Dick A. Greco
Encyclopedia
Dick A. Greco is a politician
, businessman, and civic activist from Tampa
, Florida
.
where he obtained his B.S. in Education
(1956). After obtaining his degree, Greco took over his father's hardware store and became increasingly active in many civic programs and organizations.
(and one of the youngest mayors in the United States) by beating incumbent and fellow Ybor City native Nick Nuccio
in an election that was seen as a transfer of power from one generation to the next
In his first term, Greco balanced issues such as simmering racial tensions, crime
, and extremely limited tax revenue. In 1971, Greco again beat Nuccio in a mayoral election rematch, but resigned in 1974 to accept a job with Edward J. DeBartolo Corp., a mall
development company.
During his fourth term as mayor, Greco's administration was involved in controversy when the city's housing director, Steve LaBrake, was accused of improperly awarding city contracts and taking bribes. Despite mounting criticism, Greco refused to fire LaBrake until after the director was indicted in federal court. LaBrake eventually served time in prison for his actions. Greco was also criticized for regularly backing private redevelopment projects with city money, leaving the city with large debt repayments when the developer of Centro Ybor defaulted. Due to term limits limiting Tampa mayors to two consecutive terms, he could not run again in 2003 and was succeeded by Pam Iorio
.
Despite some controversy during his last years in office, Greco was still widely popular in Tampa and was the 2nd former mayor (after Nick Nuccio) to be honored with a public statue. The statue depicts Greco sitting on a bench beside Dick Greco Plaza, a streetcar station named in his honor for his efforts to build the TECO Line Streetcar System
connecting Ybor City and downtown.
in a race eventually won in a runoff by Bob Buckhorn
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, businessman, and civic activist from Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Early life
Dick Greco was born in the Ybor City neighborhood of Tampa, where his Italian-American father owned a hardware store. He graduated from Hillsborough High School and the University of TampaUniversity of Tampa
The University of Tampa , is a private, co-educational university in Downtown Tampa, Florida, United States. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 2006, the University celebrated its 75th anniversary...
where he obtained his B.S. in Education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
(1956). After obtaining his degree, Greco took over his father's hardware store and became increasingly active in many civic programs and organizations.
Political career
In 1963, Greco used his growing community support to successfully run for a seat on the Tampa city council.Mayor of Tampa, Part I
In 1967, Greco ran a successful campaign to be Tampa's youngest mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
(and one of the youngest mayors in the United States) by beating incumbent and fellow Ybor City native Nick Nuccio
Nick Nuccio
Mayor of Tampa 1956-1959, 1963-1967Nick Chillura Nuccio was a two-time mayor of Tampa, Florida in the 1950s and 60s...
in an election that was seen as a transfer of power from one generation to the next
In his first term, Greco balanced issues such as simmering racial tensions, crime
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
, and extremely limited tax revenue. In 1971, Greco again beat Nuccio in a mayoral election rematch, but resigned in 1974 to accept a job with Edward J. DeBartolo Corp., a mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
development company.
Mayor of Tampa, Part II
After over two decades in the private sector, Greco successfully returned to Tampa politics in 1995 when he ran for and regained the mayor's office. Greco's wide popularity won him another term with no opposition in 1999.During his fourth term as mayor, Greco's administration was involved in controversy when the city's housing director, Steve LaBrake, was accused of improperly awarding city contracts and taking bribes. Despite mounting criticism, Greco refused to fire LaBrake until after the director was indicted in federal court. LaBrake eventually served time in prison for his actions. Greco was also criticized for regularly backing private redevelopment projects with city money, leaving the city with large debt repayments when the developer of Centro Ybor defaulted. Due to term limits limiting Tampa mayors to two consecutive terms, he could not run again in 2003 and was succeeded by Pam Iorio
Pam Iorio
Pam Iorio is an American politician and author, who served as mayor of Tampa, Florida from 2003 to 2011.Her first book, Straightforward, is expected to be released in November 2011...
.
Despite some controversy during his last years in office, Greco was still widely popular in Tampa and was the 2nd former mayor (after Nick Nuccio) to be honored with a public statue. The statue depicts Greco sitting on a bench beside Dick Greco Plaza, a streetcar station named in his honor for his efforts to build the TECO Line Streetcar System
TECO Line Streetcar System
The TECO Line Streetcar System is a streetcar line in Tampa, Florida, run by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transportation Authority and managed by Tampa Historic Streetcar, Inc.. It connects Downtown and Channelside to the historic Ybor City district. There is also an "In-Town" trolley-replica bus...
connecting Ybor City and downtown.
5th run for mayor
In 2010, Greco announced that he would try to win an unprecedented 5th term as mayor of Tampa in 2011 when Iorio's second term expired, potentially making him both the youngest and the oldest mayor in the city's history. But though seen by local political observers as the early favorite, Greco ran third in the general electionGeneral election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
in a race eventually won in a runoff by Bob Buckhorn
Bob Buckhorn
Bob Buckhorn is the mayor of Tampa, Florida.-Political history:A 1980 graduate of Penn State University, Bob Buckhorn arrived in Tampa in 1982...
.