Posted by Wayne Garcia on Jul. 29, 2009, at 7:14 am
Brian Blair: the political action figure, fighting for the rights of parents everywhere
You knew this was coming: Brian Blair has started his comeback bid after being cleared of child-abuse charges in a fight with his sons, even as he also fights elections law charges in connection with checks he accepted during his failed 2008 campaign.
Blair, in an exclusive sit-down with News Channel 8 set to air tonight at 11, said:
By George Niemann PoHo contributor and R-LAND and UCAN activist
In April 2009, former Hillsborough Commissioner Brian Blair opted to go for a full hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) to settle the charge of accepting illegal campaign contributions from Hillsborough Planning Commissioner Hung Mai and another political supporter. In February 2009, the Florida Elections Commission found “Probable Cause” that Blair intentionally violated campaign laws.
The final hearing was set for Wednesday in Tallahassee before ALJ Jeffrey B Clark. But a source there tells me that a one-time 30-day delay may be granted in the case. [UPDATE: On Wednesday we learned that is exactly what happened. The judge in Blair’s case just issued a ruling on the motion filed to send the case back to the elections commission. He denied the motion and set the new court date for Sept. 9. And get this, the trial is being moved to Tampa!!!]
Posted by David Warner on Jul. 2, 2009, at 10:58 am
What happens to you if, according to police reports, you put your teenager in a choke hold and punch your 12-year-old in the head?
If you’re Brian Blair (mug shot at right), nothin’ much but some bad publicity, apparently. Check out these reports from Fox NewsRadio, and after the break, TBO.com, in which an assistant state attorney characterizes the incident as “discipline.” UPDATE: The St. Petersburg Times goes into further detail on the case and the reasons for the charges being dropped, referring to a memo from Assistant State Attorney Rita Peters that indicates Blair “took more punches than he gave.” (That would explain his condition in the mug shot).
TAMPA, Fla., (970 WFLA) – The Hillsborough State Attorneys office said it will not file child abuse charges against former Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair.
The State Attorneys Office won’t comment, but said prosecutors will not pursue the case against Blair.
Blair was arrested on Father’s Day. He was charged with hitting his two teenaged sons. There were no serious injuries.
Ed.’s note: George Niemann filed this report before Brian Blair’s arrest on Father’s Day on two child abuse charges.
By George Niemann PoHo contributor and R-LAND and UCAN activist
Here’s the latest update on the Brian Blair campaign finance scandal.
In case you didn’t know, former Commissioner Blair is headed to a “trial” on charges he violated Section 106.19 of Florida Statute relating to campaign finance regulations (Case# FEC 08-224).
On Feb. 28, the Florida Elections Commission ruled that there was “probable cause” that he violated the statute more than once. His violations involve the acceptance of illegal campaign contributions from two contributors. Anyone can make a clerical error, however, the Elections Commission looks beyond just the accounting. They look for actions that indicate the intent of not following the law.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Jun. 22, 2009, at 2:27 pm
OK, so this was shot long before former wrestler and Hillsborough politician Brian Blair’s arrest on child abuse charges this weekend, but we’re pretty sure here at PoHo Central that the always erudite Iron Sheik feels the same way about that “jabroni” Blair today as he did back in March.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Jun. 22, 2009, at 11:38 am
In video now just hitting TV news websites, Brian Blair calls the family fight and his arrest “an unfortunate situation” and “a misunderstanding that could have been prevented.”
Fox 13’s Warren Elly has a report on that station’s website, here is the link (sorry, but the video didn’t embed into our software.)
According to Elly’s story, Blair told reporters on the way out of jail:
“It’s a misunderstanding that could have been prevented. I have over 7,000 hours mentoring children and the last thing I’d ever do is hurt a kid. Sometimes the hardest kids to mentor are you own. I guess that’s all I’ll say for now,” Blair told FOX 13.
