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Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Here's who's running in Tampa's upcoming election for District 5
Tampa City Council member Gwen Henderson had more than 15 months in her term when she died last month of natural causes. So the city is holding a special election Sept. 9 to fill her District 5 seat, which represents Ybor City, East Tampa, downtown and part of West Tampa. The the candidates to replace her are already piling up. As of July 8, here's who's running. Henderson's daughter, Ariel Amirah Danley, is among the early candidates for her late mother's seat. Danley, a Tampa native, is an entrepreneur and celebrity makeup artist. She and her mother opened Black English Bookstore in Tampa Heights in late 2023. Among her policy priorities are support for woman- and minority-owned small businesses, funding for youth programs and improvements to neighborhood infrastructure, according to her website. Former City Council member Orlando Gudes is making another bid for District 5, after losing a reelection campaign against Henderson in 2023. While on the City Council, Gudes, a former Tampa police officer, was investigated for crude and sexual comments he made to a former aide, who was Henderson's sister. He stepped down as council chairperson, but not from the council. Despite the investigation finding the majority of the allegations made against him to be credible, a lawsuit from the former aide was dismissed. Former Hillsborough County Commissioner and Tampa City Council member Thomas Scott is making another bid for the city's dais. Scott represented District 5 from 2007-2011 and also spent 10 years on the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners. Scott, a senior pastor of more than 40 years at the 34th Street Church of God in East Tampa, said his experience in local government will help him 'hit the ground running' during a shorter term. Fran Tate is the president of the Jackson Heights Neighborhood Association and coordinator of the public safety Crime Watch. She is also a former chair of the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency's Community Advisory Committee, which she remains a member. Tate said her connections within the city, and her familiarity with the redevelopment agency's budget, would help her transition onto the council. Juawana Colbert is member of Tampa's Affordable Housing Advisory Committee and is also developing affordable townhomes in the Central Park Community Redevelopment Agency area. She was born in Los Angeles and moved to Tampa in 2017. She works at Allure Realty, which was featured in Netflix's 'Selling Tampa.' Colbert wants to focus on equitable investment, affordable housing, support for small businesses and more walkable neighborhoods, she said in a statement. Business owner Darrell Ashley Dudney, who goes by Ash, is making his first foray into politics to represent the district where he grew up. He said he's interested in supporting small businesses — ones that make under $1 million annually — addressing homelessness and boosting public transportation. Elvis Piggott said he wants to ensure the important issues effecting all residents in District 5 — not just those living in certain areas — aren't overlooked, while also carrying on the work that Henderson started. Piggott has been a pastor in the district for nearly 20 years. He's the pastor at at Triumph Church in Tampa, and said he wants to prioritize community voice and economic opportunity, particularly for young people. He said he also wants to encourage development that's beneficial to residents. Naya Almaz Young has worked in public service for years. She said she would spend summers at her grandmother's house canvassing around the neighborhood, encouraging people to vote and attending neighborhood civic association meetings. Throughout her career, Young said she has carried on the lessons she learned growing up and applied them to community work across the country — and eventually in Tampa, where she is involved with the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association. Audette Bruce, a former policy analyst and speech writer for the United Nations, moved to Florida more than a decade ago. She's worked for former state Rep. Jackie Toledo and Rep. Berny Jacques. Taking her international, national and state-level experience to Tampa, Bruce said she wants to focus on affordable housing and improving the development around it through increased police presence and support for small businesses. She said she also wants to work toward transit solutions. In Ybor City, Thomas DeGeorge is the co-owner and president of the Crow Bar, a live music and events venue. He's chaired the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce and helped raise money in a national campaign to support independent venues during the COVID-19 pandemic. DeGeorge said the city needs rent protection amid rapid development and a rising cost of living. He also said the city needs to address homelessness and mental health issues. Melony Letitia Williams is a retired lieutenant colonel and Tampa native. She ran an unsuccessful campaign last year for Hillsborough clerk of court and comptroller. Williams did not respond to emails or a text seeking comment from the Tampa Bay Times.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nearly a dozen file to replace late Tampa councilwoman's seat
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – As of Wednesday, 11 hopefuls have filed to run in a special election to represent District 5 in the city of Tampa. The seat became vacant following the sudden death of Councilwoman Gwendolyn Henderson. District 5 covers the city limits in East Tampa. The district also includes Palmetto Beach, Ybor City, and a portion of West Tampa. Currently, records show there are 44,000 active registered voters. Ariel Amirah Danley owns Black English Bookstore in Tampa Heights. Councilwoman Henderson was the shop's co-owner. 'It's important to continue the legacy and finish my mother's race and her work,' Danley said. Danely is not only holding onto the bookstore, but she is also running for the council seat after her mother's passing. 'I'd like to focus on smart development and affordable housing, as well as seeing all the projects that have already been voted on and in development through to completion,' Danley said. Danley is facing several others, including Bishop Thomas Scott, the senior pastor of 34th Street Church of God. 'We bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position,' Scott said. Scott previously served as a Hillsborough County commissioner, and he represented District 5 on Tampa's city council. Scott reflected on his efforts to breathe new life into East Tampa. 'A depressed and stressed neighborhood would have economic development, job creation, affordable housing, you know a safe neighborhood,' Scott said. Consulting firm co-founder Naya Young, realtor and Netflix's Selling Tampa reality star Juawana Colbert, and former Tampa City Councilman Orlando Gudes are running. Gudes stepped down as council chair in 2022 after allegations of harassment and creating a hostile environment. They are among the 11 who are running alongside people like a political newcomer, West Tampa Resident Audette Bruce.'There are also people who have been there for years, and my part is to get to know them and to hear their voice and to amplify it on the city stage,' Bruce said. Candidate qualifying is next month. So, the number of hopefuls may change. The special election is set for September 9 and if a runoff is needed, then it'll be in October. To see a full list of the candidates, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
