By Chris Ingram

The Tampa Tribune

Published February 13, 2012

Recently I had the privilege of spending some time with three of the candidates who squared off for mayor of Tampa last year. They all have different strengths and styles, and each adds some spice and spark to the Tampa political scene.

I met former Mayor Dick Greco for breakfast at a local diner where the servers know him well. When I told my waitress who I was waiting on, she said, “Go back to your paper, honey; he’ll be 20 minutes.” Then we both chuckled as we watched “Mr. Tampa” work his way around the restaurant chatting to patrons as they ate their breakfast.

Several minutes later he made his way to my table and apologized for (more…)

Based on the volume of listener calls who had great questions, and my four terrific guests, the over the airwaves debut of “Irreverent Radio” was a success. Special thanks to my guests, Republican Party of Florida chairman, Lenny Curry;  National Review contributor, Neal Freeman; William March, Tampa Tribune senior political reporter; and Bob Dardenne, chair of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at the University of South Florida, and of course, the management at News Talk 1470 AM 1040.

We’ll be back next Saturday from 1-4 p.m. on News Talk 1470 AM and streeming live on the internet at www.NewsTalkFlorida.com with more guests including state Senator Jack Latvalla and my thoughts about why Newt can’t beat Obama.

Thanks for listening!

Chris Ingram

Chris Ingram is the president and founder of 411 Communications a corporate and political communications firm, and publisher of Irreverent View. Ingram is a frequent pundit on Fox News and CNN, and has written opinion columns for the Washington Times, UPI, and National Review online. He is the Republican political analyst for Bay News 9, the only 24 hour all news channel in Florida’s largest media market. The opinions expressed here are those of author and do not represent the views of Bay News 9. E-mail him at: Chris@IrreverentView.com.

Please feel free to submit a comment on our blogs. By posting a comment you acknowledge reading and following the terms and conditions of posting found here.  You may also submit a comment by e-mail. If you e-mail a comment you consent to your comment and name being posted on the Irreverent View website. If you wish to remain completely anonymous, please state so in your e-mail.

By Chris Ingram

The Tampa Tribune

Published November 26, 2011

If all seven members of the Hillsborough County Commission were drowning and you could only save one, would you go to lunch or read the paper?

Last week the world’s greatest deliberative body within six blocks of the Hillsborough River demonstrated why good intentions don’t mean better government.

Before it got all well-meaning, the commission went about its business of organizing its “leaders” for the coming year. Mostly this means electing who amongst them will serve as chairman. The chairman signs legal documents, represents the county at official events and manages commission meetings. For his efforts, the commission chair earns an extra 10 grand in pay.

A well-trained monkey could probably do the job, but that didn’t keep some commissioners and their puppeteers from jockeying for the position. It apparently got nasty and (more…)

Editor’s note: Mark Sharpe is a candidate for Congress in Florida’s 11th congressional district, currently represented by Kathy Castor who is running for a fourth term

Statement from Mark Sharpe

Let me be clear.  I am not running for Congress to join the insiders and eat bean soup at the Capital Club.  I am running to divert America from its present treacherous course.

Mark Sharpe

This week’s news that the congressional “super committee” has failed should surprise no one. It was designed to fail. Washington is little more than an insider’s club where good public policy takes a back seat to crony capitalism and partisan gain.

That is why I am determined to (more…)

New candidate emerges in election to replace Cox-Roush tomorrow night

By Chris Ingram

This is inside baseball no doubt, but finally, it seems as though someone of merit has stepped up to the plate to run for Hillsborough County Republican Execuctive Commitee chair. His name is Chris Shalosky, and he is president of the Fishhawk GOP club. (See e-mail of support from Kelly Clem for more details on his background).

I am told by a reputable source in the county GOP organization that Carol Carter said she would not run if someone else with credibility (and someone other than Art Wood  — who is running) got into the race. So here is Carol’s chance to bow out, save face, and avoid embarrassing herself and the party.

As I previously wrote, Art “Bob Dole” Wood is a nice guy — and so is my plumber, but I don’t want him being county party chairman. We can do better than handing off this important position in a critical election year (nevermind the fact that the convention is in our backyard) to someone just because “it’s his turn.”

Wood: Bob Dole

Shalosky: not Bob Dole

Lastly, I still say (more…)

Does Les Miller think the rest of the BOCC is that stupid?

By Chris Ingram

Just when you thought the antics of former Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White were in the commission’s past, the commission has begun to digress back to its dysfunctional ways.

