On Thursday morning, Jane Castor went on record to stand up for the rights of the Ybor City roosters. The 59-year-old Tampa mayoral candidate was forced to acknowledge the Cigar City residents who were making themselves heard in the courtyard of Ybor Square, where Castor was picking up endorsements from Equality Florida Action PAC — the largest organization in Florida devoted to electing pro-equality candidates to all levels of government — and the Human Rights Campaign.
The Human Rights Campaign even sent its national field director, Marty Rouse, to make the organization’s announcement in person, while Equality Florida field director Wes Davis alluded not just to the historic nature of a potential Castor victory (if elected, she would be the first openly LGBTQ mayor of Tampa), but also to the importance of having someone in office who would continue to help pushing Tampa forward in the fight for equal rights.
“At the end of my tenure, what I want to be remembered for being a good mayor for everybody,” Castor said in remarks following the endorsements. “It is my belief that who I love does not, and I submit should not, matter to our community. Our community wants to judge you on your integrity, your character and your ability.”
The nod of approval is just one of more than a dozen for Castor, who has been given the seal of approval by individuals like Tampa Bay Lightning owner and property developer Jeff Vinik, Florida State Senator Janet Cruz, former State Representatives Sean Shaw and Ed Narain, former State Senator Arthenia Joyner and former Tampa City Council member Tom Scott.
Outgoing Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Tampa City Councilman Harry Cohen, who ran against Castor in the mayoral primary, have also endorsed the former police chief. Creative Loafing Tampa did not endorse a candidate for mayor, but the Tampa Bay Times is throwing its endorsement behind Castor as well.
Her opponent in the April 23 runoff, Bay area multimillionaire and philanthropist David Straz, has nabbed endorsements from La Gaceta, Florida Sentinel Bulletin, Northwest Florida Chapter of Black Women in Construction, United Food and Commercial Workers 1625, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 487, District 925 and Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 123, amongst others.
Early voting for the runoff election runs from April 14-April 20. You already missed the registration deadline, you deadbeat.
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This article appears in Mar 28 – Apr 4, 2019.