Mayoral forum a roaring good time

The Suncoast Tiger Bay Club’s annual State of the Bay luncheon has become appointment viewing for anyone who enjoys seeing politicians squirm. The nonpartisan civic organization dates back to 1978 but has recently gone through some changes, most notably handing over management duties to the St. Petersburg Group, the company that publishes the St. Pete Catalyst online news source.

What hasn’t changed is group members’ penchant for giving the third degree to Tampa Bay mayors, who for some reason keep showing up at the State of the Bay event to face a barrage of thorny questions about the big issues facing Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater.