Just got back from the state fair where former GTE boss Bill Starkey was named Tampa’s Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the Tampa Metro Civitans.
Starkey is a good guy and has worked to imporve this town in areas from education to health care. I think his most impressive moment came in 2004 when he was asked to take over as interim director of the Port of Tampa. We were in a lurch and although Starkey admitted he knew little about running the port, he brought in new energy, helped make sweeping changes and did it all for free, figuring it was something he owed to the community.
The Civitans give out the award at what is called the Governor’s Luncheon, a huge deal with every muckey-much in town, inlcuding most of the elected officials and plenty of wannabes.
For the second year in the row Charlie Crist was late...I mean he was more than an hour late which isn’t all that acceptable even if you are the governor.
He finally rolled in, George Hamilton tan and all, took off his jacket, went to the podium and started right in telling us how swell everything is going in Florida, which could have fooled more than a few people in the hall. It was probably one corn dog short of a winner for the gov. who might have gotten a better reception if he showed up before everyone had to go back to work to pay their mortgage and fill up the gas tanks.

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