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Tampa councilwoman, port commissioner joining trip to Cuba

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By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 13, 2009

TAMPA - Tampa City Councilwoman Mary Mulhern and Tampa Port Authority Commissioner Carl Lindell will join about two dozen business people on a fact-finding trip to Cuba, hoping to lay the groundwork for Tampa-area trade once U.S.-Cuba relations improve.

The group is scheduled to fly from Miami to Havana on Friday and return July 22, with a full itinerary of meetings scheduled Friday, Monday and July 21.

Lindell and the business people will pay their own expenses. Mulhern will use her own money beyond about $1,380 for hotel, airfare and travel visa expenses drawn from her city council member discretionary account.

"This trip is for the benefit of my constituents," Mulhern said. "It involves economic development possibilities, trade and jobs."

The port authority declined to send a delegation to Cuba when Lindell floated the idea in February, shortly after President Obama took office and lifted travel restrictions on Cuban-Americans.

Cuba policy remains a sensitive political issue, although opposition to restoring relations appears to have declined over the years with trade proponents pointing to U.S. trade and travel with Vietnam.

"One reason I'm going, is that in a democracy you can't wait for politicians to do things," said Lindell, a local developer and former auto dealership owner.

"It is important we heighten awareness," he said. "We need to send a message to elected officials that maybe it's time they take another look at changing relations with Cuba."

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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