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Two Vie For Honorary Mayor Title

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By LIZ BLEAU, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 6, 2008

GIBSONTON - A charity race for mayor is pitting two pioneer factions of the community against each other in a good-natured contest in which no one really loses.

Pete "Poobah" Terhune has had many titles during his 54 years with the carnival, but he has never been called mayor. He represents the large role that the migrant carnival industry has played in the community's history, a tradition that continues.

John Vogel's family began farming in Gibsonton in the 1920s; he represents the more conventional residents who settled here full time and farmed, raising citrus, tomatoes and tropical fish.

Concerned Citizens of Gibsonton holds the annual honorary mayoral race to raise money for the community civic group and for the charities of the candidates' choice. Each dollar raised translates into a vote for mayor.

Vogel wants to raise money for a new gym for children. A large gym is planned for the next phase of the Gardenville Recreation Center, but Vogel thinks there might be other places in the community for the gym, with better parking availability.

Terhune, backed by campaign managers Chris Christ and Ward Hall, will raise money for the International Independent Showmen's Association retirement home that provides low-cost housing for retired carnival workers.

Vogel wants to help give the youngsters in the community a place to go. He watches the children in his neighborhood come home from school and go in the house and get little exercise in the outdoors.

Vogel and his wife, Barbara, live across from Carriage Pointe, a subdivision built on former Vogel family land.

"I'm in this race for the kids," Vogel said. "We have to look out for our children."

He recalls his youth when he played with friends outdoors in their large yards and hit the local fishing holes.

"Nowadays, when the kids come home no one is there and the kids go indoors because there's no place for them to play," he said. "There's no place for them to go."

Vogel said it's not strange that he should be running against someone from the carnival community.

"We have all grown up together," he said. "I went to school with Judy Tomaini, the son of Al Tomaini, the giant, who was also the community's fire chief. We've always had a good relationship with them."

He recalls his family supplied the tomatoes for all cookouts and barbecues the showmen would hold.

Gibsonton is growing, he said, and children need a large gym and a place to have a Boys & Girls Club.

"Win or lose, it's going to be fun," Vogel said. "We're growing, but we're still a great community."

Terhune, 78, is still appearing and performing in the World of Wonder Side Show as Poobah, the fire-eating dwarf.

Christ, who does most of the talking for Terhune, said the showmen's retirement home on Riverview Drive in Riverview, next to the Showmen's Club, is for people in need, who do not have a pension or have little Social Security.

He likes the idea that the two parts of the community, the farmers and the carnival folks, are coming together again to help the community.

"I remember years ago when the fish farmers and the show people worked together to bring streetlights to town," Christ said. "And before that, when the community needed a new firetruck, everyone pitched in to make it happen."

Terhune, born in Minnesota, was discovered by a showman as he sold newspapers at a stand in Breckingridge, Minn. Still a minor at the time, his family gave permission for him to join the carnival.

He's been on the road for 54 years and is still active. He will be performing at the Florida State Fair as part of the World of Wonders show, which combines illusion and carnival acts.

He has lived in Gibstonton since 1967.

Both candidates are planning fundraising events.

"This is made to be fun," Christ said. "We will have a good time and raise some money."

Reporter Liz Bleau can be reached at (813) 865-1557 or lbleau@tampatrib.com.

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