Buckhorn Hopes Turanchik Endorsement Means Seminole Heights Votes

Mayoral candidate Bob Buckhorn has landed his second endorsement in a row from a former opponent.

Fourth-place finisher Ed Turanchik announced his endorsement of Buckhorn Monday morning at The Independent Bar and Cafe in Seminole Heights, an area where Ferlita has roots, including her former pharmacy, Rose Drugs. The Republican lives in Hyde Park.

Turanchik's support of Buckhorn leaves last week's frontrunner Rose Ferlita without an endorsement from her former opponents. Tampa City Council chairman Tom Scott endorsed Buckhorn Saturday, while four-term mayor Dick Greco, who finished third in the general election, has said he will not endorse.

Buckhorn said the site of the announcement was more about the economic opportunities in Seminole Heights, as illustrated by the successful opening of The Independent during the nation's recession.  

“When businesses like this one succeed, the community succeeds,” Buckhorn said. “Corridors like this one connect the lifeblood of the city.”

Turanchik quickly reminded Buckhorn of the other reason:

“Let’s get to the primary reason: we carried these precincts,” Turanchik said with a laugh.

Buckhorn nodded, chuckled and agreed, “He beat me like a drum around here, but now we want every vote in Seminole Heights.”

Buckhorn invited a half dozen of the green-clad Turanchik supporters up to the stage to join him literally and symbolically.

“They knocked on doors, dodged dogs, and just made my life miserable,” Buckhorn said.

Turanchik, a Democrat, finished fourth (behind Greco) in the five-person race, earning more than 19 percent of the vote. Scott, considered a conservative Democrat, finished last. Ferlita and Buckhorn finished first and second respectively.

Though he ultimately chose Buckhorn, Turanchik said he had a warm and productive conversation with Ferlita Saturday, connecting with her "on a personal level.”

He asked her the same questions he asked Buckhorn, and he was appreciative that Ferlita sat down to talk with him so openly.

“I remain impressed by her,” he said. “But she remains unfocused, and her course of implementation is unclear.”

Turanchik said Buckhorn’s benchmarks resonated more with him, especially in “jobs, transportation and the economy.”

“I asked how they’d move forward, what the regulatory environment would be, how they would make an area friendly to investment,” Turanchik said.

In the end, Buckhorn’s approach was more consistent with his own.

“I’m fully convinced Bob will be ready to go to work on day one,” he said. “I give my unequivocal and unconditional support to Bob Buckhorn.”

Both men said there was no deal struck and no promises for any future roles for Turanchik, though Buckhorn said it would be a shame for a man of Turanchik's abilities to sit on the sidelines.

Again and again, Buckhorn praised his intelligence. Buckhorn said he and Turanchik have not only similar visions but young children who deserve to inherit a better city.

“I’m not intimidated by smart people, by visionaries,” Buckhorn said. “He’s a good man, and a great candidate, and I’m so honored he’s
standing up here with me intellectually and ethically, and realizing what this city can be down the road.”

According to the Supervisor of Elections office, the runoff schedule will unfold as follows:  

• March 12 - Early voting begins
• March 16 - Last day to request vote by mail
• March 19 - Early voting ends
• March 22 - Runoff Election Day