Elly came by Creative Loafing before Blair’s release and I taped a short interview about what this does to Blair’s political career. Blair told reporters upon his release that his supporters would understand his actions once they hear the full story, but I’m kind of doubting that. Blair is not dead politically in the sense that he won’t ever quit the game, but he can’t possibly win public office after this.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Jun. 22, 2009, at 8:32 am
At a first appearance hearing this morning, a judge has ordered that jailed former Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair be released on his own recognizance, without any bond posted, commonly referred to as ROR. Blair likely won’t clear the jail’s long release process until this afternoon.
According to one reporter at the scene, Blair’s wife, Toni, spoke briefly to media to say only that her sons were fine, but she made no other comment.
Blair was arrested this weekend and charged with two counts of child abuse after getting into a fight with his teenage sons, shown in this photograph from his campaign website Blair continues to maintain.
Brian Blair, the former pro wrestler and Hillsborough County commissioner, is facing child abuse charges after he allegedly got into a scuffle with his teenage boys.
Blair, 52, was arrested his home on 12702 Boulevard N shortly after 5 am and booked into the Orient Road Jail at 12:45 p.m, jail records show.
According to Hillsborough Sheriff’s spokesman Larry McKinnon, Blair got into an argument with his two two teen-aged sons that turned physical, sheriff’s Deputy Larry McKinnon said.
“It was a family argument between him and his sons and during the altercation at least one was battered,” McKinnon said.
The Times adds these details from the arrest report:
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Apr. 13, 2009, at 12:09 pm
I’ll put the disclosure right up front: I worked with Rich Reidy in my political consulting firm before returning to journalism in 2004. Today, Reidy (who is an aide to Hillsborough Commissioner Ken Hagan) announced he will run for the Florida House in District 47, a seat that could see him match up against former HIllsborough Commissioner Brian Blair.
If you recall, Reidy was surprised late last year when Blair let slip that he would seek the seat, since Reidy thought he had Blair’s blessing (if not, at least, tacit understanding). Republican Tom Aderhold has also submitted preliminary campaign papers to start campaigning for this seat as well. Blair has discussed the race and is believed to have interviewed a campaign consultant but has not publicly announced or filed his campaign paperwork yet.
The full text of Reidy’s announcement after the jump.
Posted by David Warner on Apr. 8, 2009, at 2:28 pm
By David Warner, CL Editor/ PoHo contributor
Sometimes the headlines can make your LGBT head spin. Take the front page of today’s New York Times print edition, where there were two major stories about gay issues, both above the fold. The good news: the Vermont state legislature’s override of Gov. Jim Douglas’ gay marriage veto. The bad: Openly gay Iraqis are being murdered with the tacit and sometimes overt approval of police and families.
Locally, there was good news for Susan Stanton. Fired in 2007 from her position as Largo City Manager after announcing, as Steve Stanton, that she would be undergoing a change of gender, she has finally found another city manager position after two years of searching all over the country — and she found it in Florida, no less. And meanwhile, here at Creative Loafing, Eric Snider’s Devil’s Advocate feature right here on The Daily Loaf is treating us to the enlightened views of evangelist Bill “I don’t hate gays, they just disgust me” [my paraphrase] Keller, and even better (or worse), the comments of his supporters.
On SiriusOutQ, the LGBT satellite radio station I only recently discovered and can now not live without, the news roundups each hour offer the same head-spinning mix. One day you hear the news that national “pro-family” groups plan to combat the Day of Silence — the anti-bullying initiative famously criticized by Brian Blair — by keeping kids home that day if their school is observing it. And then you hear that, for the first time, gay and lesbian parents are being invited to the White House Easter Egg roll.
