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Lunch with Ernest
Political insider stays busy
By ERNEST HOOPER
Published August 12, 2005
Mark Proctor is a past president of everything in Brandon.
Okay, maybe not everything, but the list does include the Brandon Chamber of Commerce, the Presidents' Roundtable, Kiwanis Club, Center Place and the Tampa Association of Realtors.
By day, Proctor runs his own political consulting company, MPA Consulting, serves on the Tampa Sports Authority, and is extremely active in the local and state Republican Party.
Over breakfast at the Brunchery, we talked about the many hats Mark wears and why he chooses to be so active.
Pull up a chair and join us.
ERNEST: In your work as a political consultant, is it tough finding customers?
MARK: Yes it is. It used to be, It's a free country, anybody can run for office. What happens now is that people are under so much scrutiny that sometimes they don't realize that virtually anything they've done in their history, in their past - which we all have - everybody has something that they would rather not get published. As a result, people willing to put their name forward, dip their toes in the water and realize, oops, it's a contact sport. Media scrutiny is a part of it, but what I don't like is the negative campaigning - finding the worst part of your candidate and publicizing it.
How do you counsel people on that particular aspect?
Let me cite the example of Mark Sharpe. Mark and I talked about it, and I said, You may get some negative things, are you willing to avoid that? If you go back and look at his campaign for Hillsborough County Commission, it was totally positive. Fortunately, he had opponents that didn't try a negative approach, but he had already determined even if they went negative, he was going to stay positive. That's the part of campaigns I think people don't like. They don't want to get into down and dirty.
How did you get into being a political consultant?
I've always had a lifelong interest in politics. Back when I was a kid, when I was 15 years old, I got involved in Republican campaigns. Then as I went through college and sought my degrees in public relations and mass communications, and ultimately started a commercial real estate company, I was still getting involved in campaigns every election year. It just evolved over time. A lot of candidates came in and asked for advice, and I said, You get what you pay for. A few years ago, I said, If they want advice and they're willing to pay for it, let me try to give them quality advice. It was basically taking an avocation and turning it into a profession.
And your work in politics has led to a relationship with Gov. Bush and President Bush?
Back in '99, I got involved in the "Draft George W. Bush" movement before he even announced he was running. When he announced in July of that year, the governor invited me to his kickoff luncheon. I told him I would like to help behind the scenes. I think I've done 29 different trips for the president when he comes to Florida. I've done some of the advance work and worked with his staff people. Last year, I ended up being involved with all four hurricane trips.
So you are friends with the president?
Well, my wife and I got invited to the White House Christmas party, which I had never done before. It was to thank us for helping out for the hurricanes. I would like to think he at least knows who I am. But put it this way, I'm close to the president's staff. I met him early on and I've known the governor since he first came to Florida.
Tell me about your role as a member of the Tampa Sports Authority?
Patrick Mantiega is chairman and a leading Democrat, and I'm the vice chair so that makes it interesting. But we come together and work on what's in the interest of the sports authority and ultimately the taxpayers.
Some have suggested we no longer need the sports authority, but don't we need it?
Yep. Historically, it was started in 1967 by an act of the Legislature and Gov. Hayden Burns. The reason was that the city of Tampa and Hillsborough County couldn't get along. So they set up this board, five members from the city, five members from the county, and an appointment from the governor to break ties. It was set up to get these two diverse groups working together, which frankly, even to this day, hasn't really changed.
So without the sports authority ...?
There would be another turf war.
Can we keep going that way with the city and county not getting along?
No. I don't think we should, but we may have to. One of the ultimate suggestions is consolidating government. But in my mind I don't believe that's going to happen because it would take city of Tampa and Temple Terrace and Plant City and Hillsborough County to all agree. Politically, I don't think that would happen.
They couldn't agree on a dog catcher.
Well that's it. Therefore, I think it's going to continue, but I don't think it's good for the city or the county.
I notice you get along well with state Sen. Tom Lee. But you ran against him when he first ran for Senate?
When it was all over and all said and done, when Tom ran for election the next time, I told him I wanted to support him. I believe I was the first contributor for his re-election campaign. He's our senator and he's done a great job.
So there was no bitterness or resentment on your part?
Well, it hurts to lose. And it did result in my wife saying I could never run for office again.
But the fact you've maintained a good relationship with Tom says something about your character, doesn't it?
Well, it says something about his character, too.
You've been president of a number of organizations in the Brandon area. Why are you so active?
It really comes from my mom (Christine). When I was a kid - it used to drive me crazy - she was involved in all these different things. She really got me involved in politics. She used to go out and help people and I guess it kind of rubbed off.
DESSERT: A postscript from Ernest
Mark, 57, and his wife, Carolyn Morgan of the Morgan Animal Hospital, just celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary. They met years ago when Mark took his Irish setter to a veterinary office for boarding. Carolyn explained they didn't board dogs, so Mark asked if he could leave the dog for an hour or so just for a checkup. He came back a week later. Somehow Carolyn forgave him.
- Ernest Hooper also writes a column for the Tampa & State section of the St. Petersburg Times. Lunch With Ernest is edited for brevity and clarity. To suggest lunch partners, call Ernest at 226-3406 or e-mail hooper@sptimes.com
[Last modified August 11, 2005, 17:47:14]
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