Bob Buckhorn

Former mayor of Tampa, Florida, graduated in 1976

What is Bob Buckhorn known for?

Robert Francis Buckhorn Jr., better known as Bob Buckhorn, is a distinguished American politician. Born on July 29, 1958, in Evanston, Illinois, Buckhorn grew up in Falls Church, Virginia. He made a name for himself serving as the 58th Mayor of Tampa, Florida, from April 1, 2011, until May 1, 2019.

Buckhorn spent his formative years in Falls Church, Virginia, before earning a bachelor's degree in political science from Pennsylvania State University in 1980. During his time at Penn State, he was an active member of the college lacrosse team from 1976 to 1978. His noteworthy accomplishments didn't go unnoticed as he was bestowed with the 2019 Outstanding Alumni Award in the College of Liberal Arts, Department of Political Science.

Throughout his career, Buckhorn held several significant positions which have contributed to his recognition as an influential figure. He served as the director of governmental affairs for the Builders Association of Greater Tampa and was a special assistant to Tampa Mayor Sandra Freedman from 1987 to 1995. One of his notable contributions in this role was removing MacDill Air Force Base from a Pentagon list of bases that were slated to be closed. He also served two terms on the Tampa City Council, where he was involved in expanding the homestead exemption for seniors, tightening rules on lobbying and ethics, and promoting quality of life issues.

In 2011, Buckhorn was elected as the Mayor of Tampa, a position he held until 2019. His tenure as mayor was characterized by significant strides in developing the city. He formed the Economic Competitiveness Committee (ECC) to review and improve the City of Tampa's permitting and regulatory processes. More notable was his effort to transform Tampa into a more connected, livable city through the Invision Tampa plan. This included focusing on the city's underutilized riverfront, supporting transit with urban patterns, and fostering new retail opportunities. He also played a pivotal role in securing a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation that helped complete the Tampa Riverwalk, a project that had been in the works for over 40 years. The Tampa Riverwalk was named a National Great Place in America in the "People's Choice" category in 2018.

Buckhorn's leadership was not confined to infrastructure development. He was instrumental in establishing one of Florida's first domestic partnership registries. Under his stewardship, Tampa received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index. His dedication to equality was recognized when he was awarded the Tampa Bay Business Journal's Business of Pride award in 2019.

Even after Buckhorn's term as mayor ended, his influence is still evident, especially in projects he helped establish, like the 40-acre development project in the Channel District, Water Street Tampa. The legacy of this Falls Church High School alumni continues to be appreciated by the people of Tampa and beyond.