It’s a contradictory, confusing, exhilarating time to be gay. We’re welcomed, we’re condemned, we’re cheered, we’re murdered. The progress we have made cannot be denied, but the reminders are there every day that the haters refuse to be denied either. Stay vigilant.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Mar. 16, 2009, at 2:39 pm
Former Tampa Tribune reporter and LakelandLocal.com blogger Billy Townsend joined me and Alexandra Koutsogiannopolous, a friend of mine from poli sci grad school at USF and the director of programs at the Tampa Bay chapter of the United Nations Association-USA, for our weekly ‘HoCast taping today. Here are the results.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Mar. 12, 2009, at 6:13 am
OK, let’s start with a bit of media law: It is almost impossible to libel a public official, thanks to the protection of the First Amendment and Times v. Sullivan. Anyone who wants to win such a lawsuit not only has to prove he/she was defamed but that it was done with actual malice or reckless disregard of the facts. It is a very high hurdle to jump.
That’s why former Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair’s lawsuit against Kevin Beckner, who beat him in 2008 at the polls, reeks of sore loser rather than a principled stand for the truth.
Blair argues that Beckner leveled false allegations of self-dealing and racism that exposed him to “hatred, contempt” and “ridicule,” on his way to election victory.
“This wasn’t negative campaigning. It was false campaigning,” Blair said during a news conference to announce the suit. “My children have come home from school crying from some of the things that were said.”
Blair said he wants to restore his reputation and be compensated for lost wages and earning potential.
Earning potential??
As for Beckner, he isn’t taking it lying down.
“If Brian Blair’s looking for someone to sue, he should sue himself,” Beckner said. “He defamed his own character and integrity when he consistently voted for special interests and self interests instead of the interests of the people of Hillsborough County.”
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Jan. 20, 2009, at 4:01 pm
As I wrote about over the weekend, Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner will ask his colleagues on Thursday to allow staff to prepare a cost-benefit analysis of offering domestic partnership benefits in the county’s current renegotiation of its insurance plans.
That move has set off a firestorm of activity on the Christian Right, if two e-mails that I got my hands on are any indication. The first from the man that Beckner beat, Brian Blair:
From: Brian Blair
Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2009
Subject: Fw: New County Commissioner tries “stealth attack”! Please read and act – THIS IS VITALLY IMPORTANT!
Do you think with $250,000 in campaign donations we should have mentioned he [Beckner} was an Activist on several G.L.B.T. Boards and that a large percentage of his campaign donations came from out of State? I want to personally appoligize to all that suported me! May God Sincerely Bless you in 2009!
Brian
Here’s the e-mail he was commenting on, from Terry Kemple’s Community Issues Council:
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Jan. 7, 2009, at 9:31 am
And the newspaper war continues.
The Tampa Tribune has “suspended” its summer internship program in a cost-saving move. Managing Editor Duke Maas told internship seekers in this e-mail (obtained by Romenekso):
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Jan. 5, 2009, at 2:00 pm
In the endless cycle that has become the modern campaign seasons, we’re already hot and heavy into the next go-round for the 2010 elections (skipping entirely the marquee St. Pete mayor’s race for now). Here are some early observations on local, state and national races of importance:
Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman is trying to move up to the Florida Senate, and he will face state Rep. Kevin Ambler in a Republican primary. This is the Hillsborough-Pasco seat now held by Sen. Victor Crist of Tampa, a Republican.
Norman has already raised more than $215,000, according to state records; Ambler has raised just $750, as most of his 2008 contributions went to his House re-election campaign.
Speaking of Crist, it is expected that he will seek a seat on the County Commission. Most think that it will be Norman’s vacant seat (Crist lives in the district), but it’s possible Crist could run for the seat now held by Commissioner Ken Hagan and Hagan could run for Norman’s seat, gaining additional years on the commission (Hagan would be term-limited in 2012 without such a switch).
Former Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair surprised local politicos when he all-but-announced late last year that he would seek Ambler’s House 47 seat. Lining up for that race was Rich Reidy, a Republican aide to Commissioner Hagan who was not expecting Blair to get into the race. Neither possible candidate has opened a campaign account yet, but word is that Blair is trying to line up Doug McAlarney, a Republican political consultant who helped get state Rep. Ed Homan, R-Temple Terrace, elected.
