Let the games begin: Tampa Chamber hosting first mayoral debate of the season

The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Tampa Mayoral debate Wednesday at the Hillsborough Community College Dale Mabry campus. The event starts at 6:45 p.m. with networking open at 5:30 p.m.

Confirmed candidates include former Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor, Tampa City Council members Harry Cohen and Mike Suarez, attorney and Cross Bay Ferry champion Ed Turanchik, small business consultant Topher Morrison and community activist LaVaughn King.

Candidates David Straz and Michael Anthony Hazard did not confirm their attendance. Neither candidate has publicly campaigned since filing to run for the 2019 race.

Aaron Sharockman, executive director of PolitiFact, will serve as moderator.

The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce’s Catalyst Committee, composed of young professionals throughout the area, is submitting questions for the candidates.

Topics will likely include two Hillsborough County sales tax referendums the Chamber endorsed — the All for Transportation 1 percent ask and the Hillsborough County Schools one-half percent proposal.

Other hot topics in Tampa that are likely to come up include the possibility of a new baseball stadium in Ybor City. The Tampa Bay Rays chose the Ybor site near downtown as its top pick for a new ballpark that could cost up to $900 million.

A new mayor will also play an integral role in the $1 billion Strategic Property Partners’ Water Street Tampa development controlled by Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and Cascade Investment LLC, which is Bill Gates’ investment fund.

Of all of the filed candidates, Straz has by far the most cash on hand for the election. He’s raised more than $1.5 million, but all but $24,000 came from personal contributions to the campaign and an $800,000 loan to the campaign from his own accounts.

Behind him is Castor who has raised $173,000 and Turanchik with $157,000. Cohen raised just under $92,000 while Morrison brought in $56,000 so far. Suarez has raised $37,000 so far. King hasn’t raised any funds and Hazard has raised less than $300.

Those fundraising totals are as of the most recent campaign finance reporting deadline that passed at the end of August.

The winner will replace term-limited Mayor Bob Buckhorn.

The election is March 5.