Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio: Not running for US Senate in 2010
May 11, 2009 at 11:09 am by Wayne Garcia
Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, who a few months ago expressed interest in Mel Martinez’s seat in the Senate, said today she will not run for statewide or national office in 2010.
“My four-year term as mayor does not end until March 2011 and I believe that running both the city of Tampa and a statewide campaign at the same time over the next eighteen months would shortchange the citizens of Tampa,” she said in a statement e-mailed to supporters and the news media.
Her full announcement after the jump:
A Statement from Mayor Iorio May 11, 2009
There has been a lot of political interest generated since Florida*s
Senator Mel Martinez made his announcement about stepping down in 2010.
I have gotten my share of phone calls and letters from people wanting to
know what political plans I had for the future.Over the past several months, I have given much thought to this and
have concluded that 2010 is not the right time to pursue a statewide or
national office. My four-year term as mayor does not end until March
2011 and I believe that running both the city of Tampa and a statewide
campaign at the same time over the next eighteen months would
shortchange the citizens of Tampa. Properly balancing the city*s
budget in these difficult economic times deserves my full attention, as
does the completion of the major capital improvement projects I began
with the new Cultural Arts District along our downtown waterfront. Of
particular importance to me, and to the entire region, is the major
initiative of light rail, which needs time and strong support to become
a reality.I appreciate the words of encouragement and support from many friends
and constituents but will not be announcing for any other office this
year.
