By Chris Ingram

The Tampa Tribune

Published Tuesday, February 27, 2013

Unless you have kids who play league athletics in Hillsborough County, you probably are not aware of the fact that 55 of the county’s 59 athletic parks are managed and maintained by volunteer groups.

Such is the case at Skyway Park.

Skyway is adjacent to the residential neighborhood of Dana Shores and is just west of the airport. It serves the youths of the Town ‘N Country area.

A nonprofit league, managed by a board of directors who are all volunteers, manages everything from field maintenance to cleaning the bathrooms and running the concessions. For its part, the county cuts the grass once a week, pays the water bill to keep the fields moist, and will take care of things such as a major plumbing problem if one arises.  (more…)

Please join me for lunch with former Congressman Jim Davis who will be the speaker at the next Irreverent View lunch on Friday, January 11, 2013. Davis will share his views on the fiscal cliff, the economy, budget, and other things related to politics and government. Davis is just the second Democrat to speak at an I.V. lunch. The first Democrat to attend was Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn – who set a new I.V. lunch attendance record.

Photo: Jim Davis

About the lunch*

The lunch group is informal but we have some loose/suggested criteria. They are: You should either be a card-carrying Republican, professed libertarian, a conservative, or someone who thinks our country is currently going down the toilet because most of the politicians (both Rs and Ds) we elect are a bunch of bums and morons (think Barack Obama and John Boehner) who are more concerned with their own egos, their own image, and getting re-elected than they are concerned about the future of the next generation. You can be a liberal Republican, or a conservative Democrat, a limousine liberal, or even a card-carrying socialist — though (more…)

By Chris Ingram

Without explanation, Hillsborough County Commissioner Les Miller pulled his proposal to drastically change how the county commission chairman is selected each year.

Miller’s plan would have removed any thought to the selection of the chair in favor of a process (visit www.IrreverentView.com for details). For unknown reasons, Miller pulled the plug on the idea late this afternoon. Perhaps supporters on the BOCC of Miller’s plan got cold feet upon learning the board would have had to suspend (more…)

County Commission set to change the way it selects its leader. Outcome could result in hate-monger as chair

By Chris Ingram

Updated 9:07 a.m. on 11/15/12 

Updated at 12:15 a.m. on 11/15/12 

Hillsborough County Commissioner Les Miller is back at his attempt (it failed last year) to change the way the Hillsborough County commission elects its chairman. Miller introduced the item and it will be considered at the commission’s meeting next week before a packed house  – if you believe there will be a packed house at commission chambers one day before Thanksgiving.

While the current situation is flawed, Miller’s plan is even worse.

Here is how Mr. Miller’s power-altering proposal works (if you know how to play Russian Roulette, you’ll understand the Miller plan and you can quit reading now).

Photo: Hillsborough BOCC group portait. Scarier than the bar scene from ‘Star Wars.’

Miller’s plan would change the commission rules so that instead of the seven commissioners electing a chair each year by a majority vote, the chairmanship would rotate every year in numerical order from 1 to 7. So over the course of two terms, every commissioner would be guaranteed to serve as chairman at least one year. If they changed districts, it is possible they could be chairman multiple consecutive terms (I’ll betchya’ ol’ Lessie-pooh never thought about that).

Les’ plan sounds great on paper — just like “campaign finance reform” did — we saw how that worked out. Les’ plan is nothing short of a limp power-play that deserves about as much respect as (more…)

Mark your calendar, the guest speaker at the next Irreverent View lunch is our most irreverent guest ever!  And you’re invited! Please RSVP today! Send an email to Chris@IrreverentView.com if you would like to attend.

Tedd Webb

Join me for lunch with the co-host of the best morning show in America, Tedd Webb on Thursday, November 1. You’ve heard Tedd on-air on WFLA-970 for years, now come hear him in person as he provides his unique (and very irreverent) views on the upcoming presidential election, and other things related to politics and government.

About the lunch*: The lunch group is informal but we have some loose/suggested criteria. They are: (more…)

Not a delegate but looking to attend an RNC after-convention party?

The American Victory Gala presented by The Patrick Dawson Group  with music, cocktails, and celebreties and politicos will be celebrating the during the RNC on Monday and Thursday nights at Channelside. A limited number of tickets are available to the public. For Tickets Visits: http://nuvotickets.com/ or order by phone: 1-855-RNC-TCKT (1-855-762-8258).

Official host and emcee, Nanci Filipelli is an American actress, model, host and on-air personality. She has appeared in film, television, commercial and print campaigns. Nanci currently resides in Los Angeles, California and Nashville, Tennessee where she was named one of Nashville’s 25 Most Beautiful People.

Opening Acts (more…)

Follow me on Bay News 9, in The Tampa Tribune and on Twitter

By Chris Ingram

I will be providing analysis throughout the week in my role as Republican analyst for Bay News 9, along with my Democrat colleague Ana Cruz and host Al Ruchel. We’ll start with a live “Political Connections” show at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday from the Forum. On Sunday night, there will likely a brief hit sometime during the RNC kick-off party from Tropicana field.

Bay News 9 will bring a local view of the convention throughout the week and Ana, Al and I will participate in the coverage with a special airing of “Political Connections” every night at 7:00 p.m.

I will also be filing my column for The Tampa Tribune every day of the convention. I plan to write on (more…)

By Chris Ingram

Tampa  locals have been watching the build-up to the Republican National Convention for nearly two years. Now with the start of the big affair just days away, RNC visitors and locals are wondering what to do, and how they can view and participate in the convention activities. (Hint: The best view is on TV).

Here are my suggestions for locals interested in the convention:

1) If you don’t already have credentials to get into the convention, there is no point going down to the Forum as you won’t get inside.

2) If you just have to come down and see what all the excitement is about, be careful. I’ve been to conventions before and some of these protestors are total losers just looking to do harm. Stay out of their way and don’t engage them (they want you to engage them – better off to just ignore them). Resist the urge to tell them to “get a job” — for some, this is their job. That said, not all of the protestors are looking to do harm. In fact, most are not; they’re just exercising their right to free speech, and that’s a good thing.

Photo: Making Momma proud.

(more…)

By Chris Ingram

The 40th Republican National Convention is now just days away from kicking off in Tampa.

Tampa at dusk.

Here is what to look for during the convention week: (more…)

By Chris Ingram

The Tampa Tribune

Published Thursday, August 16, 2012

It is once again safe to open your mailboxes and turn on your television without being deluged with oversized mail pieces and ominous political campaign commercials telling you how bad the other guy is.

Campaigns are complicated matters, and many factors influence the ultimate outcome. Grassroots support, yard signs, precinct walks, a catchy slogan, the candidate’s background and positions on issues are all things that help determine a winning strategy, but none independently influences an election night victory.

Winning political campaigns are significantly determined by (more…)