Tampa Bay Police Chief’s controversial nominee on the ballot

Directorate of The Tampa Police Department is on the line as the City Council votes Thursday on Mayor Castor’s controversial choice of police chief Mary O’Connor.

The plot: O’Connor has been leading the department since last month despite having no mandate to do so.

Catch up fast: The five weeks since Mayor Castor nominated O’Connor for the job have been turbulent.

• O’Connor filed a DUI charge 27 years ago which led to her being fired from the Tampa Police Department.
• beaver was critical for not taking the public’s opinion before making his choice between O’Connor, Acting Chief Butch Delgado and Miami Police Department Deputy Chief Cherise Gause.
• municipal Council learned at a meeting that O’Connor was already running the police department before a vote.
• Then the board members suggested The Castor administration waged a pressure campaign to influence their views.

More: The board will vote today without former member John Dingfelder, who resigned last week. At least four votes are required for confirmation.

But, but, but: Even the Times editorial board, which criticized Castor’s method, said the board should confirms O’Connor.

Enlarge: Board member Charlie Miranda told the Time he has made up his mind, but would not say how he will vote.

• President Orlando Gudes and members Bill Carlson, Luis Viera, Guido Maniscalco and Joe Citro either said nothing or said they had not made a decision. When Castor announced O’Connor as his pick, Citro said he didn’t think he could back her up.
• If the advice rejects O’Connor, Castor has 90 days to resubmit it or submit another candidate.

This is the first item on the agenda of Thursday 9 a.m. meeting.