Memo to Kevin White: It's time to bear down on important issues

Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White's name has been bandied about for all the wrong reasons.

Now comes the question: Can he give constituents new reasons to cast his name in a positive light?

Here's a clue: It's not going to happen just because he asks. White, who lost a sexual discrimination case last month in federal court, can't wait until his fellow commissioners decide how to handle a legal tab that's now pushing $500,000.

White has to take decisive action to remake his image and become more than a pathetic punch line.

Here's some unsolicited advice on how he might do that.

Don't believe the hype. White's supporters — some call them enablers — minimize the verdict, question the jury's racial makeup, label the media as overzealous and insist voters in his predominantly black district still back White.

Some of the same people perpetuating these ideas trotted out similar assessments about the media coverage of former Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson. Note the word "former."

Generally speaking, blacks can be incredibly forgiving of their own, but White needs to bank on future deeds instead of trying to gloss over the case's more damning aspects.

Show some contrition. White's few public comments about the verdict have a "why me" tone and lack genuine regret.

White told WTSP-Ch. 10 reporter Mike Deeson he comes under "undue scrutiny for trying to help people."

The scrutiny comes, however, from sizable legal expenses, misspent campaign funds and, at the very least, poor judgment. Those mistakes can't be dismissed as inconsequential.

Create a defense fund. The people who are so convinced that White has done nothing wrong should be willing to help pay his defense fees. He won't raise enough, but any amount speaks to that needed contrition.

Get some good advice. White needs to seek counsel from those who have a genuine interest in helping him instead of those who always ask for his help. His repeated mistakes suggest he's either receiving bad advice or not listening to good advice.

Do something positive. White should seize upon an issue important to his constituents and make it his own as he approaches re-election. No longer is it enough to handle minor constituent requests or facilitate furniture donations.

He needs to champion a major cause, such as affordable housing, and make significant progress. If he operates with transparency and crafts some meaningful partnerships, maybe he can set the foundation for a new effort in his district.

Craft a vision. White's supporters, as well as his detractors, need to know what he will do if re-elected. Giving away turkeys is nice, but White's district needs efforts that have a broader impact. Draft a plan and call it a "White" paper.

These ideas aren't about White getting re-elected, they're about being a public servant. His supporters can't give him the political capital he needs to successfully work with other elected officials and affect real change in his district.

White owes it to voters to start the process now and end his first term — maybe his only term — on a high note.

That's all I'm saying.