'Oldest, fittest, fastest' runs for mayor

Nationally ranked runner Don Ardell, 63, says he's also the "prettiest of all the candidates.''

By DAVID KARP, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published May 1, 2002

TAMPA -- Don Ardell was waiting in his shorts by Bayshore Boulevard, hoping to get in his usual 6-mile run before the light went away. But first he had to take care of business.

Ardell was launching his candidacy for Tampa mayor.

"Don for Mayor," his announcement said. "The oldest, fittest, fastest and prettiest of all the candidates!"

As he got ready for his run, Ardell, 63, a nationally ranked runner in his age group, explained his approach to city government.

If elected, he would close Bayshore Boulevard on Sundays and hold wellness festivals.

City officials, such as the transportation chief and the public works head, would be on hand to work out with citizens.

Ardell also would send out a wellness message every day, encouraging citizens to eat right and exercise.

He would discourage public officials from behaving rudely. In his campaign platform, he even offers 10 tips to keep anger in check.

Number 5: "Use the words "please' and "thank you' as often as possible." (This can be applied often at meetings of the Barrio Latino Commission.)

Lest this all seem crazy, Ardell's ideas have a track record of working. The motivational speaker has published 15 books on wellness, including 14 Days to Wellness, a well-regarded work in the genre.

Ardell says he gets e-mails from readers thanking him for changing their lives through his wellness books.

So why not apply the same lessons to City Hall?

Some questions from 14 Days to Wellness that might be put to other mayoral candidates:

Question 32: "Can you recall an instance in the past week when you paused to relax, using a method such as deep breathing or progressive muscle control?"

Question 39: "Do you find it easy to express a full range of emotions?"

Or Question 42: "Do you regularly enjoy hearty belly laughs?"

As a candidate, Ardell will certainly contribute more sweat than his opponents.

Every week, he runs 40 miles, bikes 100 miles and swims about 6,000 yards. He finished this year's Gasparilla 15K in one hour and 23 seconds. On Sunday, he placed third in his age group in the St. Anthony's Triathlon in 2 hours, 31 minutes and 38 seconds.

Ardell plans literally to run for office. One day he will bike through New Tampa; another day he will run through College Hill; another week he will swim in neighborhood pools or maybe the Hillsborough River.

The normal rules of aging have not applied to him, and perhaps the rules of politics won't either, he says.

He can run faster and farther than men half his age. His live-in girlfriend, Carol, is 46.

"I have a great life," he says.

-- Staff writer David Karp can be reached at 226-3376 or karp@sptimes.com.

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