Iorio moved with her family to Temple Terrace as an infant and attended Hillsborough County public schools.
Iorio earned her bachelor's degree from American University and followed up with her masters at the University of South Florida.[1] Iorio has been married to Mark Woodard, County Administrator for Pinellas County, since 1987, and they have two children, Caitlin and Graham.[2] Her father, John Iorio, was an Italian immigrant and English professor, and one of the first professors at the University of South Florida.[3]
In 1985, at the age of 26, she became the youngest person ever elected to the Hillsborough County Commission. For a decade before her successful run for mayor, she served as Supervisor of Elections for Hillsborough County. During the 2000 presidential election recount, she was the president of the State Association of County Elections Supervisors propelling her into the role of spokesperson.[2]
On April 1, 2003, she was sworn in as MayorofTampa, becoming the second woman to hold the office. Her first term dealt largely with re-energizing the downtown area, as well as the economic revitalization of Tampa’s most neglected neighborhoods. Iorio was also a big supporter of the arts, working to make Tampa a major arts center in the South. Iorio has also been credited with a sharp drop in drug trafficking in the city limits and a significant drop in major crimes. In her second term, Iorio advocated for improved mass transit, favoring a multi-modal plan which included a light rail system.[2] While mayor, Tampa hosted a Super Bowl and successfully attracted the 2012 Republican National Convention.[4]
Iorio presenting a key to the city to talk show host Motown Maurice
Her book, Straightforward, was released in November 2011.[7] In the book she draws from her own experiences and shares the skills and characteristics needed to become an effective leader.[6]
Since her time as mayor ended, Iorio has focused her time on working with Tampa area non-profits and spending time with her family. She has been involved with the Tampa Bay History Center, the Curtis Hixon Park and Riverwalk, and the USF Foundation[8]
She had been mentioned as a possible Democratic Party candidate for governor of Florida in 2014.[9] Iorio ultimately did not run. Iorio has also proposed changes to Florida's election laws in order to avoid long lines at the polls and other irregularities.[10]
