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Jim Norman's Disappointing Focus

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 20, 2008

Hillsborough commissioners agreed two weeks ago that they needed a better relationship with the city of Tampa to collaborate on ways to save taxpayers' money.

Now comes the first suggestion from Commissioner Jim Norman: To prohibit the city's fire-rescue department from working half the home games at Raymond James Stadium. He wants the overtime work to go instead to his buddies in the county's politically powerful firefighters' union.

It's campaign season, you see, and the term-limited Norman is running for the Florida Senate seat of Victor Crist, who also is term-limited and said to be eyeing Norman's commission seat.

The firefighters' union is a big player in politics because it's willing to donate money and walk door-to-door to support "friendly" politicians. In return, the union has secured lucrative contracts and gains new concessions almost every year.

Precedent and performance call for keeping the stadium's fire-rescue service - which costs about $6,000 per game - as is. Stadium officials say the quality has been first rate, so Norman's proposal is a solution in search of a problem. A county ordinance may make his takeover attempt unfeasible.

It's distressing to see Norman use his position on the Tampa Sports Authority to indirectly help his campaign.

What's more distressing is the realization that Norman is incapable of rising above personal, petty politics to focus on the big challenges facing this community.

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