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Politics

Redner makes naked bid to boost vote

By BILL VARIAN
Published March 16, 2007

TAMPA - Voting in the upcoming Tampa City Council runoff election could earn you a free afternoon or evening with a bunch of naked, pole-dancing ladies.

Joe Redner, owner of the Mons Venus strip club and a candidate for the District 1 at-large City Council race, is offering to waive the club's $20 cover charge for anyone who shows up with an "I voted" sticker. The pitch applies to early voters starting Monday and those who show up on the March 27 runoff date.

Redner said it's his way of trying to improve on dismal turnout of less than 16 percent during the initial March 7 City Council election.

He faces incumbent Gwen Miller in the runoff after both emerged tops in a six-candidate field March 7 but neither won more than 50 percent of the vote. A north Tampa district runoff is also on the ballot.

After campaigning little in the first election, Redner said he is working hard to win his first political race in six tries.

And he said he keeps hearing from potential voters that they didn't realize there was a City Council election, let alone a runoff.

"I don't think it's going to help me personally," Redner said of his offer. "I think it's going to help the election."

A spokesman for the state Division of Elections said there's nothing illegal about Redner's free admissions pledge. There's no way for anyone to know from a sticker who a would-be Mons Venus customer supported in the race.

"When the voter comes in with an 'I voted' sticker, it doesn't say 'I voted, and I voted for candidate A,"' said the spokesman, Sterling Ivey. "So you're not expressly asking voters to confirm they voted a certain way or asking for affirmation of how they voted.

"It's really irrelevant whether it's this kind of business, or a fast-food restaurant or supermarket."

A digital message board outside the Mons Venus advertised the offer Thursday with a pitch that read in part, "Vote for Joe! Vote against Joe! Just Vote! Tuesday, March 27."

Miller said she doesn't think Redner's freebie will persuade anyone to vote for him. She said she believes people will pick the best candidate.

"I found out it's legal," Miller said. "People have a constitutional right to vote.

"If that's what he thinks is going to help..." she said, trailing off.

Times staff writer Kevin Graham contributed to this report. Bill Varian can be reached at 813 226-3387 or varian@sptimes.com.

[Last modified March 16, 2007, 06:19:55]