The subject of Mayor Bob Buckhorn and possible 2018 Florida gubernatorial scenarios is definitely out there. Among those propping it up: our most voluble politician, Mayor Bob. “There will be an open seat in four years,” he coyly noted recently in the aftermath of Rick Scott’s narrow victory over Charlie Crist. “I’m just saying.
“I know the speculation is inevitable,” he acknowledged, thereby helping assure its inevitability.
Mercifully, we’re still an election cycle away from that Adam Putnam-Bob Buckhorn match-up. But what would it be like going from East Kennedy Boulevard to Apalachee Parkway?
Bob Martinez has some pertinent thoughts. Florida’s 40th governor was also Tampa’s 52nd mayor.
It mattered, underscores Martinez,79, that his experience was in a strong mayor system. “You’re a CEO. That’s certainly helpful.”
In addition to sheer scale, a key difference, points out Martinez, is that “Local government is more retail. State government is more regulatory–and more philosophical. Do you, for example, measure success by input or output on many issues.”
Going from a non partisan race–even though your party affiliation is well known–at the local level to the statewide, partisan mosh pit was a major adjustment, recalls Martinez.
“It’s quite different,” he emphasizes. “Both parties caucus. There’s definitely a learning curve involved. You have to adapt. You reorganize how you engage in the issues. It can seem hit-and-miss for a while, but you do adapt.”
As for being a Tallahassee outsider, Martinez notes that the trend, manifested in the more recent administrations of Jeb Bush and Rick Scott, has been away from those who have served in the Legislature. The big, palpable difference, says Martinez, is getting your name and message out “to a bigger audience.” And that, of course, involves time and money.
“It’s certainly a more expensive audience to reach now,” he adds. “And to make a statewide run, you have to start no less than two years out and then be visible circulating outside your neighborhood the other two years.”
So, any projections on a Putnam-Buckhorn showdown?
“That’s for the pundits to figure out.”