Ronda Storms? The rumor mill is rife with the idea that, having given birth to a second child in 2008, she would opt out of the 2010 elections and stay home. But she has opened a campaign account for re-election and was “incensed” when the Times asked if her future plans included leaving the Senate. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by David Warner on Nov. 6, 2008, at 9:37 pm
The votes have finally been counted in Hillsborough County, and shockingly enough, the good guys (or rather, the good guy and gal) won. And both wins could pretty much be considered upsets. Kevin Beckner, whose lead in the county commission race had been evident since election night, pulled ahead of incumbent Brian Blair for good with the final count: 55.26% to Blair’s 44.74% (259,831 to 210,399 votes). Yup, he trounced him.
And, with a justice that can only be called poetic, incumbent incompetent Buddy Johnson — the man who presided over the Hillsborough vote-count debacle — lost to Phyllis Busansky in the race for Supervisor of Elections.
Ya think Buddy will call for a recount?
UPDATE: The answer appears to be no. Johnson conceded defeat at about 6 p.m., according to TBO.com:
“Anything we can do to make her transition smooth, we will,” Johnson told reporters. “There’s a lot of big issues to deal with.”
The supervisor dodged questions about his handling of the election but praised his staff.
“The pressure they have been under in this election is tremendous.”
The Timesreported that Johnson also said: “You may not have seen the last of Buddy Johnson.”
Posted by David Warner on Nov. 6, 2008, at 4:53 pm
It’s November 6, 2008 in Hillsborough: Do you know who your county commissioner is?
No, you don’t. And that’s exactly what Kevin Beckner’s campaign manager, Mitch Kates, predicted. He’s currently slightly ahead of incumbent Brian Blair, who has yet to concede as early votes are still being counted.
Check out Kates’ prescient concerns from this video, shot at 10:30 p.m. on Election Night at Gaspar’s Grotto in Ybor City:
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Nov. 6, 2008, at 2:21 pm
The counting of more than 80,000 early votes continues today, and at the latest tabulation (from late last night), challenger Kevin Beckner has opened a 22,839 vote lead over incumbent Brian Blair, who may have attended his last meeting as a commissioner:
Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair said this morning he is not ready to concede defeat in his race with Democrat Kevin Beckner.
… “I’m an athlete,” Blair said this morning during a break in a commission meeting. “I’m running until the race is over.”
Commissioner Rose Ferlita, who has often crossed swords with Blair over environmental issues and other matters, wished Blair well if the ultimate vote total went Beckner’s way.
“In the event you are replaced by someone else, I want to thank you for your service and say good luck and Godspeed,” she said.
Posted by David Warner on Nov. 6, 2008, at 1:09 pm
It might be a little premature, but some local wag circulated this email inviting folks to the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners’ meeting today to celebrate the putative last day of Brian Blair, even though the vote-counting isn’t yet complete in the race between him and Kevin Beckner, who is currently in the lead:
Fellow Celebrators,
Tomorrow is what I’m calling the Not-So-Regular BOCC Meeting. You may not have realized it yet, but it will be Brian’s last meeting as commissioner. Beckner will be sworn-in on November 18 and he will assume full duties as of that date. I confirmed this with Commissioner Ferlita’s office this morning.
So what should we do tomorrow to mark Brian’s passing??? Should we bring in a cake??? Should I bring my guitar and we sing, “For he’s a jolly good fellow”??? Should we pass around copies of the want ads???
It might be better if we use this as an opportunity to educate and motivate the others on the board, kind of like a “lessons learned” session. In other words to convey to them that having powerbrokers with money behind you sometimes leads to a false sense of security, and that as powerful as the special interests are, they can’t save you if the public believes that you’ve betrayed their trust.
Remember, it’s your last chance to say goodbye to him as a commissioner.
