Outgoing Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio Bids Farewell to City Council

Pam Iorio, the outgoing mayor of Tampa, made a farewell visit to City Council chambers Thursday to personally thank council members for their service.

Though the city's government faced controversial issues during her tenure, Iorio said, “We have always resolved our differences in a civil way.”

Iorio said she hoped that the incoming mayor and city council members would maintain that tone of civility.

On April 1, Bob Buckhorn will be sworn in as Tampa’s next mayor, having bested Rose Ferlita in the March 22 runoff election by garnering 63 percent of the vote.  Iorio must leave the mayor’s position due to term limits.

City Council will have some new faces as well.  Mike Suarez will represent city-wide District 1.  Harry Cohen will serve South Tampa as the District 4 representative, while Lisa Montelione is the new member for North Tampa’s District 7.  Frank Reddick will represent East and Central Tampa’s District 5, replacing outgoing council member Thomas Scott.

Yvonne Capin will move from her slot as South Tampa’s District 4 councilwoman to representing the city-wide District 3 seat.

Having won re-election in March's general election, Mary Mulhern will keep her seat as the city-wide District 2 councilwoman, and Charlie Miranda will retain his position as District 6's councilman, serving  West and Central Tampa.

Iorio thanked each council member with a personal message, including outgoing District 1 Councilwoman Gwen Miller, who was Iorio’s guidance counselor in junior high school. 

“Look how far you’ve come,” Miller told Iorio.

Iorio presented each of the current council members with a commemorative plate which she had inscribed.  Councilman Miranda responded to the gift with his typical humor.

“I thought it was a hubcap for my Volkswagen,” he said.