Janelle Irwin Taylor
Even though more than 57,000 ballots have already landed in voters’ mailboxes, there’s still a lot of campaigning ahead. Of those ballots delivered, just about 6,000 have been completed and returned as of Tuesday afternoon. Further, there are more than 237,000 Tampa voters to woo.
Tuesday saw Jane Castor launch a much-anticipated transportation plan and Ed Turanchik make a controversial statement about women in politics.
There was some outside-the-box “strategery” (to borrow from Will Ferrell‘s George W. Bush) shared when Florida Politics asked the seven mayoral candidates how they planned to stand out.
“Turanchik says Castor has an advantage” via Florida Politics — “You’ve got six guys and one woman, which is the single biggest fact looming over this race,” Turanchik said, a reference to Castor. “At least among Democrats, there’s a gender bias as to man vs. woman. A woman gets a bigger bounce.”
Asked to clarify his remarks considering women have been fighting for years to even come close to equality in the political realm, Turanchik dug in.
“I think in today’s environment, certainly in the Democratic Party, women have an advantage. I don’t know the reason for it, it just is,” Turanchik said.
Turanchik specifically mentioned last year’s County Judge Group 2 race between Lisa Allen and Greg Green. On paper, Green should have walked to an easy victory. He raised $170,000 to Allen’s $31,000 and picked up all of the major endorsements, but Allen won the race easily by a margin of 10 percentage points.
And his statement doesn’t surprise political scientist Susan McManus.
“I don’t think it’s all that unusual for anyone to say that,” said McManus, Professor Emeritus at the University of South Florida. “It’s reality at the moment. You have so much attention on successful women running that times have changed. Women are running the table, that’s the presumption.”
“Castor release pro-rail transportation plan” via Florida Politics — The plan provides a road map for connecting all of Tampa’s neighborhoods by investing, relieving congestion, improving bikeability and walkability, increasing pedestrian safety and focusing on innovation.
And it’s pro-rail. She calls for using existing CSX tracks to provide transit connectivity between the University of South Florida and downtown. The plan also calls for repairing old sidewalks and building new ones to ensure neighborhood connectivity.
Castor’s plan also prioritizes safety including better crosswalks, bike lanes, more pedestrian paths and bus rapid transit.
“Dick on a stick“
Don’t lie. You chuckled. But this is serious.
Dick Greco Jr. had six full-sized cardboard cutouts printed in his likeness to share the campaign trail and he’s nicknamed them Dick on a stick. The campaign tactic is a throwback to his early political career in the 1990s when he successfully ran for circuit judge.
The cutouts will join campaign supporters at busy Tampa intersections so Greco can participate in the waving even when he’s otherwise engaged elsewhere.
Topher Morrison to release ad appealing to dog lovers
His campaign is launching an ad this week that features Morrison’s dog, Macie. That’s no surprise to anyone diligently following the campaign who knows Morrison doesn’t go anywhere without his four-legged friend.
The ad not only features Macie, but it also stars her.
“My dog is talking in it and she’s explaining to voters why they should be voting for me,” Morrison explained.
Because, who can say no to a dog?
Get Social
“While Tampa should be proud of what we have accomplished, taking the next step to being a worldwide leader requires a first-class transportation system that is affordable, accessible & innovative. (2/3)
— Jane Castor for Mayor (@JaneforTampa) February 12, 2019
Thanks to @mikefortampa for dropping by the HART table! We are at the @CityofTampa‘s Black History Celebration until 2:30 PM. pic.twitter.com/iH3tRxSEwY
— HART (@GoHART) February 12, 2019
Nothing threatens the establishment more than a determined soul that has nothing to lose. #tampafortopher #topherformayor #dotheimpossible https://t.co/zAH8wYZJdE
— Topher Morrison (@tophermorrison) February 12, 2019
Coming up
Wednesday 6-8:30 p.m.: Hillsborough County LGBTQ Caucus; 4500 W. Cypress Avenue.
Friday 11:30-1: p.m.: Tampa Tiger Bay Club, Chester A. Ferguson Law Center 1610 N. Tampa St. (tickets required).
February 19, 6-9:15 p.m.: New Tampa Council; St. Mark Evangelist Catholic Church at 9724 Cross Creek Blvd.
February 20, 5-8 p.m.: Tampa Bay Sierra Club; HCC Ybor congregation room, 2112 N. 15th St.
