Behind Buckhorn’s Rout Of Ferlita

We were all prepared to declare voter indifference the big winner in Tampa’s mayoral election. And, granted, a 22 per cent turnout is a disgrace and a microcosm of America as an increasingly lazy democracy.

But the real story became the margin of Bob Buckhorn’s victory over Rose Ferlita, who had topped the field of five in the March 1 primary.

No one would have been shocked by a Ferlita win. Her name recognition is that formidable, her business and political presence in the community that embedded, her supporters that passionate. But a Buckhorn rout? Chances are, not even Buckhorn saw that coming.

Among the factors, these five:

            *Dick Greco: Had he received 385 more votes on March 1, Buckhorn never would have advanced to the runoff round. The four-time mayor’s campaign was hobbled by: overconfidence (Greco and who else in the runoff?); those gimmicky, Halloween-hand signs; a certain “panty-raid” gaffe that seemed more a function of age than inadvertent racism; and the unavailability of anyone–in the absence of George Levy–to say “no” to Greco.

            *Rose Ferlita: Hardly helped her own cause by signing off on a campaign that headed negatively south and reminded too many voters of what they abhor about political campaigns.

            *Pam Iorio: Tampa’s term-limited, uber-popular mayor changed her mind about staying neutral and endorsed Buckhorn. That was huge. The Ferlita campaign’s runoff cheap shots had pushed her past neutrality.

            *Other endorsements. Those of erstwhile opponents Ed Turanchik and Tom Scott were more than pro forma shout-outs. Plus newspapers. Their backing can still matter locally.

             *Bob Buckhorn. Much more than a re-packaged also-ran. A notably more mature candidate. No one looked better prepared or more like a CEO at forums.