Tampa’s RNC was a once in a lifetime experience

Less than 12 hours after the Republican National Convention ended at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, a bleary-eyed Mayor Bob Buckhorn hosted a news conference at City Hall where he praised the city police department, city staff, and volunteers for putting on what he called an "absolutely flawless" convention.

The fact that Chief Jane Castor's police department arrested only two people during the entire week was certainly something to celebrate.

But when 970 WFLA news radio reporter Sharon Parker asked Tampa Host Committee Chairman Ken Jones if he wanted to re-assess his frequently quoted statement that the convention was a "once in a lifetime event for Tampa," Jones refused to play along.

"I do think it's once in a lifetime," he replied, referring to the fact that it's been four decades since any political party has returned back to its host city for a second time. (Actually, he was slightly off as Democrats held their conventions in New York City in both 1976 and 1980.)

This article appears in Sep 6-12, 2012.