Ironically, the commission’s new antics are being lead by the man who disposed of its former biggest clown, Mr. White – who was recently convicted of seven counts related to public corruption. (Editor’s note: Please don’t send compassion packets with things like soap on a rope to inmate Kevin White c/o Federal Bureau of Prisons until after his sentencing in January).

Les Miller's plan is a partisan power play.

White’s replacement of course is none other than Commissioner Les “double-dippin’” Miller. It seems when Mr. Miller isn’t busy doing whatever it is he is being paid $96,000 a year to do as “student ombudsman and public liaison at USF” he does stuff related to being a county commissioner – for which he is paid $92,000 a year.

That “stuff” has amounted to a very strategic plan of Mr. Miller’s to totally change the way commissioners are elected as well as how the commission annually selects its chairman. Both are what political operatives would call a “power play by the minority to regain the majority.”

Here are Les Miller’s $188,000 plans: (more…)

In desperate move for relevance, disgraced former party leader says she will run

By Chris Ingram

A couple of years ago, Carol Carter was on minute fourteen of her fifteen minutes of fame, serving as Hillsborough County’s Republican Party State Committeewoman. Then the clock started ticking on the fifteenth minute when Ms. Carter sent the following e-mail:

From: Carol Carter

Friday, January 30, 9:30 AM

Subject: FW: Amazing!

I’m confused.

How can 2,000,000 blacks get into Washington, DC in 1 day in sub zero temps when 200,000 couldn’t get out of New Orleans in 85 degree temps with four days notice?

Carol Carter

Local media got a hold of the e-mail and before Carol could repaint her lawn jockey the heat was on for her to resign, which she begrudgingly did. (See local press story here).

"I've got to go paint my lawn jockey!"

Fast forward to 2011, (more…)

Art “Bob Dole” Wood expected to run for chairman. REC members should demand better.

By Chris Ingram

Earlier today Hillsborough County Republican Party Chairwoman Deborah Cox-Roush announced she is resigning to take a staff position with the Herman Cain for President campaign.

Cox-Roush’s departure means the Hillsborough Republican Executive Committee will have to hold a special election to replace her.

Art Wood: Hillsborough's own Bob Dole

The expectation is that Vice-Chairman Art Wood will run to replace Cox-Roush.

Let’s hope someone else steps forward.

In just (more…)

By Chris Ingram

Special correspondent, the Tampa Tribune

Published June 27, 2011

On a recent Friday night I was a guest of Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee as he patrolled Plant City and surrounding areas of Hillsborough County. The sheriff told me he tries to keep active with “real law enforcement” at least twice a week by participating in such patrols.

On the back roads heading toward Johnson’s BBQ in Plant City for a bite to eat, we passed a bar called Kelly’s Hideaway. The sheriff mentioned the place used to be very popular with the locals — and that on the weekends it kept deputies busy.

“Old-timers used to joke that if you came into Kelly’s without a gun or a knife they’d issue you one at the door,” Gee said.

Real-world police work

As counties go, Hillsborough is a vast geographic place with diverse neighborhoods of people — yet most of us fail miserably at getting beyond the shadows of our own friends, neighborhoods and other comfort zones, much less visiting places like Kelly’s Hideaway, or even knowing they exist.

Law enforcement officers, on the other hand, see those realities of the “real world” every day.

“We’ve got the best crop of deputies we’ve ever had,” Gee told me with his trademark low-key demeanor.

New recruits of the department are sent to two weeks of military-style boot camp. If they make it through, they get a conditional offer of employment and are sent to the police academy.

“It’s not just about doing push-ups and the physical conditioning; it’s about building camaraderie,” he says.

That solidarity is important in the difficult situations deputies face on the job.

But shootouts (more…)

By Chris Ingram

I’m not passing judgement on the Hillsborough County Commission, but I’ve got to tell you, if the bozos on this commission don’t step up to the plate and demand the resignation of county attorney Renee Lee (or fire her), they need to head to Tampa General and ask for a spine and brain implant. Mark Sharpe excluded of course…

I mean seriously folks, how ugly and costly does it have to get before the commissioners recognize it’s bad, gotten worse, and ain’t getting any better? Over the last year, Renee Lee, Pat Bean and Kevin White have made Hillsborough County the laughing stock of Florida with their antics.

The tail is definetly wagging the dog.

Here we are, one of the largest counties in the state with a $2.5+ BILLION dollar budget and we can’t muster up enough support to fire people who have demonstrated a lack of ethics, who appear to have flat-out lied, and have certainly (more…)