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Politics

Candidates for mayor discuss issues at forum

Two of the three candidates answered questions for a 3-member panel.

By JANET ZINK
Published January 30, 2007

TAMPA - Mayoral candidates Pam Iorio and Marion Serious Lewis avoided fireworks at a forum Monday hosted by the League of Women Voters of Hillsborough County.

Aria Green, who is also running for mayor, missed the forum because of a family emergency.

Lewis and Iorio, who is seeking a second term as mayor, fielded questions from a three-member panel on, among other things, mass transit, residency restrictions for sex offenders and the health of the Hillsborough River.

Iorio said if re-elected, mass transit, including rail, would be a top priority for her. She pointed out that among the country's largest metropolitan areas, only Tampa and Detroit lack a rail system.

Finding a source to pay for a rail system should be decided in a referendum, she said. But first, a rail plan needs to be fully developed.

Iorio also said she wants to get buses circulating throughout Tampa's downtown and the West Shore business district to eliminate reliance on cars in those dense urban areas.

Lewis said he already has a plan for a rail system in Tampa.

"At this point in time we will not share that plan," he said.

Lewis said he objected to the Tampa City Council's efforts to expand state residency restrictions for sex offenders whose victims are children.

State law doesn't allow such sex offenders to live within 1,000 feet of schools, day care centers, playgrounds or parks. The City Council wants to expand that limit to at least 2,500 feet, and possibly push them out of the city altogether.

"Sex offenders are human beings," Lewis said. "They have to have a place to live."

Lewis, a former police officer, said the state laws are adequate.

Iorio said she expects the city attorney will determine that such a law would be unconstitutional, which would prevent the council from passing it.

Lewis said he supports letting more fresh water flow over the Hillsborough River dam to improve the health of the lower river.

Environmental groups are pushing to increase the flow over the dam, which holds water in a reservoir that supplies most of Tampa's drinkable water.

Iorio said how much fresh water the river needs is a question for scientists, not politicians.

"I love the river," she said. "At the same time, we've got to protect our drinking water supply."

City elections are March 6.

Fast Facts:

Televised forums

City of Tampa Television, Ch. 15 on Verizon Fios and Bright House Networks, will air forums featuring candidates for Tampa mayor and City Council beginning Friday.

The schedule is as follows.

Mayor: Sundays at 9 p.m., Fridays at 8 a.m. and Saturdays at 4 p.m.

City Council, District 1: Sundays at 10 p.m., Mondays at 11 a.m. and Saturdays at 5 p.m.

District 2: Sundays at 3 p.m., Mondays at 8 a.m. and Fridays at 7 p.m.

District 4: Sundays at 3:30 p.m., Mondays at 8:30 a.m. and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.

District 5: Mondays at 3 p.m., Fridays at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 10 p.m.

District 6: Mondays at 2:30 p.m., Fridays at 9:30 a.m. and Saturdays at 10:30 p.m.

District 7: Sundays at 5 p.m., Mondays at 9 a.m. and Fridays at 8 p.m

City of Tampa Television, Channel 15 on Verizon Fios and Bright House Networks, will air forums featuring candidates for Tampa mayor and City Council beginning Friday.

The schedule is as follows.

Mayor: Sundays at 9 p.m., Fridays at 8 a.m. and Saturdays at 4 p.m.

City Council

District 1: Sundays at 10 p.m., Mondays at 11 a.m. and Saturdays at 5 p.m.

District 2: Sundays at 3 p.m., Mondays at 8 a.m. and Fridays at 7 p.m.

District 4: Sundays at 3:30 p.m., Mondays at 8:30 a.m. and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.

District 5: Mondays at 3 p.m., Fridays at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 10 p.m.

District 6: Mondays at 2:30 p.m., Fridays at 9:30 a.m. and Saturdays at 10:30 p.m.

District 7: Sundays at 5 p.m., Mondays at 9 a.m. and Fridays at 8 p.m

[Last modified January 30, 2007, 06:25:37]