Among the first items of business that new Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn is committed to is replacing some of the biggest names in local Tampa government who are moving on. Those include Finance Director, Chief of Staff, and City Attorney, where Chip Fletcher intends to go into private practice.
Buckhorn announced Tuesday morning a replacement for Fletcher – James H. Shimberg Jr., a partner in the Tampa office of Holland & Knight, where he has practiced in the area of land use, zoning and real estate law. He has had extensive experience in working with local, regional and state government entities in Florida. He's also represented developers. He takes over on May 2, and will make $175,000 annually.
In the same press release, Mayor Buckhorn is staying status quo (as he said he would on the campaign trail), in reappointing Police Chief Jane Castor and Fire Chief Tom Forward. Castor became chief back in September of 2009, replacing Thomas Hogue, while Forward took over with the Firefighters last June from Dennis Jones.
All three officials will go before the city council on April 28 for confirmation.
This article appears in Apr 7-13, 2011.