By Richard Danielson, Times Staff Writer
Monday, January 24, 2011
TAMPA — Mayor Pam Iorio is taking pains to stay out of the race to replace her, but says a recent comment by former Hillsborough County commissioner Rose Ferlita concerns her.
With the economy down, Iorio balanced the city's $787 million budget "by being woefully dependent on reserves," Ferlita said at a Jan. 14 candidates' forum in Ybor City. "That's not a good, healthy way to do things."
The remark came two days after Ferlita, one of five candidates for mayor in the city's March 1 elections, spent an hour or more in the mayor's office talking about city finances, according to Iorio.
Told of Ferlita's statement, Iorio said it "kind of disturbs me" and "doesn't bode well for an understanding of the issues."
"She just said that after she met with me?" Iorio said ...