Tampa to bid for 2012 GOP convention

TAMPA — After being rebuffed by the national Republican Party twice, Tampa officials on Friday will submit a bid to host the 2012 Republican National Convention.

"We should be a contender and hopefully the third time will be the lucky time," said Al Austin, a developer and Republican fundraiser who led the failed efforts to bring the 2004 and 2008 conventions here.

Tampa was one of three finalists for the 2004 convention, but New York was chosen. Local Republican leaders consoled themselves with the thought that after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, choosing that city made a strong patriotic statement.

Tampa also was a finalist for the 2008 convention, but the GOP chose Minneapolis/St. Paul instead, saying it was concerned about hurricane threats during the September event.

Only four cities bid on the 2008 convention. Local organizers estimated hosting the event, which had a price tag of $124 million, would cost taxpayers about $85 million from local, state and federal sources. The balance could have been covered by $40 million in donations.

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio had capped the city's contribution to the 2008 convention at $1 million in in-kind services.

But this time, the city will contribute nothing.

"The city will not be liable for any costs whatsoever," said Iorio, whose term as mayor ends in the year before the 2012 convention. "If we get selected, we will enter a legal agreement with the host committee and the host committee will be responsible for all costs that the city incurs. We have made it very, very clear."

Janet Zink can be reached at jzink@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3401.