Despite what mailer implies, nobody has Iorio endorsement
By Times staff
Published March 3, 2007
St.Petersburg Times

Breaking News

Mayor Pam Iorio plays a starring role in a mailer from Rick Barcena, a candidate in the race for the at-large District 1 City Council. The piece touts Barcena's appointment to the city's code enforcement board and hollers, ''If Mayor Pam Iorio trusts Rick Barcena ... Then you should too!''

Apparently ''if'' is the key word in that sentence.

Iorio is none too pleased about the piece and wants to make one thing clear: She is not endorsing Barcena.

''I'm not endorsing any candidates in any of the races,'' she said.

Especially not this race.

Barcena is taking on 12-year Council veteran Gwen Miller, a reliable backer of the mayor's initiatives.

''Gwen is a dedicated council member and has also been a personal friend of mine for decades,'' Iorio said. ''I certainly wouldn't want any implication that I am supporting any of her opponents.''

Miller, on the other hand, has the backing of someone else who has occupied the mayor's chair, with no ifs, ands or buts about it.

A Miller flier features a picture of former Mayor Dick Greco with his arm around her. It quotes him saying, ''I'm lucky to call Gwen one of my dearest friends, and the people of Tampa are lucky to have Gwen Miller leading the Council. Let's keep her on the job.''

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One thing to say to Barcena

........I've had to look at your signs littered throughout this neighborhood for months. A real eyesore when entering Ridge from Columbus! Once a beautiful drive into the neighborhood, now an overwhelming amount of VOTE FOR BARCENA signs that make me want to throw up based on the volume.
Please, you took the time to anoy us and erect them, now take the time to get your name out of our face and remove them.

By Anon

Correction to last email

I meant when entering Ridge from MLK and not from Columbus.

By Anon