By Bill Varian

bvarian@tampabay.com

Two Hillsborough County commissioners with aspirations for higher office evaluated each other's integrity Thursday in terms not likely to show up in either's campaign videos.

Their opponents', maybe.

Kathy Castor, who is running for U.S. Congress, and Ronda Storms, who is running for state Senate, are frequent sparring partners. But their vitriol was particularly stinging Thursday during a discussion about whether a proposal being pushed by a citizen's group to create an elected county mayor could threaten environmental safeguards.

Before the dust had settled, Castor had accused Storms of lying and demanded: "Commissioner, do you have any dignity whatsoever?"

Shot back Storms: "At least I have my integrity."

The exchange occurred after some commissioners expressed fears that placing one person in charge of the county budget could lead to the demise of the county's Environmental Protection Commission if it renders a decision that angers powerful developers. They said having seven commissioners who operate in the open provides a safeguard to behind-the-scenes influence.

"No one is about to do away with the EPC," countered Castor, a Democrat who supports putting the mayor question to voters.

That's when Storms, a Republican, weighed in with an accusation that she has leveled before. She claimed that "a colleague of this board who was a land-use attorney" once tried to get her to change her vote in a closed-door meeting to the benefit of the attorney's "wealthy and influential" developer client.

She was talking about Castor, but didn't name her. And Storms said that's the danger of having one county mayor - closed-door deals.

Castor didn't acknowledge the reference, but suggested that the other board members effectively did the same thing earlier Thursday when they waived a permitting requirement at the request of an influential builder's group. It happened in a public meeting, she said.

Storms shot back: "I can understand why Commissioner Castor would have no objection because Commissioner Castor was the commissioner who attempted to lobby to get me to set aside my vote."

Storms then attempted to adjourn the meeting, banging the gavel.

Other commissioners filed out of the room. Cameras for the county's television station continued to film.

Castor answered the accusation: "You've said that before, commissioner. That's specious and you know it's untrue. It's a lie."

"Hmmm," said Storms, adding that Castor never refuted the claim when she made it six years ago. "So your credibility is in shambles."

Castor stood, waving a hand at Storms: "Commissioner, do you have any dignity whatsoever? Any dignity?"

Storms countered that at least she had never asked a commissioner to set aside a land-use vote. "I may not have dignity in your eyes, but at least I have my integrity."

"Little to none," Castor said, walking away.

"Little to none."