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County-Mayor Effort Jelling

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By ELLEN GEDALIUS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 22, 2008

TAMPA - On a warm evening last week, some of the area's most well-heeled set munched on crab cakes and pasta. The wining and dining took place at the luxurious and sprawling home of their leader. The talk was politics.

Not about McCain and Obama, however. Instead, this was a fundraiser for what has the potential to be the most significant local issue on November's ballot.

Should Hillsborough County scrap the county administrator position and instead elect a county mayor?

Although the topic might seem dry to some, the change, if approved by a majority of voters, would dramatically reshape county politics and diminish the power of the county commission.

With less than five months to Election Day, the proponents and opponents are gearing up.

On one side is Mary Ann Stiles, the lawyer spearheading the effort to elect a county mayor with veto power over the county commission.

In 2005, Stiles formed a political committee called Taking Back Hillsborough County. She since has changed the name to Elected County Mayor Political Committee, a name seen as less hostile.

The group is registered with the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office and is actively raising money. The group has a Web site, committees and talking points.

The cocktail reception last week was a fundraising event, the first since the issue made the ballot. About 100 people attended.

"You can write a $100,000 check or a $10,000 check or a $5,000 check or a $5 check," Stiles told those assembled at her patio. "We'll take it."

The group has raised about $213,000, according to the most recent campaign finance reports, but nearly all of that was spent on the effort to get the proposal on the ballot. Almost all of the money came from Stiles herself or from her law firm.

Now she is trying to get others to contribute. She estimates the group raised about $7,600 last week.

"We need $250,000 at least to get the message out," Stiles told her supporters. Money likely would be spent on television, radio and print advertising. Yard signs and a direct mail campaign are other options, if money permits.

Stiles, a former lobbyist for HART, is convinced the existing form of county government doesn't work. The county should have one person in charge, she argues, rather than seven elected commissioners who appoint a county administrator.

She recently named an executive committee and a steering committee.

'It's Time To Educate The Public'

Always at her side is Bob Samuels, a longtime community activist and former member of the county's charter review board.

Samuels said supporters already are talking to civic and social organizations in an effort to educate voters on what they see as benefits to a county mayor form of government. More fundraisers and "friendraisers" are planned, he said. Volunteers are calling neighborhood and civic organizations, trying to get some face time.

"It's time to educate the public about this issue," Samuels said.

Those with leadership positions on the committee are generally well-known in political circles, including former office holders and community activists. Blacks, whites and Hispanics all are represented.

Among those involved are Councilman Charlie Miranda, who said he will give speeches on the benefits of the county mayor format. Former Councilman Bob Buckhorn, former state Rep. Sandy Murman and former County Commissioner Dottie Berger MacKinnon are on the executive committee.

Former state legislator Mary Figg is the group's vice chair.

"We will go and travel to any group you want us to speak to," Figg said at the fundraiser.

Opposition Still Organizing

Those who oppose the effort aren't as well organized. They have yet to form a political committee but plan to do so. They have no Web site and haven't raised any money.

Former interim city Councilman Frank Reddick, also an East Tampa activist, said he might chair the committee. Raising money will be a priority, he said.

"We have to be competitive with them," Reddick said. "We're just starting the process of reaching out into the community and doing little things."

Reddick said he expects to formally form a group within the next few weeks. He said he wants to talk to neighborhood associations about the drawbacks of a county mayor position.

Because the group argues that a county mayor will disenfranchise minorities, he also wants to reach out to historically black fraternities and sororities and other social organizations.

Also involved is Beth Rawlins, a Pinellas County-based political and communications consultant.

"The biggest reason there isn't yet a formal committee is the people opposed to this idea come from such diverse ideological, geographical and political backgrounds," Rawlins said. "They haven't jelled yet."

Rawlins said she doesn't know whether she would join any formal committee but said she will devote her time and expertise to the cause, if asked. She says power should be shared, not consolidated.

County Commissioner Jan Platt strongly opposes the measure and has accepted a few speaking engagements on the subject - she debated Figg on the issue in a well-attended forum Friday - but also doesn't intend to join any organized group. City Councilman Tom Scott said he isn't formally involved, but if someone invites him to speak against the matter, he will do it.

Some sitting county commissioners, including Ken Hagan and Jim Norman, also oppose the plan. The county commission has asked County Administrator Pat Bean - who likely would be out of a job if the county mayor referendum passes - to speak to local groups about the issue.

Sun City resident Janet Wilson said she plans to educate people in her neighborhood about the issue and wants to organize town meetings. Wilson has served on the county's charter review board. Sun City Center resident Walt Cawein, a former community association president, said he will be active, health permitting.

"We've been kind of a loose-knit organization," he said. "We haven't really gotten swinging in action at this point."

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.

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