March 31, 2003

The first female mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, was re-elected to a second term on Tuesday, March 25. Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes, a former city council member, defeated her competitor Stanford Glazer, a retired restaurateur. Although results were still unofficial, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, Barnes had captured 31,441 votes or 60 percent to Glazers 21,053 votes, or 40 percent.

Barnes, who enters her second term, hopes of finishing many projects she initiated in her first term as Mayor. She said her priorities include revitalizing the downtown area, improve basic services, create 20,000 new jobs, and to establish 10,000 new housing units. "It's going to be an exciting four years, a very important four years in the history of Kansas City. We have a moment of opportunity, and we need to seize it and move the city forward," Barnes said.

Tampa Elects a New Mayor by a Decisive Vote

Pam Iorio, a former county commissioner and elections supervisor March 25 defeated Frank Sanchez, a lawyer who worked within President Clinton's administration. With all precincts reported, Iorio had captured 28,492 votes or 64 percent of the vote to Sanchez's 16,023 votes, or 36 percent of the vote. The Tampa elections were held again between the final two new candidates for mayor. The two candidates advanced to a runoff after neither of them received more then 50 percent of the vote in the March 4 election.

Iorio's campaign focused on making Tampa a more "livable" community by improving services and making Tampa a world-class city. "I believe in this city's potential. When I see a drug hole, I say, we can do better than that. ... When we see an area where there are no jobs, can't we see thriving businesses?" Iorio stated. Iorio will take office April 1 as current Tampa Mayor Dick Greco is forced to leave office due to term limits.