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Up against New York and New Orleans, Tampa must prove it can handle the party's convention.
By DAVID KARP, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 6, 2002
TAMPA -- The wining and dining begins tonight.
The area's Republicans spent Monday finalizing elaborate plans to woo the delegation that will decide what city will host the 2004 Republican National Convention.
And, like any hopeful suitor, the local host committee wants to look its best. Workers trimmed palm trees by the Tampa Convention Center and planted flowers on Ashley Drive, the main thoroughfare into downtown Tampa.
They put up signs at Tampa International Airport and rehearsed the minute-by-minute plan for the three-day visit by the GOP site selection committee.
"First impressions are critical when you are trying to win something," said Al Austin, co-chairman of the local host committee. "We will bend over backward to do everything to please them."
Tampa is competing against New Orleans and New York, two cities with reputations for putting on national political conventions. The nine-member site selection group will recommend a winner this fall, probably after the elections. The convention is scheduled for Aug. 31 to Sept. 4, 2004.
To compete, Tampa must show that its hotels, convention center and downtown arena can accommodate thousands of delegates and out-of-town journalists, Austin said.
"Once we do that, it puts us on a level playing field," Austin said.
One of the biggest challenges will be selling the area's landscape of hotels, which are spread out over two counties.
On the plus side, organizers say the Ice Palace and Convention Center, which would host the convention, offer the Republicans state-of-the-art facilities in a compact, waterfront location.
"I think we have what it takes," Austin said.
In two weeks, organizers have already faced two major challenges. First, they faced criticism after the public learned taxpayers might need to come up with as much as $21.8-million to subsidize the convention.
Then, after Tampa Mayor Dick Greco met with Cuban dictator Fidel Castro last week, Austin persuaded angry Cuban-American leaders not to oppose Tampa's convention bid.
Since learning 2 1/2 weeks ago that the Republican National Convention Site Selection Committee would visit Tampa, organizers have been planning every minute of the visit.
"We are pretty much working 24-7 at this point," said Karen Brand, the marketing vice president at the Tampa Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The selection committee toured New Orleans on Monday.
The delegates will compare logistics while in Tampa and New York.
At about 3:30 p.m., the GOP committee will touch down at TIA, where preschoolers and pirates from Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla will greet them with roses. Then they'll take a bus to International Plaza.
They should arrive at the Tampa Waterside Marriott by 4:30 p.m. for meetings. Then they go to the University Club for a private reception with Tampa Mayor Dick Greco and U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, the Bartow Republican. They will dine at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, where they will see a flamenco dance show.
On Wednesday, there will be more meetings and a tour of hotels downtown, in the West Shore business district, in north Tampa and in Sabal Park in Brandon.
They will return for lunch to see the Ice Palace and then tour the Tampa Convention Center, where more food will await.
Weather permitting, Thursday will begin with a boat ride across Tampa Bay on a catamaran that will dock at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort.
St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker and Gov. Jeb Bush are expected to meet the committee for a quick bus tour, which will end at Tropicana Field.
From there, they will go to the Don CeSar Beach Resort & Spa on the Gulf of Mexico for brunch. The visit will end with a brief news conference.
Margie Kincaid, chairwoman of the Hillsborough County Republican Party, said organizers would do whatever it takes to impress.
Even "our sunshine is better down here than anywhere else," she said. "With all the nice gulf breezes, it is going to be glorious. They will think they have died and gone to heaven."
-- Times-Picayune writer Michael J. Grabell contributed to this report. David Karp can be reached at 226-3376 or karp@sptimes.com.
Here are the members of the nine-member 2004 Republican National Convention Site Selection Committee:
Ellen Williams -- chairwoman of site selection committee. Chairwoman, Kentucky Republican Party.
Rosalind "Rosie" Tripp -- National committee member, New Mexico. City Council member, Socorro, N.M.
Solomon Yue Jr. -- National committee member, Oregon. National Rifle Association member. Chairman, Asian Outreach Committee, Oregon Republican Party.
Mary Jean Jensen -- National committee member, South Dakota.
Charles "Chuck" Yob -- National committee member, Michigan. Member, RNC Committee on Arrangements, 2000.
Jo McKenzie -- National committee member, Connecticut. Former state finance chair.
Ron Kaufman -- National committee member, Massachusetts. Senior field director, George Bush for President, 1980. Deputy assistant to President for political affairs, 1991-1992.
Carolyn Meadows -- National committee member, Georgia. Member, Eagle Forum. Member, NRA nominating committee. Member, Speaker Newt Gingrich's congressional club.
Tim Lambert -- National committee member, Texas.
-- Source: Republican National Committee