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Candidates share transit views

Statewide and county candidates nearly all favor one thing: holding a voter referendum on increased spending.

By BILL VARIAN
Published August 16, 2006

TAMPA - Former state Rep. Sandy Murman made her position clear: She definitely wants a regional transit authority to tackle transportation needs across Tampa Bay area county lines.

"I absolutely support it," she said. "The regional transit authority will really be the way to go."

Hillsborough Commissioner Ronda Storms, one of her Republican primary opponents in the District 10 state Senate race, is just as convinced that's not necessary. Each county already has an agency that tackles transportation planning and their leaders convene regularly for regional meetings.

"We have that today," Storms said. "We don't need another layer of competing bureaucracy."

The comments came during a public forum Tuesday organized by the Hillsborough Advocates for Improved Transit in which more than two dozen candidates for state and county offices fielded questions about mass transportation. More than 60 people attended the event at the Tampa Port Authority complex in the Channel District.

Storms and Murman provided the main diverging viewpoints among candidates in competitive races.

Other answers, particularly from County Commission candidates, were surprisingly uniform regardless of party affiliation.

County Commission candidates were asked whether they support a referendum asking voters if they would support increased spending for transit, and also where they see the transit system one and five years from now if they get elected.

Perhaps reflecting that community dialogue about adding rail to the local transit mix has ramped up in recent weeks in the wake of a new suburban expressway proposal, most of the candidates said they would back a referendum, and that rail should be part of the future.

"I think rail is an inevitability," said Ken Anthony, a Republican seeking the District 3 commission seat representing central and eastern Tampa.

Kevin White, a Democratic Tampa city council member campaigning for the same seat, said he would support a referendum, but doesn't think anything that includes money for rail would likely win voter approval.

If rail is to be pursued, he said it must be done at a regional level, and public-private partnerships should be explored.

[Last modified August 16, 2006, 05:40:55]