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Politics

Tiger Bay hears council hopefuls

Joe Redner and Frank Margarella have the floor to themselves.

By JANET ZINK
Published March 24, 2007

TAMPA - With just a few days remaining before City Council runoff elections, candidates Joe Redner and Frank Margarella made last-minute pitches for their campaigns at the Tampa Tiger Bay Club meeting Friday.

Joseph Caetano, Margarella's opponent in the race for District 7 that includes North Tampa, was a no-show. So was Redner's opponent, Gwen Miller, who is seeking re-election to the citywide District 1 post.

Redner said Miller's absence disappointed him because his opening remarks were written with her and her husband/campaign manager Les Miller in mind.

Redner said he takes exception to some of Miller's campaign tactics, including a direct mail piece that calls attention to Redner's three criminal convictions.

All three were decades ago, Redner said.

"That was a different time and a different Joe," he said. "Whatever mistakes I have made in my life, I try to make up for every day."

During the question and answer session, attorney Michael Steinberg asked Redner whether his election to the City Council might prompt more people to tune into meetings because of Redner's reputation for sometimes-outrageous behavior.

Redner said if more people pay attention to the meetings, they will be "surprised that it won't be a circus."

"Nobody sees me when I'm sitting in my business capacity and we're working to achieve some goal," he said. "I do that very well, believe me."

Margarella was asked whom he would rather serve on the council with, Miller or Redner.

Margarella said he has nothing against Miller, and clearly she has support because she has served on the council for 12 years. He said he would be happy to serve with either, but he has seen Redner more often on the campaign trail.

"I've gained a tremendous amount of respect for Mr. Redner," he said. "I would be comfortable serving with Joe."

Janet Zink can be reached at jzink@sptimes.com or 813 226-3401.

[Last modified March 24, 2007, 06:39:24]