A year ago, the citizens of Tampa overwhelmingly elected Bob Buckhorn as their new mayor. It was a decision not taken lightly, especially in the LGBT community, where the city's support for equality in a conservative county was bolstered by two-term mayor Pam Iorio.
In his first year as the leader of Tampa, Buckhorn has stayed true to his support of the LGBT community by retaining the domestic partnership benefits for city employees enacted by his predecessor and by supporting LGBT organizations and events with proclamations and his presence.
“I think Tampa has moved light years from when even before I was involved in the public process,” Buckhorn said. “I've been pleased at the pace at which change has come and occurred. There have been some roadblocks and there will continue to be. But in the city I feel we are recognized largely because of mayoral leadership going three administrations that recognized diversity as our strength.”
And Buckhorn has been involved with both of the previous mayors in some capacity.
Carrie West, president of the GaYbor District Coalition and co-owner of MC Film remembers meeting Buckhorn back in 1993, when he visited West and his partner Mark Bias in their South Hyde Park store.
“He said that he was an assistant to Mayor Sandy Freeman and he wanted to meet us and asked us to call him about any concerns or issues,” West remembered. That relationship continues today. “Mark and I have had long coffee talks with Bob over his positions and he said that he wouldn't turn his back on the LGBT community. So far he has proven to be a great supporter to all of Tampa's LGBTs and our allies.”
Maintaining that commitment to equality is important not only socially, but economically, Buckhorn said. By embracing the LGBT community, Tampa has the ability to attract more businesses to the area and increase the power of the local economy.
“I told Watermark this when we talked before the election, but we are more competitive economically as a city because of our diversity,” Buckhorn said. “When we're out there looking to relocate companies, that diversity is a strength. They want to know that if they move their operations to Tampa, their employees”all of them”will be welcomed, celebrated and participating in a community irrespective of race, gender, ethnicity, religion or orientation. That mix makes us better and stronger.”
Buckhorn has stood by his support for diversity with not only words, but with action. He spoke during the opening night of the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival last October and was also present at the recent Equality Florida Gala at the Italian Club in Ybor City last month.
Those appearances mean a lot to organizers.
“When he came on stage and welcomed the audience and shared that he was proud of our Film Festival, it was so memorable for me,” said Ken Hodges, president of TIGLFF. “He talked about how happy he was to welcome everyone and said he would be back every year on opening night for as long as he was mayor.”
Seeing Buckhorn at the Equality Florida Gala in February gave executive director Nadine Smith a chance to speak with Buckhorn, who reiterated to her his support for the domestic partnership registry scheduled to go before the Tampa City Council March 15.
“He understands that it is the right thing to do and that it improves Tampa's reputation as a place that is welcoming and inclusive,” Smith said. “That matters a great deal when it comes to firing up the economy.”
At press time, the Tampa City Council was scheduled to vote on a Domestic Partnership Registry during its March 15 meeting, and Buckhorn was confident that such a registry would pass.
“I told the mainstream press and said publicly that I would sign the Domestic Partnership Registry Yvonne Capin spoke about,” Buckhorn said. “It's allowing people to be treated with the dignity they deserve irrespective of their relationship. It's about hospital visits, death and burial issues”it's important that partners be allowed to participate and to make those important lie decisions.”
Since his public statements, Buckhorn said he has not received one e-mail or phone call objecting to his plan to sign the registry.
“That tells you how far we've come,” he said. “That to me shows how far this community has come. It's a no-brainer and it will pass the council and it will be implemented.”
It's uncertain if the more conservative Hillsborough County Commission will take up a domestic partnership registry vote, but Buckhorn would like to see that happen.
“I think it would be helpful if Hillsborough County followed suit,” he said. “It would be common decency and it's the right thing to do. Hopefully they will do it. I obviously can only represent my city and my own personal opinion.”
Turning the corner
Equality issues are important to Buckhorn, but so is action. On the campaign trail, the then-candidate published a detailed plan outlining ways to build on Iorio's successes and also help Tampa survive the economic downturn.
“We've been working very hard and have accomplished a lot of what we've set out to do,” Buckhorn said. “In the first year we laid a lot of groundwork for the items that will take a bit longer”so it's been very busy.”
Buckhorn said that his administration has cleaned up the permitting process, put the federal courthouse on track to be redeveloped as a boutique hotel and set in motion a master plan for development in downtown and urban neighborhoods.
“I think we have a lot accomplished and we've set the wheels in motion for a lot more to come,” he said.
Those plans haven't gone unnoticed, Buckhorn said. A sense of optimism in the city seems contagious and the positive feedback he's received from the citizens of Tampa is energizing for the first-term mayor.
“There is a belief that as we come out of this recession, things are getting better,” Buckhorn said. “I've worked hard at using my office and the pulpit afforded to me by the office to talk about Tampa and inspire people.”
Buckhorn added that his staff has shown a commitment to getting things done and opening up Tamp to business, which fuels the optimism he mentioned. If the business community isn't successful and alive, he said, then the city can't do all the things it wants to do.
“We've got to get the economy back on track and work every day to make that happen,” he said.
Prepping for the national stage
As 2012 continues its march forward, Buckhorn sees opportunity”specifically in the August when the Republican National Convention convenes in downtown Tampa.
“The convention is an international event of the magnitude of nothing we've ever done before,” Buckhorn said. “Other than the Olympics, this will be the most watched television event in the world this year. We will have 15,000 journalists alone in Tampa for this.”
And it's an opportunity to showcase Tampa and to relay a positive message, Buckhorn said.
“This is not a political event,” the mayor said. “This is an economic development opportunity.”
Buckhorn added that planning is essential for such a major undertaking and that seizing the opportunity and publicity to advance Tampa's future is just smart leadership.
“Unlike the federal government I don't have the luxury of printing money,” Buckhorn laughed. “We are still facing economic challenges. We have to take care of the fundamentals surrounding the GOP convention but we also have to be ready to tell Tampa's story to the world. It is so important that we do this right. We want to tell the story about Tampa, the story of diversity, Ybor's history and the stories of east and west Tampa. It's not just downtown, it's the great paella that is this city.”
And Buckhorn is quick to explain that the city is called Tampa, not Tampa Bay.
“Fish live in Tampa Bay, there is no city of Tampa Bay,” Buckhorn said.
A busy 2012
Other than planning for this summer's RNC, Buckhorn has plenty of other challenges and goals to meet this year.
The city is anticipating a $30 million deficit this year and it's Buckhorn's job to get a budget to the City Council by July. He's also focused on the continued revitalization of downtown Tampa and preparing for business expansion.
“I'm seeing more deals come across my desk and more permits are getting pulled,” Buckhorn said. “Last year I tried to set the table for us coming out of the recession. Now we're ready for the next step. It goes back to that optimism. I've never felt the optimism like what I'm feeling right now, and that's from all segments of the community.”
In a city as large and as diverse as Tampa, its not always feasible to be liked by everyone within the city limits. But Buckhorn bluntly admits that he's not concerned about that.
“It's hard for me to say what people think of me,” Buckhorn said. “I'm less concerned about that then what they feel about the city. People seem excited about the change in leadership and people are re-energized. All the pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together and that's the air that I breathe. I'm feeding off the aspirations of the city for Tampa to explode out of this recession and continue to be a leading city in the state and the country.”
