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Session Covers County Mayor Issue

Tribune photo by LOIS KINDLE

Businessman David Hurley spoke at the recent SouthShore Roundtable meeting in favor of the upcoming county mayor referendum.

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By LOIS KINDLE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 30, 2008

SUN CITY CENTER - Those at the July 18 meeting of the SouthShore Roundtable got to hear both sides of the county mayor issue.

Former County Commissioner Jan Platt spoke against the issue, and David Hurley, president of Landmark Engineering & Surveying Corp., spoke in favor.

"In Hillsborough County, we have a commission of seven people trying to operate a giant municipality," Hurley said to the audience of about 30. "This is not about any individual commissioner; it's not about any individual who may or may not run for county mayor. I think we need to have somebody responsible to the people."

Hurley, who has served as the president of the Ruskin Chamber of Commerce, said some opponents argue that an elected mayor would not be able to run the county.

"Do you think the governor runs the entire state? Hurley asked. "The legislature is there. We have checks and balances in place."

Under the proposed system, Hurley said the role of the commission would not change. It would continue to make legislative decisions; make appointments to various boards and authorities; vote on matters before it; and handle all other duties outlined by the county charter.

As replacement to the county administrator, the mayor would manage and lead the county and have the political clout to negotiate with Plant City, Temple Terrace and Tampa and the commission.

Hurley said the issue is more about the structure of government and having the necessary checks and balances. "If we get those, we'll have better government going forward."

What The Other Side Thinks

Platt said having an elected mayor comes up cyclically.

In the early 1980s, after three commissioners were convicted of selling their votes on zoning decisions, then-Gov. Rubin Askew appointed three replacements to serve with Rodney Colson and Platt. The five decided the county needed a charter that would "give power to the people in the best possible way," Platt said.

"We wanted to make sure every voter had four county commissioners responsible to him, and that's why we did what we did by having the seven member commission with a very strong administrator professional," she said.

"If you are in any way inclined to vote for an elected official, don't vote for this," Platt said. "Start over, because this is seriously flawed."

For example, a candidate for mayor need only be a resident of the county, she said. In the other counties that have elected mayors, there is a requirement that they appoint a manager.

"What's curious is that this ballot proposal doesn't require that," Platt said. "What this means is the mayor could appoint administrative assistants that are not approved by the county commission, which means they could appoint pure political hacks."

Platt acknowledged that if the proposal was written more like Orlando's charter, where the mayor is the chairman of the board and is required to appoint a county manager who he oversees, the structure could work.

Audience opinions

"I'm opposed to an elected mayor and have been over the years," said Dee Williams, president of the Sun City Center Republican Club and a former charter review board member. "It's just another layer of government. Anyone can go pay the fee, collect enough signatures and get on the ballot, whether they can do the job or not. And if they have enough charisma and vote-getting power, they'll get elected."

Sandy Council, owner of the Ruskin Redneck Trading Co. and on the board of the Ruskin Community Development Foundation, felt otherwise.

"I really haven't made up my mind yet. At this point, I'm undecided," she said. "I tend to think I might be in favor of it. There are some really strong potential candidates whom I would trust completely to run things and establish a good system of checks and balances."

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553 or lkindle@tampatrib.com.

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