And don’t forget, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the evil-doers show up to pay their last respects and tell him what a wonderful job he’s done. I know the rest of he gang of 5 will be singing his praises tomorrow.
It would be interesting if he didn’t show up tomorrow, fearing that he might have to face those goodbye speeches from the diehards.
With only seven precincts left to be counted, Kevin Beckner has a nearly 20,000 vote lead and appears to have won the Hillsborough County Commission seat now held by Brian Blair. One big caveat: Those “precincts” are mostly absentee and early vote totals, which mean tens of thousands of votes remain outstanding. The Hillsborough elections office stopped counting at 3:30 a.m. with 6,000 absentees and 86,000 early votes left to be tallied, according to the St. Petersburg Times and online elections returns.
First, the issue of uploading early votes must be addressed. As of early Wednesday, only half of the 26 early voting machines had been tabulated. The county received 146,332 early votes, but it is not known how many remain to be counted.
Next, officials must access votes from machines in the outstanding precincts, Temple Terrace Presbyterian Church, a combined precinct, and New Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Tampa. One machine in each precinct was causing problems, Dominguez said.
Then officials also still have to count 6,000 absentee votes received Tuesday which weren’t scheduled to be counted until today. [Canvassing Board chairman Judge James] Dominguez estimated that counting the votes from the precinct machines and the absentee ballots would take about four hours.
But based on Beckner’s performance in early voting and his large lead, we project him the winner in this seat. According to the elections office tablulations, 60,384 early ballots had been counted when the count was halted early this morning. That would leave about 86,000 left to count. To close the 20,000 vote gap in early returns, Blair would have to win 62 percent of the outstanding early ballots, where Beckner has won 68 percent of the early vote counted so far. That dramatic turnaround in early voting results seems extremely unlikely.
Here are the most current vote totals from the Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections:
Brian Blair (REP)
47.38%
180,599
Kevin Beckner (DEM)
52.62%
200,586
How did Beckner do it? Early voting and staying close in the absentees, which usually break big for Republicans. Beckner built his 20,000-vote lead among early voters, a group that appears to be only partially counted still this morning. Blair is beating Beckner in absentees by only 158 votes.
Choice Polling Absentee Early Vote Prov Unscan Total Percent
Brian Blair 113,48 47,981 19,129 0 0 180,599 47.38%
Kevin Beckner 111,508 47,823 41,255 0 0 200,586 52.62%
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Nov. 5, 2008, at 2:52 am
At nearly 2 a.m., it still wasn’t clear, owing to another massive screwup by Hillsborough Supervisor Buddy Johnson that saw elections returns trickle out of his office when almost everyone else in the state had the job done.
Kevin Beckner was ahead by nearly 18,000 votes with 312 out of 323 precincts reporting. Republican pro wrestling veteran Brian Blair had run behind from the first returns, a surprise given the fact that the absentee ballots were among the first counted and they run heavily toward to the GOP. Beckner and his troops had set up a party at Gaspar’s Grotto in Ybor City, hoping to celebrate a win. They settled for watching Barack Obama’s victory speech and then huddling around a few laptops trying to figure out why the county race wasn’t settled yet. Beckner ended up leaving after 1 a.m. without a conclusion to his quest.
The race between the progressive Beckner and social conservative Blair dramatically illustrates the split that exists in Hillsborough County, shown in this map from the elections office; Beckner’s winning precincts are in blue, Blair’s in red and the outstanding precincts shown in grey:
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Nov. 4, 2008, at 12:00 pm
Controversial Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair sent out this e-mail to supporters this morning:
A Special Election Day Message From Brian Blair
Dear Friend,
As a child, I remember the feeling I had on Saturday morning heading out to the baseball or football field to play. It was Game Day and the anticipation of the start of the game was exciting and euphoric.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Oct. 27, 2008, at 3:30 pm
The activists at U-CAN (United Citizens Action Network) are starting to issue report cards for all of the Hillsborough County, starting with their favorite target, Republican Brian Blair.
