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'I voted' sticker gets you in Mons Venus for free

By BILL VARIAN
Published March 16, 2007

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 the 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.

[Last modified March 15, 2007, 22:52:34]