Tampa Mayor Jane Castor says criticizing Gov. Ron DeSantis is a “waste of time”

TAMPA - She’s been a regular on CNN and other national outlets since the coronavirus crisis began. But Tampa Mayor Jane Castor hasn’t taken the bait, offered by nearly all of them, to bash Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Castor, a Democrat, says she doesn’t see the point of bashing the Republican governor, even though they haven’t spoken since March 2.

“That’s not my style,” Castor told the Tampa Bay Times Wednesday. “Frankly, I think it’s just a waste of time to be critical of others.”

On her latest CNN appearance Tuesday, she was asked repeatedly about DeSantis’ performance, but avoided taking jabs, a pattern that’s held up on her other two appearances on the network as well as recent appearances on ABC News and National Public Radio.

Castor said DeSantis is dealing, like her, with a crisis of epic proportions.

“This is unprecedented and everyone is trying to find their way. I’ll speak for myself: I’m making decisions with about 10 percent of the information and 100 percent of the responsibility,” Castor said. “We’re all trying to do what’s in the best interest of our community and keep our citizens healthy.”

Castor’s stance isn’t unusual for the chief executive of Florida’s third-largest city. Her predecessor Bob Buckhorn, a Democrat, maintained cordial relations with then-Gov. Rick Scott, frustrating many Democrats. Both Castor, who was a Republican until 2015, and Buckhorn have said they place greater importance on what’s best for their city than partisan politics.

• • •

Tampa Bay Times coronavirus coverage

HAVE YOU LOST SOMEONE YOU LOVE TO COVID-19?: Help us remember them

UNEMPLOYMENT Q&A: We answer your questions about Florida unemployment benefits

CONTRIBUTE TO THE SCRAPBOOK: Help us tell the story of life under coronavirus

BRIGHT SPOTS IN DARK TIMES: The world is hard right now, but there’s still good news out there

LISTEN TO THE CORONAVIRUS PODCAST: New episodes every week, including interviews with experts and reporters

HAVE A TIP?: Send us confidential news tips

GET THE DAYSTARTER MORNING UPDATE: Sign up to receive the most up-to-date information, six days a week

We’re working hard to bring you the latest news on the coronavirus in Florida. This effort takes a lot of resources to gather and update. If you haven’t already subscribed, please consider buying a print or digital subscription.