Will Bob "Coach" Henriquez run for the Hillsborough County Commission? Even he doesn't know right now, and in the course of writing a story today about the Planet's art critic mulling (or wold that be Mul-herning? more on that to come) a run for the same seat, I talked to Coach, who is a member of the Florida House and the head football coach at Tampa Catholic. He's out actively talking with supporters (I ran across him at West Tampa Sandwich Shop last week feeling out a supporter about his possible run). But, he said, he has yet to talk with his bosses at Tampa Catholic as to whether they want their coach in a high-profile, controversial job, sitting on the same dais with Ronda Storms and Brian Blair."I'd like to make a decision by the first of the year, maybe before the holidays," Henriquez said. 
Henriquez is a big hitter for the local Democrats, a great chance to hold the District 1 seat he might seek (Kathy Castor is leaving it to run for Congress). But the local party finds itself in the unenviable position of having one big name (Henriquez) uncertain about a run for the Right-Wing-dominated County Commission; two other good candidates (Les Miller, Scott Farrell) bunched up in a crowded Congressional primary; and third (Frank Sanchez) running for City Council instead of trying to turn the tide at the County Center.
This article appears in Nov 30 – Dec 6, 2005.