We all know the best advice for those who have penned a heat-seeking epistle: Sleep on it. Too bad that principle wasn’t applied by Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce CEO Bob Rohrlack, who sent that testy missive to Gov. Rick Scott for having appointed Sam Rashid–of “tax-payer, subsidized slut” infamy–to the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority.
Two points. First, Rohrlack is right to feel the way he did. Scott cavalierly picked a right-wing political flamethrower for the HCAA. It embarrassed everyone down here, if not up there.
Second, Scott remains in a position to help this area. His track record is mixed: He was no help to Mayor Bob Buckhorn during the Republican National Convention (remember the gun-free zone request?) and he personally derailed Orlando-to-Tampa high-speed rail. But he’s also been helpful to TIA’s expansion and USF’s Medical School relo plans. He could help some more if he doesn’t overreact to Rohrlack’s letter.
That’s why the chamber’s board rebuked Rohrlack and fired off an apology to Scott. They know Rohrlack was channeling a lot of their sentiments–but this was all about CYA damage control.