TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Senator Pays Visit To Festival

ADVERTISEMENT

By DAVE NICHOLSON

dnicholson@tampatrib.com

Published: March 11, 2009

PLANT CITY - U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson made his annual trek to the Florida Strawberry Festival parade luncheon, but he didn't get his usual treat.

He had to catch a 1 p.m. flight to Washington and didn't have time for strawberry shortcake.

Nelson was among a crowd of dignitaries and festival officials who attended the March 2 luncheon at the Trinkle center on the Plant City campus of Hillsborough Community College.

The luncheons typically draw a who's who of state and Hillsborough County politics who mingle, shake hands and enjoy lunch and shortcake before the festival's Grand Feature Parade. This year's crowd included Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, who said she had been attending for more than 20 years.

"I get to see everybody and catch up," Iorio said.

The crowd also included state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, Hillsborough State Attorney Mark Ober and Hillsborough Chief Circuit Judge Manny Menendez.

Longtime Tampa attorney Ron Weaver said he's been coming to the luncheons for 30 years and always enjoys the warm reception and the area's down-home values..

The event, once known as the Governor's Luncheon because Florida's governor would always attend, started in the 1950s in the old Hotel Plant in downtown Plant City. It moved several times through the years, meeting at various times at Tampa Electric Co., a church and the Florida National Guard Armory. The luncheon moved to the Trinkle center in 2006.

Reporter Dave Nicholson can be reached at (813) 865-4432.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT