1974 Tampa mayoral special election

none January 2025 January 2025 1974 Tampa mayoral special election Florida Flag of Tampa, Florida.svg presidential no 1971 Tampa mayoral election 1971 1975 Tampa mayoral election 1975 September 10, 1974October 1, 1974 First round Runoff File:3x4.svg Bill Poe c0c0c0 10,30221.95% 24,90250.37% File:3x4.svg Joe Kotvas c0c0c0 10,40822.18% 24,53449.63% File:3x4.svg Bob Martinez c0c0c0 8,67318.48% Eliminated File:3x4.svg Alton M. White c0c0c0 7,46315.90% Eliminated Mayor Richard Cheney Nonpartisan Bill Poe Nonpartisan The 1974 Tampa mayoral special election was held on October 1, 1974, following a primary election on September 10, 1974.Stephens III Wade H. Sept. 10 Slated For Mayoral Election The Tampa Tribune April 6, 1974 Tampa, Florida 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/176036471/ July 6, 2025 Mayor Dick A. Greco, who was elected in 1967 and 1971, resigned on March 28, 1974, to accept a position with the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation, a shopping mall developer. Following Greco's resignation, City Council Chairman Richard Cheney began serving as acting mayor.Allen Richard Tampa's Mayor Dick Greco Resigns; Accepts High-Salaried Business Job The Tampa Tribune March 29, 1974 Tampa, Florida 1A https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/176035879/ July 6, 2025 Cheney initially planned to run in the special election,Lykes Susan Allen Pat Meloy, Cheney will run for mayor Tampa Times March 29, 1974 Tampa, Florida 1A https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-times/176036926/ July 6, 2025 but he died on June 20, 1974.Hartman Jim Acting Tampa Mayor Cheney Dies After 80 Days In Office Tampa Times June 21, 1974 Tampa, Florida 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/176037118/ July 6, 2025 City Councilmember Lloyd Copeland became acting mayor following Cheney's death, and did not seek a full term in the election.Allen Pat Copeland pledges action on audit after taking oath as acting mayor Tampa Times June 24, 1974 Tampa, Florida 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-times/176037172/ July 6, 2025 Seven candidates ran in the special election. City Councilmember Joe Kotvas narrowly placed first in the special election, winning 22.2 percent of the vote, and was closely followed by insurance executive Bill Poe, who won 21.9 percent. In the general election that followed, Poe barely defeated Kotvas, winning 50.4 percent to Kotvas's 49.6 percent, a margin of 368 votes. Kotvas requested a recount,Poe apparent winner Tampa Times October 3, 1974 Tampa, Florida 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-times/176037579/ July 6, 2025 which ultimately upheld Poe's victory. Primary election Candidates Logan Browning, former city comptrollerLogan Browning Seeking Post As Mayor Of Tampa The Tampa Tribune June 10, 1974 Tampa, Florida 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/176036867/ July 6, 2025 Joe Kotvas, city councilmemberAllen Richard Kotvas Enters Mayoral Race The Tampa Tribune April 17, 1974 Tampa, Florida 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/176036635/ July 6, 2025 Bob Martinez, executive director of the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers AssociationCTA Director Seeks Tampa Mayor's Post The Tampa Tribune June 13, 1974 Tampa, Florida 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/176036728/ July 6, 2025 Vince Meloy, city councilmember Bill Poe, insurance executiveInsurance Executive Enters Mayor's Race The Tampa Tribune April 30, 1974 Tampa, Florida 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/176036380/ July 6, 2025 Frank Scionti, produce dealerScionti To Run For Tampa Mayor The Tampa Tribune June 7, 1974 Tampa, Florida 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/176037252/ July 6, 2025 Alton M. White, former director of the Metropolitan Development AgencyWhite To Run For Mayor The Tampa Tribune May 7, 1974 Tampa, Florida 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/176036792/ July 6, 2025 Results 1974 Tampa mayoral special primary electionFirst Primary - 9/10/1974 Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections http://votehillsborough.org/ERSummary.aspx?eid=-1914 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20101201094902/http://votehillsborough.org/ERSummary.aspx?eid=-1914 December 1, 2010 July 6, 2025 Joe Kotvas Nonpartisan candidate 10,408 22.18% Bill Poe Nonpartisan candidate 10,302 21.95% Bob Martinez Nonpartisan candidate 8,673 18.48% Alton M. White Nonpartisan candidate 7,463 15.90% Logan Browning Nonpartisan candidate 5,265 11.22% Vince Meloy Nonpartisan candidate 4,460 9.50% Frank Scionti Nonpartisan candidate 362 0.77% 46,933 100.00% General election Results 1974 Tampa mayoral special general electionElection Results Certified The Tampa Tribune October 5, 1974 Tampa, Florida 4-Metro https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/176036197/ July 6, 2025 Bill Poe Nonpartisan candidate 24,902 50.37% Joe Kotvas Nonpartisan candidate 24,534 49.63% 49,436 100.00% References 1974 election 1974 Tampa Category:20th century in Tampa, Florida