Until his recent win in the Democratic primary, District 6 Hillsborough County Commission candidate Kevin Beckner had never run for office. Never felt compelled to.
In his 10 years in Tampa, the 37-year-old Carrollwood resident was settling into a career as a certified financial planner. The Indiana native was content to build a client base from his (then) Ybor City — and now South Westshore — office and put down entrepreneurial roots in his adopted county.
Then Beckner had an epiphany amid an ironic awakening.
Here he was in the business of helping clients financially plan for their future in an area that appeared foresight challenged. Where smart development, environmental enlightenment and mass transit often seemed oxymoronic.
“I saw a growing concern about where the community was headed,” he recalls. “It seemed there was a lack of vision for where we would be in 20-30-40 years. And here I was – one of those doing the complaining. Frankly, I got tired of standing on the sidelines. I thought I could put my talent to use.”
That was back in early 2006. Now the Indiana University graduate could even make history. He’s openly gay and enjoys the considerable support of gay and lesbian activists. A countywide-office victory would be historic.
Beckner, who looks even younger than his 37 years, began talking to political activists, leaders and consultants. Among his confidants: Democratic stalwarts such as Jan Platt, Pat Frank and Phyllis Busansky.
They were impressed, and he was encouraged. They liked his financial savvy, long-term orientation, environmental sensitivity, diversity embrace and non-confrontational demeanor. And his experience as a law-enforcement officer (IU campus police for 3 ½ years) and presidency of Leadership Tampa Bay, class of 2007, hardly hurt. In short, they were ecstatic they had found the polar opposite of District 6 incumbent, Republican Brian Blair.
Tampa City Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena explains the Beckner appeal: “He values the protection of our natural environment and the importance of transit and the need for a healthy balance in our investments in sports, culture and history. He also knows that it’s critical that the city and county work in harmony,” adds Saul-Sena. “I believe he completely understands the importance of this being a positive relationship.”
In January 2007 Beckner formally launched his campaign – getting a jump on the primary rivals, Joe Redner and Denise Layne, he would later defeat handily. Initially he went on a listening tour that took him to any group that would have him. It yielded a theme and a mantra: “Affordable living.” It included housing for young professionals, more collaborative efforts on behalf of higher-paying jobs, progressive transportation options, vigilant environmental stewardship and more regional cooperation.
It also yielded a sub-theme: enlightened self-interest.
*A mix of regional mass transit, a more integrated bus system and additional bike paths is designed, Beckner notes pragmatically, “to get more cars off the road. When it comes to transportation, we are the most expensive city in the country per capita.”
*Putting a premium on wetlands, he points out, is not some sort of impractical, mangrove-hugging ideal. The implications are both environmental and economic, he underscores. “We’re talking about eroding our buffer against hurricanes.”
*He’s hardly anti-developer, stresses Beckner. He says developers are to be worked with – just not kowtowed to. He wants more emphasis on “planned growth in urban service areas” and “re-development in blighted areas.” He doesn’t advocate a hike in impact fees, but would reassess them.
*He says the often discordant relationship between the county and the city of Tampa is more than regrettable. It’s counterproductive for the big planning picture. He singles out Blair for his “lack of vision.”
“I do long-term planning,” Beckner emphasizes. “It’s what I do. I bring those skills to the table. Right now we don’t have a collaborative vision at the county commission. The relationship between the county and city is tense, contentious and fractured. Nobody wins.
“Tampa is an economic hub,” Beckner points out, “but don’t forget that agriculture is a $600-million business. There’s no reason we can’t balance our rural and urban parts.”
*While Blair has earned a reputation as the bete noire of county spending, Beckner says he agrees with tax-cutting in principle – but not as a knee-jerk to every proposal. “We need to scrutinize every dollar,” Beckner says, “but I would also not be penny wise and pound foolish.”
After 20 months of campaigning, Beckner has amassed Democratic establishment support, including that of Congresswoman Kathy Castor, and more than $110,000 in contributions.
And fortuitously enough, Beckner catches an election year that could see significant gains for Democrats. Political analyst Bob Buckhorn, a former Tampa City Councilman who lost to Blair four years ago, says “the tides that swamped” him last time have ebbed. This should give Beckner hope “that Obama has coattails down ballot.”
Beckner could also be the beneficiary of a Hillsborough (and Florida) pattern that has seen Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1 in new registrants. In Hillsborough those numbers (since Jan. 1) are 15,000 Democrats to 7,000 Republicans.
The controversial and often ham-handed Blair is the political champion of developers and fiscal and social conservatives. He’s well-funded and the assumed political beneficiary of Amendment Two (ban on same-sex marriage) being on the November ballot. And the Sarah Palin phenomenon should help.
When he was serving as chairman of Hillsborough County’s Environmental Protection Commission, Blair acted as the point man for those wanting to dilute the county’s wetlands protections laws. He also aligned himself with anti-gay elements by voting against gay-pride displays on county property and assailing the anti-bullying Day of Silence in Hillsborough public schools.
A number of political observers and pundits give Beckner, well-positioned as the quintessential anti-Blair, much more than a rookie’s chance of winning. They note that Blair, a one-term incumbent, now has a track record, one with plenty of fodder to deter non-true believers.
“He’s raised a lot of money ($180,000), but he can’t buy himself out of his voting record,” states Beckner campaign manager Mitch Kates.
Not surprisingly, Blair likes his chances for re-election but says he’s running “as if I’m 20 points behind. I don’t take anyone for granted.”
He acknowledges that ballots in presidential years can have tricky dynamics. “What’s at the top of the ticket is always a concern,” he notes. “But I do have Democratic and independent support. I do cross aisles.”
As to controversial social issues that he’s associated with, Blair says they shouldn’t be the main focus of the election. “I’m a strong family-values person who’s all about saving people money,” he says, “whether it’s reducing property taxes or championing senior (homestead exemption) zones. But the other issues get more headlines.
“Look, we probably cast 1,000 votes in a year,” he points out. “Just don’t judge me by one.”
When Beckner supporters go to their candidate’s check list, they see a crew-cut, articulate, congenial sort whose financial-planning background necessarily prepares him for a role in a region better known for infighting and imprudent growth than amity and vision.
Others, however, may not see beyond the hot-button, social-conservative agenda embodied in Amendment Two. That could halt history.
“He can expect all the dirty tricks and nasty mail,” predicts Buckhorn, “none of which will be attributed to Blair. In the end, it depends on whether people’s desire for change will outweigh whatever biases they may have.”
For his part, Beckner thinks basics will trump bias. He doesn’t foresee a wedge-issue election.
“I think people are much more interest
ed in quality-of-life issues than somebody’s private life,” he assesses.
Kates ups the rhetorical ante.
“This will be the most historic victory ever in Hillsborough County.”