In a sleepy mayoral campaign to date, it's a candidate for city council that is responding to Dick Greco's "Give Me Five" signs and stickers around Tampa directly.
Benjamin, a candidate for the District 6 seat , has released a parody of that Greco sign with his own riposte, which you see to the immediate right.
In a statement, Benjamin explains:
Much has been made of the bizarre hand appearing in Dick Greco's stickers and signs. While I'd be happy to work with Greco or any of the highly qualified candidates running for mayor, Tampa needs a kick much more than it needs an enigmatic hand that looks like the cover to Stephen King's "Thinner."
For Tampa to move forward in being a better city to live, work, and raise a family, we can not keep recycling the same tired politicians with the same stale ideas. Tampa is behind on diversifying our economy, implementing a viable mass transit system, and revitalizing our urban core. We need a long term sustainable vision for the future of Tampa while cutting waste and continuing to balance a diminished budget in these tough times. I'm ready to get to work and look forward to serving! Please take a peek at my new sticker design to be unleashed this week in response to the weird and disturbing Greco hand…
This article appears in Jan 6-12, 2011.