21 Facts About Bob Buckhorn

Bob Buckhorn is a member of the Democratic Party who served two terms on the Tampa City Council.

Bob Buckhorn graduated in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in political science from Pennsylvania State University, where he was on the college lacrosse team from 1976 to 1978.

Bob Buckhorn was awarded the 2019 Outstanding Alumni Award in the College of Liberal Arts, Department of Political Science.

Bob Buckhorn was the director of governmental affairs for the Builders Association of Greater Tampa.

Bob Buckhorn lost a Democratic primary for a Florida House Seat in 1992.

Bob Buckhorn was elected to the Tampa City Council in 1995 and re-elected in 1999.

Bob Buckhorn's work included expanding the homestead exemption for seniors, tightening rules on lobbying and ethics, and promoting quality of life issues.

Bob Buckhorn lost a race for Hillsborough County Commission in 2004, and in 2007 he opened Buckhorn Partners, a public affairs firm based in Tampa.

Bob Buckhorn ran again for mayor in 2011 and received key endorsements from the influential firefighters union and from outgoing incumbent Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio.

Bob Buckhorn won a run-off and took office April 1,2011.

In June 2011, Bob Buckhorn formed the Economic Competitiveness Committee to review the City of Tampa's permitting and regulatory processes and to look for ways to improve the system.

One of the key recommendations the Bob Buckhorn administration implemented was installing a system allowing permits to be applied for and tracked on-line.

Bob Buckhorn worked to restore the street grid, foster new retail opportunities, and successfully attract thousands of new urban residential developments such as the Residences on the Riverwalk and SkyHouse Tampa.

Bob Buckhorn helped secure a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Grant from the US Department of Transportation to complete the Tampa Riverwalk, which was in the planning and development stages by city officials for more than 40 years.

Bob Buckhorn worked to bring back the Pride Parade for the first time in a decade, and he was recognized for his lifetime efforts on behalf of equality with the Tampa Bay Business Journal's Business of Pride award in 2019.

In recognition of his work on behalf of Tampa and its economic development efforts, Bob Buckhorn was recognized with the Chairman's Award for Lifetime Achievement in Economic Development by the International Economic Development Council.

Bob Buckhorn initiated and completed Water Works Park, a $7.4 million downtown park that offers picnic areas, boat slips, a kayak launch, dog park, and giant water bucket and splash pad.

Bob Buckhorn worked to create a safer community for Tampa's inner-city youth.

Bob Buckhorn launched Autism Friendly Tampa, a citywide effort to educate residents on autism spectrum disorder and to make city programs, parks and facilities more inclusive.

Bob Buckhorn served as mayor until May 2019, when former Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor succeeded him.

Bob Buckhorn is married to Dr Catherine Lynch Buckhorn and they have two daughters.