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Former President Bush Visiting Bay Area

News Channel 8 photo by TODD DAVIS

Guests had to go through heavy security before getting a chance to see Bush.

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By RICH SHOPES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 19, 2009

Former President George W. Bush is in the Tampa Bay area tonight looking to garner support for his proposed presidential center at Southern Methodist University in Texas.

The ex-president met with longtime Republican supporter and former ambassador Mel Sembler at his Treasure Island home. Earlier today, the president was in Jacksonville meeting with supporters including John Rood, a Bush appointee as U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas.

Details about Bush's visit, including how long he will be in the area, were kept to a minimum.

"He's meeting with potential supporters of the presidential center in the Tampa area," said Rob Saliterman, a Bush spokesman.

It was hard, however, to keep private the heavy security outside Sembler's house, and a small crowd of residents lined the streets hoping to catch a glimpse of the former president.

Sembler developed the BayWalk shopping plaza in St. Petersburg.

He was sworn-in as ambassador to Italy in 2000 – a post he held until 2005 – and under Bush's father was ambassador to Australia and Nauru, an island in the Pacific Rim. He was finance chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1997-2000.

The presidential center will include a library, museum and policy institute.

Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633.

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