He got eight F’s, one C and one D. Something that surely won’t look good on his permanent record:
“Brian is goal oriented and has worked tirelessly to achieve certain goals, however, the goals he strives to achieve are not in alignment with what citizens want — improving quality of life, making growth pay for itself, maintaining our community’s way of life, reducing traffic, reducing the overcrowding in our schools, carefully preserving our environment, managing growth to reduce the shortage of potable water.”
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Oct. 2, 2008, at 6:59 am
Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair has told the St. Petersburg Times that he paid for the billboard on Ehrlich Road that was the subject of our story this week. He produced a copy of a check for $2,500 for the billboard, which was dated Sept. 19.
Blair has sublet the billboard from the company that has a contract for it, North Dale Development, which is owned by developer and Blair supporter Stephen Dibbs.
Creative Loafing began calling Blair and Dibbs on Sept. 23, and, despite repeated attempts, did not receive a response from them about who had paid for the billboard. An August invoice for the billboard, obtained by CL, was sent to North Dale Development, and the billboard itself makes reference to voting for Blair in the August primary.
According to the Times:
Blair’s campaign produced a check stub showing a $2,500, first-month’s payment to CBS Outdoor, owner of the billboard. CBS also provided a computerized copy of the check, along with a copy of a mailing label from the DHL Express envelope in which it arrived.
CBS spokesman Jeremy Murphy said a company called North Dale Development has a contract to use the billboard, and that it has sublet the advertising space to Blair’s campaign. Blair has access to the billboard from the Aug. 26 to. Nov. 4, Murphy said. Those dates span the period from the primary to the general election.
“There was a letter of assignment, assigning it to the campaign,” Murphy said. “The campaign has paid for the billboard.”
The Blair campaign check has not shown up on a campaign finance report yet. Sept. 19, the date on the check, came after the deadline for the latest report. Blair told the Times it would be included on the report that is due in the mail on Friday.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Oct. 1, 2008, at 2:31 pm
UPDATE: Neither Blair nor Beckner has spoken to Creative Loafing about this story, but a Tampa Tribune reporter tells me Blair has now produced a campaign check cut to CBS Outdoor on Sept. 19 and insists he paid for all his campaign advertising himself.
–
In the aftermath of my story yesterday about Brian Blair and who is paying for his campaign billboards, several activists showed up at the Hillsborough County Commission meeting this morning, with one reading my story into the record and at least one other demanding Blair resign.
The Kevin Beckner campaign, which is challenging the Republican Blair for his county commission seat, picked up the ball from there, issuing this news release this afternoon:
BLAIR BREAKS LAW
Brian Blair violates election law- Beckner campaign calls for Blair’s resignation
TAMPA: According to a disturbing news article in the weekly newspaper Creative Loafing, it appears that Brian Blair has violated campaign finance laws by participating in an ethically and quite possibly legally challenged campaign activity.
In the news story titled, “Who is behind commissioner Brain Blair’s campaign billboards?” it is revealed that “according to an invoice… controversial and prominent developer” Stephen Dibbs actually paid for the billboard. Contradicting the invoice the billboard’s disclaimer clearly states “Paid political advertisement paid for and approved by Brian Blair, Republican, for Hillsborough County Commission District 6.”
“Throughout this campaign I have focused on the real issues we face in Hillsborough County. I have also expressed that we need real change in our county that focuses on the people and not Special Interests,” stated candidate Kevin Beckner. “This unfortunate indiscretion that my opponent is involved in not only shows a violation of the law and the public trust but is a glaring example of how connected Mr. Blair is to self interest developers.”
“It is obvious that the self interest developers who support Mr. Blair will do whatever is necessary, legal or illegal, to re-elect Mr. Blair and maintain their power and influence over county government,” stated Beckner.
According to campaign finance laws individuals are limited to a $500 maximum contribution by individuals or $500 for corporate contributions. The news article states that the cost of the billboard in question was $2,500.
