Candidate takes criticism on party support, funding
By JANET ZINK
Published August 21, 2004
TAMPA - The jabs kept coming and Trey Traviesa, a political newcomer, kept ducking.
Traviesa, a Tampa businessman, fielded the toughest questions and criticisms from members of the Tiger Bay Club and fellow candidates at a forum Friday for Republicans seeking the District 56 Florida House seat.
Traviesa was asked if he made contributions to Democrats when he lived in Texas, if he was being groomed by special interest groups who hope he'll one day be speaker of the House and whether he was getting support from his district.
Traviesa said he has never given financial support to a Democratic candidate. He said his name did appear in 2001 on an invitation to a fundraiser for Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Tony Sanchez, but that was a mistake. He asked to be removed from the list of the event's organizers and wasn't, he said.
"I accidentally made a list," Traviesa said.
But Traviesa did contribute $1,000 to San Antonio Mayor Ed Garza, a Democrat, in 2001, according to campaign finance reports.
Businessman Ralph Hughes, who supports Brandon real estate agent Deven Carty in the race, asked Traviesa about talk that his campaign is financed by special interest groups who hope he'll one day become speaker of the House.
"I cannot speak to what people want to do, only what they will do," said Traviesa, whose campaign has raised more than $100,000. "They will not control me."
He said he has received endorsements from local law enforcement and fire rescue groups as well as real estate agents.
In response to questions about how much of his campaign war chest has come from within the district, Traviesa answered: "I will not be embarrassed by my support from Tampa Bay, even if it's not from my oddly drawn district."
The sprawling District 56 takes in parts of South Tampa, the port, suburban Brandon and rural areas around FishHawk Ranch.
Candidate Lisa DeVitto, a South Tampa attorney, accused Traviesa of repeating things she said in a radio interview. Candidate Chris Tompkins, a Brandon attorney, took Traviesa to task for saying he's lived in South Tampa for three years when it's really been less than two years, and for suggesting he owns a business in Brandon that he actually just helped raise money for.
Traviesa did not jab back at his opponents other than to say they shouldn't resort to negative campaign tactics.
Tompkins said he doesn't think pointing out facts is negative campaigning.
"When people stand in a room and make false statements you need to correct that," Tompkins said. "I believe it's negative and disrespectful to voters to lie to them."
Also at Friday's Tiger Bay meeting was candidate Frank Shannon, who promised that if elected he would promote conservative principles, especially opposition to gay marriage. Candidate Tim Mimbs did not attend. The winner of the Republican primary in August will face write-in candidate Cornelius "Neil" Cosentino in November's general election.
