TAMPA, Fla. — Former police Chief Jane Castor is already making plans as Tampa's next mayor.

Castor won the run-off Tuesday night, besting philanthropist and retired banker David Straz.

A day after her historic win, Castor moved her celebration to her make-shift campaign office. 

Castor joked when asked her thoughts about winning with 73 percent of the vote.

"I'm an athlete. I'm always going for that 100, you know what I'm saying," Castor said.

Earning trust

Most of the votes Castor lost were in African-American communities like East Tampa. Castor said she plans to spend time in those neighborhoods just as she did as police chief.

"I will go about every single day, either earning, regaining the trust of the community or making sure that trust remains," Castor said. 

Castor also plans to meet with all city department employees when she takes office, but don't expect big changes. 

"There are not going to be any major changes in the beginning because we have contracts we have to negotiate right away, and then we have to present a budget to city council in short order, as well," Castor said. 

Win grabbing national headlines

As for the Rays, Castor wants them in the city.

"I'll do whatever I can," Castor said. "Taxpayers' appetite for paying for a stadium is long gone. That's not going to happen, but there are other ways to bring the Rays to the Tampa Bay area, specifically in the city of Tampa."

That's just a glimpse of what to expect from Tampa's next mayor. Since her win, the nation has been watching.

Most national headlines are showcasing her as the first openly gay mayor of Tampa.

"There shouldn't be any significance in that, and it really was never an issue in my campaign," Castor said. "When I was first appointed as Chief of Police, I was the first female. And so I said, at that time, at the end of my tenure, I wanted to be remembered as a good chief, not as the first woman. But being the first is not lost on me and that's the same in this situation."

First priorities

Castor said easing gridlock will also be one of her priorities as mayor. She's hoping to combine tax referendum dollars with federal and state money.

Castor said her first transportation improvements will include street paving and sidewalks. 

"I want to put into motion a comprehensive sidewalk plan that begins at the schools and moves out, looking at what TECO has in place, replacing street lights with LED lights," Castor said.

Castor said as mayor she also wants to ramp up the use of the bus system.

She will be sworn in as mayor on May 1.