“Brian Blair should be begging the voters of Hillsborough County for their forgiveness instead of their votes right now,” stated Mitch Kates campaign manager for Kevin Beckner. “Mr. Blair not only broke the law, he violated the public’s trust. If Mr. Blair had any moral courage he would not only suspend his campaign he would step down from his seat on the County Commission immediately.”
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Sep. 30, 2008, at 2:39 pm
It sure looks like that could have happened. In a story to be published in our print edition tomorrow, I write about how at least one invoice for a Blair campaign billboard was sent directly to a company owned by developer Stephen Dibbs:
The billboard on Ehrlich Road in north Tampa touting the re-election of Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair reads, in fine print at the bottom, “Political advertisement paid for and approved by Brian Blair, Republican for Hillsborough County Commission, District 6.”
It appears, however, that his campaign did not pay for the billboard advertisement. Blair’s campaign finance reports show no such expenditure. And according to an invoice obtained by Creative Loafing, the bill for the $2,500-a-month roadway sign was sent to North Dale Development, which is owned by Stephen Dibbs, a controversial and prominent developer who has supported Blair in the past.
If Dibbs did pay for the billboard, it would appear to exceed the limits in the state campaign finance law, which caps direct or in-kind contributions to candidate campaigns at $500 and requires disclosure of any contributions.
Among Dibbs’ various holdings is the Bourbon Street Plaza shopping strip center where the billboard is located. It is not clear from the invoice whether Dibbs paid for the board. The invoice was provided to CL by a source who requested anonymity because the source was not authorized to release the document.
The invoice, from CBS Outdoor, which sells the billboard’s advertising space, was dated Aug. 20, 2008, for use of the billboard in the month of August. The 10-foot-by-36-foot sign is highly visible to anyone driving west on Ehrlich from North Dale Mabry Highway. It was still in place last week when CL visited the site.
Neither Dibbs nor Blair responded to numerous telephone and e-mailed requests for comment for this story.
Who paid for this campaign billboard on Ehrlich Road in Tampa?
UPDATE: Neither Blair nor Beckner has spoken to Creative Loafing about this story, but a Tampa Tribune reporter told me Tuesday that Blair has now produced a campaign check cut to CBS Outdoor on Sept. 19 and insists he paid for all his campaign advertising himself. Blair spoke to reporters with the Trib and Times after he was criticized during Tuesday’s county commission meeting about the subject of the story.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Sep. 12, 2008, at 5:22 pm
In the highest profile one-on-one meeting in the campaign so far, incumbent Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair and challenger Kevin Beckner have taped an appearance for Sunday’s Flashpoint with Brendan McLaughlin on ABC Action News Channel 28.
The interview gets real lively about halfway through when the topic turns to social issues. Blair, a conservative, has fought against gay pride and the anti-bullying “Day of Silence” in public schools, gets an earful from Beckner, who is preaching more tolerance and fiscal planning.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Aug. 11, 2008, at 12:11 pm
WTF?!?
Yes, you read it correctly: both daily newspapers have endorsed Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair in the GOP primary coming up on Aug. 26. This seems to be the main reason the Trib likes him:
When he first joined the board, Blair seemed uncomfortable, often reading from a prepared statement that seemed to have been prepared by someone else. But as he learned the issues, Blair found his voice. He never misses a meeting and clearly loves the job.
And this seems to be the main reason why the Timesgave him the nod:
Since winning election in 2004, Brian Blair has championed silly issues, peddled paranoia and marched to the command of the building industry.But at least Blair shows some respect for the office he holds. … Blair has stopped some wasteful county spending. He is active in the community. The 51-year-old former business owner at least acts on his beliefs and puts his record on the table, as opposed to merely showing up at election time for publicity.
Blair has an opponent in the Republican primary, Don Kruse, but you have to wonder, how bad does this guy have to be to lose both newspaper endorsements to Blair? Or how lost are the newspapers?
