MAYOR PAM IORIO SPEAKS!

Tampa mayor Pam Iorio was the guest on Bay News 9's Political Connections chat show Sunday morning. She's looking at a reelection bid next year, and while there are not a lot of big issues to tout for her stump speech, the mayor said she likes the accomplishments in more "mundane" areas:

"I like issues of road building and replacing sewer lines, stormwater and addressing longstanding drainage issues. It's not the most exciting to talk about, but they are the bread and butter of government, and I truly think Tampa is moving in a positive direction."

Iorio, a Democrat, is considered a rising star --- one of few they can brag about in the Tampa Bay area --- and there are some who would hope that she would consider a statewide race. A few were not happy that Ms. Iorio avoided appearing with last year's presidential nominee Senator John Kerry when he visited the area, but she told host Al Ruechel that "I'm not a particularly partisan person...I think that excessive partisanship gets in the way of problem solving."

That said, Ms. Iorio did support Tampa's Betty Castor in her bid for the U.S. Senate last year, and is supporting Tampa congressman Jim Davis in his bid for governor.