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Candidates' Visits Cost Local Agencies $175,000-Plus

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By VALERIE KALFRIN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 6, 2008

Updated: 11/06/2008 05:17 pm

TAMPA - Now that the presidential election is over, here's another tally: what the candidates' visits cost Bay area rescue personnel.

Eight local agencies spent at least $175,000 this year to provide escorts, crowd control and security sweeps during campaign visits by Sen. Barack Obama, Sen. Joseph Biden, Sen. John McCain and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. The visits range from early April to Monday, when McCain spoke at Raymond James Stadium.

The U.S. Secret Service provides security for the candidates, but local agencies provide additional staffing as needed, Tampa police department spokeswoman Laura McElroy said.

Tampa police spent $100,826 out of the department's $107 million personnel budget to cover the candidates on nine visits, including Palin's two-day trip in late October. The money paid for officers' salaries and overtime; the city will not be reimbursed, McElroy said.

Officers swept for explosives at arenas such as the St. Pete Times Forum, where Obama held a rally May 21; the Tampa Convention Center, where McCain spoke Sept. 16; and Steinbrenner Field, where Obama held a rally Oct. 20. Officers also provided crowd control and directed traffic at other visits, and escorted Biden from Tampa International Airport to New Port Richey for his Sims Park visit Oct. 27.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spent $18,727 in personnel costs for the candidates' visits, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said. That agency also spent $2,785 in personnel costs to cover a September visit from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton when she stumped for Obama at the All Peoples Life Center in Tampa.

The New Port Richey Police Department spent $15,468 to cover salaries and overtime during visits from Biden and Palin. Lt. Scott Baker said city officials plan to submit bills to each of the candidates' campaigns for reimbursement, just as they did when President Bush campaigned here four years ago.

Joelle Castelli, a city of Clearwater spokeswoman, said that city's police and fire agencies spent roughly $9,746 in overtime to cover Palin's Oct. 6 visit. The city is not reimbursed for personnel costs but has been reimbursed $22,000 for fencing, risers and other expenses from that event, she said.

University of South Florida police spent $5,177 in personnel costs to handle McCain's April 29 speech at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Biden's Oct. 8 appearance at the Sun Dome, Lt. Meg Ross said. The agency will not be reimbursed.

St. Petersburg police paid officers about $5,300 in overtime during visits from Obama and McCain, agency spokesman Bill Proffitt said. The agency will not be reimbursed, he said.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office spent $24,796 in overtime to cover visits from McCain, Obama and Palin, the agency said. The agency will not be reimbursed.

Reporters Lisa Davis, Josh Poltilove and Stephen Thompson contributed to this report. Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800.

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