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Krewes Say They Hope Gonzmarts Reconsider

Tribune photo by JASON BEHNKEN

The Sant' Yago Illuminated Knight Parade rolled through Tampa on Feb. 16.

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By NEIL JOHNSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 20, 2008

Updated: 02/20/2008 12:55 pm

TAMPA - Other krewes hope two members of the Gonzmart family reconsider their decision to resign from their krewe over a disc jockey's request that a woman bare her breasts for beads.

Richard and Casey Gonzmart left the Krewe of the Knights of Sant' Yago after hearing the DJ make the request while aboard the krewe's vessel during the Jan. 26 Gasparilla invasion.

The brothers' family founded the krewe four decades ago.

"I wish they had not resigned and hope they will reconsider," said Roger Michels, founder and president of the Krewe of Chasco.

The brothers should have remained on the krewe and worked to change behavior, Michels said.

The DJ was hired by Sant' Yago and was using a loudspeaker system on the boat.

Had a disc jockey behaved that way with the Krewe of Mambi, he would be gone, said Jose Berenguer, Mambi's president.

"I would immediately take the mic away and would never hire him again," Berenguer said.

The Krewe of Sant' Yago will not hire the disc jockey again, said Dan Haya Jr., the krewe's baron, or president.

The Gonzmarts thought Haya should resign over the incident, and when he did not, the brothers resigned. Haya said he did not hear the DJ's remarks but did not doubt Richard Gonzmart's account.

David Varrieur, captain and founder of the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce Krewe of Seville, said there is no place in Gasparilla events for such behavior.

The DJ should have been fired immediately, Varrieur said. "You have to make sure the few don't spoil it for the many," he said.

Varrieur called the Gonzmarts' resignations unfortunate and said he hoped the brothers would reconsider. The Gonzmart family founded and owns the landmark Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City.

Women exposing their breasts in return for beads is a practice linked to Gasparilla for years, but urging women to flash should not be part of the parades, Varrieur said.

"There's no place for that," he said.

He said he saw nothing like that during the two parades the Krewe of Seville took part in this year.

"We saw no poor behavior, no raucous behavior or nudity," Varrieur said.

The disc jockey for the Krewe of Chasco is not likely to call for any women to reveal their breasts, Michels said.

"We have a lady DJ who's pure as snow," he said.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731 or njohnson@tampatrib.com.

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