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Sports Authority Gets TV Exposure

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By WILLIAM MARCH

wmarch@tampatrib.com

Published: March 26, 2009

TAMPA - Mayor Pam Iorio, displeased with the Tampa Sports Authority's dismissal of longtime Executive Director Henry Saavedra, has told the city's public access television station to start televising the authority's board meetings.

"Maybe if someone isn't doing a good job it would become apparent to everyone," she said. "We can see the level of debate and discourse, how everyone comports themselves."
Saavedra resigned under threat of being fired last week.

Critics charge he was caught in a battle on the Sports Authority between county representatives, led by County Commissioner Jim Norman, and city representatives. Critics also contend the decision was made behind closed doors.

Iorio called it unprofessional.

"It seemed a number of people were of like mind without there being any clear discussion what their issue was," she said.
Board meetings will now be televised starting next month.

Authority Chairman Vin Marchetti said he welcomes that: "A board or authority should be open to the public."

He denied board members discussed the move in private, and acknowledged events at Raymond James Stadium, which the authority operates, were handled well under Saavedra.

However, he said there were instances in which Saavedra didn't inform the board of issues it needed to know.

"If the mayor had known about those issues, she may have had a different view," he said.

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