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Blair says scuffle with sons could revive political career

News Channel 8 photo by MICHAEL EGGER

Brian Blair, seen with his wife, Toni, is not saying anything yet about his future political ambitions.

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By Gayle Sierens and Baird Helgeson

TBO.com

Published: July 29, 2009

TAMPA - Former Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair said he spent the days after his arrest for scuffling with his teenage sons worried about the impact it would have on his political career.

Now he says the incident could serve as a platform that re-launches him back into public service.

"I felt like my whole life had come unglued," he said during an exclusive interview with News Channel 8. He was interviewed in his Forest Hills home with his wife, Toni, at his side, flanked with family photos.

Blair did not elaborate on his future plans, but said he will advocate for parents' rights to discipline their children and curfews to keep the kids off the streets at night. "I want to turn a negative into a positive," he said.

Authorities arrested Blair at his home on two child abuse charges after a brawl with his sons early Father's Day morning.

Here's how the night started, according to Blair:

He had been at a charity event and ended the evening with some friends at a Beef 'O' Brady's having chicken wings and beer. "Nothing excessive," he said.

Blair woke hungry about 3:30 a.m. and decided to cook salmon. He heard a commotion near the front door and found his two sons, Brett, 17, and Bradley, 14, along with two of their teenage friends.
"Needless to say, I was upset," Blair said.

The oldest son, Brett, had already been caught twice out after curfew.

Blair began listing their punishment: No car, no cell phone, no computer and no visiting friends.
At that point, "something banged me in the eye."

Then Brett started punching him.

Someone yelled to call the police.

A former professional wrester, Blair's training took over.

He put his oldest son in a hold.

The son screamed: "You're hurting me," Blair recalled.

Settle down, Blair replied.

"The next thing you know, I was getting hit all over," Blair said. "I covered up."

Blair's wife of more than 22 years, Toni, helped separate everyone.

"I could tell it was not a good situation," she said.

Everyone calmed down by the time authorities arrived.

Law enforcement officers asked Blair if he wanted his son arrested. "Absolutely not," he recalled saying.

"I thought everything was cool," Blair said. "Then they tell me I am under arrest."

Witnesses told authorities the scuffle started when Brett returned to the kitchen to get something to drink. Blair continued to yell at him, pushed him, punched him once in the face and then put him in an arm lock.

Bradley jumped on his dad and began hitting him before being pulled off by his mother and the two friends. Witnesses said Blair hit Bradley with a closed fist.

The Blair boys weren't seriously hurt, authorities said.

Blair had a bloody earlobe and a swollen face. Doctors at Tampa General Hospital treated him for a chest contusion and abrasions to his back.

Ultimately, the charges were dropped. Prosecutors said Blair could argue he was merely disciplining his sons for breaking curfew.

As he reflected on the incident, Blair found two problems. First, parents must be able to physically discipline their children without fear of arrest. Second, elected leaders should adopt a curfew.

"Parents are afraid to discipline their children, afraid someone will pick up the phone," and call police, Blair said.

The former commissioner, who lost re-election last year to Kevin Beckner, said he isn't sure exactly how to enact the kind of changes he wants to make.

The Florida Supreme Court ruled late in 2004 that teen curfews in Tampa and Pinellas Park were unconstitutional. The court said the ordinances didn't make enough exceptions for minors to be out after curfew and were too punitive. The curfew ordinances, which hadn't been enforced in a couple years, allowed parents and kids to be jailed and fined after the first violation.

As for disciplining kids, state law already allows parents to use corporal punishment to discipline children as long as it isn't excessive.

Blair, a conservative Republican, said there is a deeper question about whether his leadership skills can overcome the bad headlines. "Will people understand?" he asked.

The former commissioner will have a difficult time convincing locals the incident does not define him as a person or a candidate, a local political expert said.

Hillsborough County is a very competitive area politically, so any bad publicity can be a deathblow, said Susan MacManus, a professor of political affairs at University of South Florida.

"He'll always have to say it wasn't true," McManus said. "He'll have to spend a lot of time and money to overcome it."

Blair was not allowed to be around his sons during the investigation. He reunited with his family about 10 days later in the Florida Keys to finish a previously scheduled vacation.

The reunification was filled with hugs, apologies and declarations of love, Blair said.

"The boys were remorseful," Toni said.

He and his oldest son, Brett, made the eight-hour drive home together. Blair wanted him to know his love is unconditional, but that, "it hurt me, it hurt me bad."

Toni corrected him: "all of us."

"It hurt all of us," he said.

Gayle Sierens' exclusive interview with Blair will air at 11 p.m. tonight on News Channel 8. She can be reached at (813) 221-5782. Reporter Baird Helgeson can be reached at (813) 259-7668.

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