Buckhorn Returns for Tampa Mayor Race

0:00It's April 13th. This is Tampa Bay News today, your AI-powered local news. Former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn jumped back into the ring on Monday, officially launching his bid for mayor in 2027. He's gunning for a rare third term after serving two straight ones from 2011 to 2019. Buckhorn's vision hits on stitching together the city's hotspots, like Water Street linking up with Channel Side, Gas Works, and Tampa Heights to spread. The wealth across every neighborhood, he calls transportation the biggest hurdle, pushing for smart investments beyond just roads, to avoid gridlock nightmares. During his time in office, Tampa shot to national fame as a spot folks moved to and stick around for, and he wrapped up with a solid 75. Percent approval rating. He cut his teeth on City Council from 1995 to 2003, building deep roots in local politics. How he's facing early competition from Councilwoman Lynn Hurtack, who announced in February, and Councillor Bill Carlson, a longtime critic, says he's, filing paperwork soon.

1:05More challengers could pile in. The main vote drops March 2nd, 2027, with a possible runoff April 27th, setting the stage for Tampa's next big move.