Republican Hillsborough Commission candidate Brian Blair and some of his pals have unleashed a torrent of attacks on his opponent in the final days of the campaign.
Democrat Bob Buckhorn , formerly a Tampa City Council member, said this about the last-minute assault, made by phone and mailer: "Desperate people will do desperate things."
Over the weekend, many Republicans received a flier taking Buckhorn to task for approving an adult entertainment business within 600 yards of a school. It refers to the approval of the XTC Adult Supercenter on E Fowler Avenue in 1999 by the Tampa City Council.
Buckhorn made the vote based on advice from the city attorney. Although the city has had a long-standing ordinance forbidding adult businesses from opening near schools, the school in question, Miles Elementary, is located outside city limits. So the attorney told the council it couldn't use the rule.
"The attorneys advised us not only do we have no choice, but to arbitrarily deny it would put at risk all the other victories we had had against adult-use establishments," Buckhorn said. In fact, Buckhorn may be best known for his many fights with such businesses.
The flier also says Buckhorn is "proudly" endorsed by strip-club king Joe Redner. Buckhorn has indeed received Redner's endorsement, but not proudly. Redner has made a point of saying that, despite his many clashes with Buckhorn, he feels he must endorse him because he believes Blair is in the pocket of developers who are among his major campaign contributors.
It should be noted that the mailer was paid for and sent by Dean Rivett , a private investigator from Lutz, and claims not to have been approved by Blair. However, Blair made similar allegations against Buckhorn in a recorded phone message he left with voters around Hillsborough County over the weekend.
Among other things, Rivett is a friend and has been an advocate of the ousted disc jockey formerly known as Bubba the Love Sponge Clem . Rivett put out another mailer about Buckhorn saying he supports $2-billion in tax increases, which the candidate has not.
Rivett put out a similar ad two years ago against then-commission candidate Denise Lasher . The flier claimed she supported a billion-dollar tax increase that she actually voted against while serving on a citizens advisory committee.
Lasher sued Rivett and the candidate he was backing, Ken Hagan , for slander. Hagan ultimately won the race, and Lasher later dropped the suit.
ENDORSEMENT CLAIMS: In other campaign actions, another Blair supporter mailed out a letter to people that says it was approved by the campaign. It's mostly a soft piece, but it claims Blair is endorsed by Hillsborough County firefighters and local law enforcement.
Blair has been endorsed by local firefighters, but no major local law enforcement entity. Blair's Web site, while noting other major endorsements, does not include any from law enforcement. Buckhorn received the endorsement of the local chapter of the Police Benevolent Association and had Hillsborough County Sheriff Cal Henderson leaving recorded messages of support at homes over the weekend.
Blair did not return a phone call seeking comment.
LUCKY 7 STRATEGY: Many in Temple Terrace think businessman Kenneth Tozier faces an uphill battle to become the city's next mayor. But Tozier believes the numbers are on his side.
Lucky Seven, to be exact.
Tozier, who comes from a close-knit family, is one of seven brothers. The city has seven polling sites. And they are open, of course, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
"All the numbers line up," he said.
Each brother agreed to stay at one of the seven locations. Only one lives outside Temple Terrace but he still agreed to be a poll watcher. Another brother is flying in from Washington, D.C., this morning to do the same.
The oldest and youngest siblings are about 20 years apart, Tozier said. At 54, he is the big brother.
His opponent is City Council member and business owner Joe Affronti, who, at age 72, can claim at least one "7" to his cause. That may not be enough.
"If you're going to put some money down, do not put it down on my opponent," Tozier said.
RED, BLUE AND BARE: In case you haven't made election night plans, here's something to consider.
Paradise Lakes, the big nudist resort in Land O'Lakes, is holding a mock election and party tonight. Members and visitors will receive a corresponding decal depending on whom they support in the presidential race, red for W, blue for John Kerry and green, of course, for Ralph Nader .
"Some people wear their party affiliations on their sleeves," said Joe Lettelleir , owner of Paradise Lakes, in a news release. "But when you're wearing only a red or blue decal, you're really displaying your commitment."
The resort extended invites to Senate candidates Betty Castor and Mel Martinez . We didn't bother calling their campaigns to see whether they accepted.
-- Times staff writers Bill Varian, Bill Coats and Josh Zimmer contributed to this report.
