After I attended the HCDBC district 5 forum I said “I look forward to hearing the other half of candidates; though I think my mind is made up.” I did listen to the other candidates, (I recommend the 2 hour roundtable WMNF aired last week), read their websites, and attended the Tampa Heights Civic Association candidate forum hosted with The League of Women Voters. I didn’t hear anything from any of the candidates to change my mind.

Being a city council member in Tampa is a job. After a salary adjustment encouraged by folks like myself, council members make $75,000 annually—roughly the median income for a single adult household in Tampa—plus the same health benefits any other employee of the city is eligible for. It’s not a read the agenda Thursday morning over coffee, take a couple of votes and be at the Tropicana by lunchtime city any more. A full time job. The late Council member Henderson said early on in her term she thought she was signing up for something part time. She became very vocal about how much she didn’t realize the role entailed and the financial burden it could create for an individual. But she embraced it and started digging in.

We’re a growing city with a nearly $2 BILLION budget and exponential growth in development. Both of which we entrust 7 individuals to be responsible for. Every dollar spent and every change to land use. That requires council members who are there to do the job. To listen to the public, to do the homework and be good stewards of the land and money. And we want them to do it with the shared values that have always made Tampa, Tampa. I heard a younger voice strongly express that’s exactly what they’ll do. And I believe her.

As to experience and familiarity, whether it was being the only person to articulate what a Community Benefit Agreement is, to having specific answers about the FY26 budget, to being the only person to avoid a completely generic answer on housing solutions by referencing missing middle and diverse housing types I think she has as much foundational knowledge as some that sit on council now. She was also the only candidate to my knowledge who attended the transmittal hearing for the future land use plan update; and not a photo-op, rather sitting attentively up front the whole discussion.

When I first started watching Tampa City Council closely, the first thing I remarked was “it’s all dudes.” Their skin color ran the gamut but still, seven dudes. That changed when Council member Dingfelder resigned and the remaining dudes appointed council member Hurtak. She won her subsequent election as did Council member Henderson join council as just the fifteenth and sixteen women to do so. I believe their voices are important. Necessary. So with the death of Council member Henderson, I thought it was important her term was completed by another Black woman voice. Not for nothing, the first Black woman to sit on council endorsed Young.

Tampa didn’t have districts until 1987. For less than 10 terms has a person sat on city council representing a portion of the city. Looking out for the best interests of those that live in their quarter. 47 years before that city elections were controlled by the White Municipal Party. I believe anyone who represents district 5 in Tampa needs to really understand its history and be able to speak honestly about it. So yes, the district has changed, but its heart hasn’t.

I don’t write much about what’s said during public comment, but that’s not because I’m not listening. When asked how I came about doing this (what ever this is), I am sincere when I say folks like Stephanie Poyner and Connie Burton and the many (mostly women) who have been speaking before council to the issues within our communities for years inspire me. One of the most discussed issues from my neighbors in East Tampa over my time watching has been about youth opportunity. Summer jobs and internships that are more than picking up garbage at the park. Using our parks spaces to engage with older youth beyond recreational sports. To give the kids hope. Naya Young has said from her first words at the HCDMC forum until her final words of the night at the Tampa Heights forum that she will make Tampa’s youth her priority.

She’ll have 18 months to demonstrate her commitment and then it will be an open seat. With everything going on in the world right now, the younger generations deserve a voice at the table. I’ve seen and heard enough from Naya Young to believe she can effectively be that voice and a voice for everyone in district 5.