Whoever wins the hotly contested race for Hillsborough County’s open District 6 commission seat is likely to face this hot-button question early in the term: Should the county try to lure the Tampa Bay Rays across the bay with the promise of taxpayer money for a new stadium?
For five of the six candidates, the answer is, “Possibly, if it comes from tourists.”
The Rays, who have said they want to leave Tropicana Field in downtown St. Petersburg, are evaluating sites in Hillsborough and Pinellas for a new ballpark — one, the team hopes, that will spur development, corporate sponsors and new fans as a year-round community asset.