A common cause breaks partisanship

Column

As part of her campaign for the District 57 seat in the Florida House, Dana Young was pictured lying on a copy of the Constitution while taking aim — presumably against the forces of darkness — with an assault rifle. She is a Republican.

Bob Buckhorn is the Democratic mayor of Tampa. Most folks consider him a centrist, which some would say is risky business in this political climate of extremes.

Yet as the Legislature opens today in Tallahassee, the middle-road Democratic mayor and gun-aiming Republican representative are cooperating on a bill to help Tampa retain control of its reclaimed water. It makes the not-unreasonable argument that our tax dollars paid for the plant that purifies the water, so the stuff belongs to us.

Young was explaining that stance at a meeting with the Tribune's editorial board when she turned to Buckhorn and said, "You call your Democratic friends, and I'll call my Republican friends, and we'll get this done. The ability to work together in a bipartisan way is very powerful."

Did I just hear that? Public officials in different parties are working together to do the people's business?

"There is no Democratic or Republican way to fix a pothole," Buckhorn said. "I will put my hand across the aisle any time I feel it will be beneficial to this city."

To be fair, this issue is made-to-order for Republicans, who have targeted water-management agencies. Anything that increases local control while restricting Swiftmud, the water-management agency, is probably going to get Republican support.Buckhorn is smart to play along.

It became virtually impossible for the government to govern. The longer that's gone on, the more cynical people became. Reclaimed water may not be the largest of issues, but it's refreshing to see elected officials of differing views working together.

"I grew up around a lot of Democrats but I'm a staunch conservative," Young said. "I have always subscribed to the notion that I represent Tampa."

Indeed, her grandfather and uncle served in the Florida Legislature. Both were Democrats. The dinner table must have been a lively place.

"Tampa is a moderate, bipartisan city. I am a conservative, but our city is diverse," she said. "This is how I operate. It's very relationship-driven. I am respectful of my colleagues, even when I disagree with them. We can work together."

I asked how she expected to have a future in politics with an attitude like that.

"I know," she said. "It's crazy."