Video: Iorio Victory Speech

By ELLEN GEDALIUS
The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA - Mayor Pam Iorio sailed to an expected victory Tuesday night, securing another four-year term running the city of Tampa.

She easily defeated challengers Aria Green, a former fire chief, and Marion Lewis, a former police captain.

“This is my pledge to you: I’ll work the next four years to make Tampa a better place for everyone,” Iorio said during her victory speech at Valencia Garden restaurant. “I will never let you down.”

This year’s race for the mayor’s office was quiet compared to the highly competitive race four years ago, when Mayor Dick Greco stepped down and several people with long political resumes ran for office. Neither Green nor Lewis has political experience.

In fact, the most interesting part of the campaign centered on whether Greco would run against Iorio. He ultimately stayed out of the race.

Iorio, 47, barely campaigned. She put up a few yard signs and sent out one mailing. She didn’t participate in many forums. Part of the reason: Her father died last month after a year-long battle with cancer.

Iorio, a former elections supervisor and county commissioner, campaigned on her record, saying voters should re-elect her if they like what they saw since 2003.

The strength of her victory is a resounding endorsement of her popularity.

Looking ahead, expect to see Iorio focus on mass transit during her second term.

Late last year, she pitched an extensive rail plan that potentially could link downtown Tampa with Lakeland, Brooksville, Bradenton and St. Petersburg. She proposes using existing CSX rail lines and building new tracks to move thousands of people around the Tampa Bay area.

Before her term is up in 2011, she wants to see a financing plan put before voters for consideration.

Tampa residents also can expect to see the mayor focus on some major downtown projects during her second term.

The art museum could move into a new building on Ashley Drive as early as next year. Iorio also is actively raising money to continue building the Riverwalk, a pathway that will link the Channel District with Tampa Heights. She also wants to see the completion of a redesigned Curtis Hixon Park.

Iorio also vows to continue investing in neighborhoods, a theme of her first term. She promises to pay particular attention to some of Tampa’s poorest areas, such as East Tampa and Central Park Village.

Her second term won’t be without challenges. The city’s infrastructure – water and sewer pipes – are aging and crumbling. She must decide whether to propose raising rates to pay for fixes.

She also will face a city council inclined to propose a property tax rate cut. The former council proposed a tax cut last year, and Iorio fought back, arguing that any increase in revenue to the city generated from rising property values must be spent on city services. She also argues that property tax fixes must be made on the state level.

The council, however, prevailed on the issue in September, reducing the tax rate for the first time in 20 years. The new council is likely to propose a deeper cut.

At her victory party, Iorio danced to the tunes of a live Dixieland band. She stood outside the restaurant, hugging and thanking supporters. Inside, standing on a riser next to her mother, husband, son and daughter, she declared victory.

“I’m very bullish about Tampa,” Iorio said. “I think Tampa is the best city in the United States. It’s been a complete honor to be mayor of this great city, and I’ll go forth the next four years.”

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.

Get Weekly Deals | Write a letter to the editor | Subscribe and get two weeks free | Place an Ad