A big win for Tampa's next mayor

It wasn't a close runoff after all.

Bob Buckhorn will replace Pam Iorio in the city's top office.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Buckhorn had 62 percent of the vote, with 26,691 votes. His opponent, Rose Ferlita, had 37 percent, with 15,769 votes.

"We can be that city that everyone talks about," said Buckhorn, in his victory speech. "We can be that city once again. That is a place of destiny, that's a place of hope, it's a place of opportunity. It's a place where the best and the brightest want to come."

He told his supporters Tampa's best days are ahead.

"Let's build this city," he said. "Let's make us proud. This is our time. This is our turn. This is our destiny. Let us begin now."

In his first live one-on-one interview, Buckhorn told Bay News 9 that it's going to take a while to sink in.

"I'm gonna get up tomorrow morning, get my girls dressed, and I'm gonna make their lunches, I'm gonna take them to school and I'm just gonna be Dad," he said, "that happens to be mayor-elect."

Buckhorn credited a big endorsement from Mayor Iorio, support from firefighters, police officers, and most of all voters for his win.

"They're excited for Tampa's future and I'm just lucky enough to be the guy they've empowered to do this," he said.

Supporters at Buckhorn's election party in Channelside couldn't have been happier.

"Everyone here has put in a lot of hard work and it has paid off," said Buckhorn supporter Audrey Green. "Today was a long day, anywhere from 12 to 15 hours. And I know Bob was going around the clock.

Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith released the following statement congratulating Buckhorn.

"Over the course of the campaign, Bob Buckhorn showed he was the candidate with a vision for Tampa's future, the leader to build upon everything Mayor Pam Iorio's has done for the city, and the strong Democrat who will fight to bring jobs to the community. I congratulate Mayor-elect Buckhorn on his election and look forward to working with him in the future."

Buckhorn will be sworn in April 1.

"When I raise my hand to swear to uphold the charter, I will take with me the hopes and aspirations of those 25,000 people that I met along the way," Buckhorn said.

Ferlita concedes

Rose Ferlita conceded the race at 8:15 p.m.

"Certainly, we would have preferred winning," she said. "We had a good run for 12 years."

She mostly thanked supporters and pledged her support to Buckhorn.

"But at the end of the day when you go away it's not about the race you lost. It's about the friends you have," she said. "I have told Mr. Buckhorn that I look forward to his mayorship and if there's anything I can do, in terms of the city of Tampa, that's what it's all about ultimately."

So, what's next for Ferlita?

"I will look forward to serving this community in come other capacity," Ferlita said.

Just hundreds of votes had separated the two candidates in the general race. But Buckhorn took the lead early in the runoff, thanks to early votes and absentee ballots.