2003 Tampa mayoral election

2003 Tampa mayoral election

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Candidate Pam Iorio Frank Sánchez First round 23,161 46.00% 10,354 20.56% Runoff 28,492 64.01% 16,023 35.99%   Candidate Bob Buckhorn Charlie Miranda First round 9,668 19.20% 6,767 13.44% Runoff Eliminated Eliminated

Mayor before election Dick A. Greco Nonpartisan Elected mayor Pam Iorio Nonpartisan

The 2003 Tampa mayoral election took place on March 25, 2003, following a primary election on March 2, 2003. Incumbent Mayor Dick Greco was term limited and was barred from seeking a third consecutive term. A crowded race emerged to succeed Greco, with County Supervisor of Elections Pam Iorio emerging as the frontrunner. She placed first in the primary election by a wide margin, winning 46 percent of the vote, and advanced to the general election against Frank Sánchez, a former aide to President Bill Clinton, who narrowly beat out City Councilmember Bob Buckhorn for second place, 21–19 percent. In the general election, Iorio defeated Sánchez by a wide margin, winning 64 percent to Sánchez's 36 percent.

Primary election

Candidates

• Pam Iorio, Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections ^[1]
• Frank Sánchez, business consultant, former aide to President Bill Clinton ^[2]
• Bob Buckhorn, City Councilmember ^[3]
• Charlie Miranda, City Council Chairman ^[4]
• Donald B. Ardell, triathlete and wellness expert ^[5]

Dropped out

• F. Dennis Alvarez, former Chief Judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit ^[6]
• Chris Hart, Hillsborough County Commissioner ^[7]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Pam Iorio	Frank Sánchez	Bob Buckhorn	Charlie Miranda	Other / Undecided
SurveyUSA [8]	February 28–March 2, 2003	539 (CV)	± 4.3%	41%	20%	20%	15%	3%

Results

2003 Tampa mayoral primary election ^[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Pam Iorio	23,161	46.00%
	Nonpartisan	Frank Sánchez	10,354	20.56%
	Nonpartisan	Bob Buckhorn	9,668	19.20%
	Nonpartisan	Charlie Miranda	6,767	13.44%
	Nonpartisan	Donald B. Ardell	353	0.70%
	Write-in		50	0.10%
Total votes			50,353	100.00%

General election

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Pam Iorio	Frank Sánchez	Other / Undecided
SurveyUSA [10]	March 21–23, 2003	458 (CV)	± 4.5%	64%	34%	2%

Results

2003 Tampa mayoral general election ^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Pam Iorio	28,492	64.01%
	Nonpartisan	Frank Sánchez	16,023	35.99%
Total votes			44,515	100.00%

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   CV – certain voters
   V – unclear

References

1. Varian, Bill (January 7, 2003). "Elections chief enters Tampa's mayoral race". St. Petersburg Times . St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
2. Varian, Bill (December 31, 2002). "Mayoral candidate reclaims the spotlight in Tampa race". St. Petersburg Times . St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 4B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
3. "Buckhorn makes it official: He's running for mayor". St. Petersburg Times . St. Petersburg, Florida. July 13, 2001. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
4. Kinsler, Laura (December 1, 2001). "Miranda Commits To Mayor RUn". The Tampa Tribune . Tampa, Florida. p. 5. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
5. Wilkens, George (July 20, 2002). "Mayoral Candidates To Speak". The Tampa Tribune . Tampa, Florida. p. 5. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
6. Goffard, Christopher (January 15, 2002). "Ex-judge leaves mayoral race". St. Petersburg Times . St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
7. Karp, David (July 26, 2002). "Commissioner drops out of mayoral race". St. Petersburg Times . St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 1B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
8. "Iorio Tops in Tampa Mayor Race; Buckhorn, Sanchez Tied for 2nd" (PDF). March 1, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 5, 2004. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
9. "2003 City of Tampa Municipal Election". Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections. 2003. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
10. "Tampa Election Eve: Iorio up big over Sanchez in Mayor Runoff" (PDF). March 24, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 12, 2003. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
11. "2003 City of Tampa Municipal Runoff Election". Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections. 2003. Retrieved July 4, 2025.