In a speech and subsequent Q&A at the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club in St. Petersburg, Tampa Mayor Buckhorn regaled an audience with frequent jokes, as well as perhaps his stiffest public warning to date for “anarchists” intending on disrupting next year’s Republican National Convention.
Saying “we’ll have every wingnut and lunatic” in town next August, the Mayor cautioned that there will be demonstrators intent on “causing mayhem” in the Bay area.
“There will be people serious about causing mayhem..the anarchists …they’re dangerous, they’re violent, they are not here to represent any cause, they are here to do damage, and we need to be prepared for that,” Buckhorn said, as he repeated the fact that he intends to hire 3,000 additional police officers (though the city has yet to receive any of the $50 million they say they need for security from the federal government for the convention).
“We encourage people to exercise their first amendment rights,” he said, adding with perfect timing, “Largo is a nice place,” as Largo Mayor Pat Gerard looked on, somewhat horrified. “We’ve got your back, Pat, ” someone from an adjoining table said to her.
Mixing between being serious and being humorous, Buckhorn said he was prepared to deputize Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd for the Convention. “That would be a sight to behold,” he said, tongue firmly in cheek.
This article appears in Sep 29 – Oct 5, 2011.
