excellence in regionalism. Without his tireless diplomacy and optimism, it is unlikely the Tampa Bay Regional Transportation Authority would have been formed.

To make sure everyone understood the stakes, Smith attended more than 250 meetings over the past 24 months and talked with thousands of people, much of it on his own time. Confined to a wheelchair, Smith depended on his wife Diane to drive him to the meetings.

He was always accessible, working telephone and e-mail, defending the best elements of bills by Rep. Bill Galvano of Bradenton and Sen. Mike Fasano of New Port Richey. More importantly, he helped weed out the weaknesses and quietly compromised the differences.

The result was a rare example of regional cooperation that creates the potential to leverage state and federal grants for major transportation improvements in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Citrus, Hernando, Manatee and Sarasota counties.

"I have died medically six times," Smith told us. "When God gives you this many opportunities, you should be committed to what you know is the right thing to do."

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