Story thread · 2 reports / 1 sources

Rays stadium talks loom large over Tampa mayoral race

tampabay.com · 2hShare

When Tampa City Council members in May approved a nonbinding agreement for the Tampa Bay Rays’ proposed baseball stadium, one attendee came with a warning. “This is a litmus test,” said Tampa native Christopher Palermo, “for those of you who want to keep your jobs, and maybe get a higher job.” Palermo’s comment pointed to two council members, Bill Carlson and Lynn Hurtak , who next year will compete in a crowded race to succeed Mayor Jane Castor. The pair will face former two-term Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn , the financial frontrunner, and a handful of other candidates . Buckhorn, who has said little publicly about the stadium, last year accepted a $50,000 donation from a company associated with Patrick Zalupski, the Rays’ managing partner. Carlson and Hurtak face the prospect of competing for the same pool of voters who oppose the public subsidizing a stadium. But in recent weeks, their stances have diverged. Hurtak, a baseball lover who bought Rays season tickets in lieu of a honeymoon

First report: A change to the Rays’ stadium deal? Here’s the latest pitch — tampabay.com, 2d