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Strip-Club Owner Redner Qualifies To Run For Hillsborough Board

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By MIKE SALINERO

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 19, 2008

TAMPA - Is Hillsborough County ready for another political campaign featuring Tampa strip-club king Joe Redner?

Can Redner parlay public discontent with the county commission into his first political victory in eight tries?

And will Redner sabotage his chances with an ill-conceived gimmick like admitting people with "I voted" stickers to his Mons Venus nude dancing club free?

Those questions should soon be answered now that Redner is officially in the race for the commission. Redner qualified Wednesday to run for the countywide District 6 seat now held by Republican Brian Blair. Redner, 67, is a Democrat.

Despite a long string of political defeats, including a failed attempt last year to take Tampa City Councilwoman Gwen Miller's seat, Redner said the political climate favors a pugnacious outsider.

"I'm going to run because I think our county is not being operated properly," Redner said. "The commission is so far in the pockets of the developers, especially Brian Blair, that they can't make a decision on their own."

Blair said he expected Redner to jump in the race.

"I'm going to keep focusing on my duties as a county commissioner and keep running as hard as I can regardless of who's in the race," Blair said.

The deadline for qualifying for the county commission is noon Friday. So far, Redner will face fellow Democrat Kevin Beckner, but Democrat Denise Layne also is expected to qualify for the race this week.

Don Kruse is challenging Blair in the Republican race.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303 or msalinero@tampatrib.com

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