Winner & Loser of the Week: Janet Cruz is out, and so might be toilet-to-tap

Former state Sen. Janet Cruz suffered a blistering loss this week in her bid for Tampa City Council, District 3, losing to appointed incumbent Lynn Hurtak.

Hurtak’s win came despite Cruz’s political powerhouse team stacked with political insiders with connections to Mayor Jane Castor and a major funding advantage. Cruz’s daughter, powerful lobbyist Ana Cruz, is Castor’s domestic partner.

That leaves those who voted against her – many vehemently opposed to Castor’s proposed PURE program, or colloquially “toilet-to-tap” – this week’s winners. Hurtak has long opposed the program, and with a mandate from voters, it likely means the program is still DOA.

– Peter Schorsch, Florida Politics