Posted by Wayne Garcia on May. 5, 2008, at 5:46 pm
Denise Layne, a Lutz civic activist instrumental in such recent causes as the EPC wetlands issue, says she will announce her candidacy for the Hillsborough County Commission next week in the seat being held by EPC foe Brian Blair. She is a Democrat and will face a primary against Kevin Beckner and Joe Redner. Story is developing …
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Oct. 25, 2007, at 10:27 pm
Mayor Pam Iorio has taken what I can’t help but think is an unprecedented step in trying to halt the Tampa City Council’s push to change the composition of the county Environmental Protection Commission.
Iorio had previously announced that she wouldn’t support the Council’s vote in July to ask the county to reconstitute the EPC to include a seat for a city appointee. Saying you won’t back the plan is one thing; writing a letter to state legislators in an effort to torpedo the legally voted action of an elected board is quite another.
Iorio wrote to all members of the Hillsborough Legislative Delegation this week:
I know you have many issues on your agenda right now with the special session, but I did want to write to make clear that the City of Tampa does not support changing the composition of the EPC. The City is comfortable with the historic make-up of the County Commission acting as the EPC Board. While some of the recent decisions of the Board may be controversial, the voters can decide at election time who will serve on the EPC Board.
Iorio went on to mention that she has been meeting with County Commission Chairman Jim Norman and County Administrator Pat Bean to “iron out” longstanding differences about money and equal representation on other government boards, such as the city’s Community Redevelopment Agencies. In July, the council’s chairwoman, Gwen Miller, sent a letter to legislators asking for the EPC law to be changed to better represent the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace, none of which has a direct seat at the table. Miller’s letter specifically cited the EPC attempt recently to kill its local regulations that preserve wetlands.
State Rep. Rich Glorioso was set to introduce just such legislation — until Mayor Pam’s letter hit. It is sure to infuriate newly elected City Councilwoman Mary Mulhern, who led the fight to change the EPC, if not all of the council members. This may prove to be Iorio’s first real stumble, since the EPC wetlands fight has left many in Tampa livid with the county’s control over that vital function.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Oct. 25, 2007, at 4:21 pm
As the WellCare federal investigation just starts to unfold (WellCare CEO Todd Farha, in his best Kevin-Bacon-Animal-House-”All-is-well!” imitation, finally issued a statement) and its market value falls off the table, it is good to recall that WellCare is the No. 1 campaign contribution bundler at the county commission level in Tampa Bay.
My story last year detailed how the Medicare and Medicaid provider donated $32,000 to local candidates in the 2006 election cycle, mostly Hillsborough County Commission candidates, at the same time it is trying to break into the ranks of providers who feed at the county’s lucrative indigent health care plan.
Two years earlier, it bundled up $10,000 for Commissioner Brian Blair, who is running again in 2008 and has received $2,000 so far in this campaign from four different WellCare corporations. In 2005, Blair raised the issue of opening up bidding for the indigent health care bucks but denied that it had anything to do with all the greasing he’s had from WellCare.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Oct. 18, 2007, at 11:06 am
The boys who founded and grew the Outback chain are generous and forgiving folks, judging by the big bucks they (and family members) recently contributed to the campaign of Republican Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair.
Blair famously sued Outback franchise Carrabba’s Italian Grills in Nov. 2002, alleging that he took a slip and fall at one of their restaurant’s because of employee negligence, effectively ending his pro wrestling career. Blair tripped over a tray of dirty dishes; Carrabba’s attorneys had signaled they would introduce evidence that Blair had drank alcohol that night and was impaired. The case was settled before a trial could be held earlier this year.
In his campaign finance report filed last week, Blair listed $500 contributions from Outback founder Chris Sullivan and Outback execs Bob Basham and Tommy Shannon (as well as Shannon’s wife) for a total of $2,000.
the No. 1 campaign contribution bundler at the county commission level in Tampa Bay.
