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Editorial: Voters wisely stick with incumbents on Tampa City Council

 
Published March 4, 2015

Tampa voters chose vision and maturity over populism Tuesday, re-electing incumbents to the Tampa City Council and setting a strong course for the next four years. The stable leadership will help the city as it moves to further redevelop downtown, diversify the economy and improve the region's transportation system.

Turnout was lousy for such a fine March day, thanks in part to Mayor Bob Buckhorn coasting to a second term with only token opposition. But it also reflected a campaign devoid of burning issues or scandals, as incumbents and challengers alike praised the mayor's progrowth policies and quibbled only at the extremes about the need to redirect more attention to the neighborhoods.

Council members Mike Suarez, Charlie Miranda, Yvonne Yolie Capin and Harry Cohen were the most qualified in their races, and their victories Tuesday ensure a steady environment at City Hall. That will especially help as the city confronts complex decisions over budgeting, protecting its water resources and improving transportation.

The two top vote-getters in the District 6 race to represent parts of South Tampa, West Tampa and Central Tampa — Jackie Toledo and Guido Maniscalco — will have three weeks until the March 24 runoff to put more meat on their campaigns. Toledo needs to put out a substantive platform while Maniscalco needs to connect with a greater cross-section of voters. This race has seemed like a high school popularity contest instead of a real match between sensible ideas, and district voters have a responsibility to do their homework.

Tuesday's results, though, reflect high marks for the City Council and a public acknowledgement that it has been an active player with the mayor in moving the city forward. And it demonstrated that a younger generation of local leaders, particularly Cohen, are making an impression with their forward-looking approaches and thoughtful styles. The depth on the council will be valuable as an expected large number of potential mayoral candidates position themselves to run to succeed Buckhorn four years from now.

Voter turnout — at less than 15 percent, the worst in more than 40 years — is pathetic for any major city. But Tuesday's results at least leave the Tampa City Council again in competent hands.