Politics
Jose Vazquez Figueroa entrance into Tampa City Council Special Election makes a baker’s dozen
A thirteenth candidate has entered the race for Tampa City Council, District 5, in a Special Election to replace the late Gwen Henderson, who passed away suddenly last month.
Jose Vazquez Figueroa filed for the race Thursday. He was the fourteenth candidate to file, but is only the thirteenth in the race because one entrant, former City Council member Orlando Gudes, has already withdrawn.
Figueroa is Puerto Rican and has lived in Tampa since 2000. He owns and operates a small recycling business, according to a candidate questionnaire completed in 2023 for the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Figueroa ran that year for District 3 on the City Council, losing in the Primary to former Sen. Janet Cruz and City Council member Lynn Hurtak, who is currently serving in the district after defeating Cruz in the runoff election.
Figueroa, who often uses Vasquez as his last name, has run for office unsuccessfully several times.
He briefly ran for Hillsborough County Commission in 2022, but withdrew from the race before qualifying. He also challenged former Mayor Bob Buckhorn’s re-election in 2015, but received just 4% of the vote. In 2018 he ran for House District 58 as a Democrat against Republican Dan Raulerson, losing with just shy of 43% of the vote.
Prior to that, he ran in a Special Election for HD 58 in 2017, also as a Democrat. Figueroa then lost to Republican Rep. Lawrence McClure — who now serves as the House budget chief — with just 34% of the vote. Figueroa also ran for the House in 2016 and 2014, also losing to Raulerson both times.
A candidate questionnaire completed in 2023 for ABC Action News offers a glimpse into Figueroa’s priorities, including the use of accessory dwelling units to address affordable housing and reforming the city’s code enforcement department.
The crowded race is nonpartisan, meaning candidates aren’t allowed to advertise or discuss their political affiliation on the campaign trail, at campaign events or in campaign documents. But political affiliation in such races is typically well-known among candidates anyway. Figueroa is one of eight Democrats in the race, joining four Republicans and a no-party candidate.
Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer scheduled a Special Election to replace Henderson for Sept. 9. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election will be held Oct. 28.
Early voting for the Special Election will run Sept. 4-7 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., with polls open on Election Day from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Democrats have a big advantage in the race, with just under 25,000 Democrats in the district, compared to just over 7,700 Republicans.
But at least one Democrat has expressed concern that the large field of candidates could offer an opening to the GOP to finally nab a seat on what has historically been an all-Democrat Council. Speaking to Creative Loafing Tampa, Rep. Dianne Hart said she was concerned about the potential for vote-splitting that could benefit Republicans.
That concern is rooted in the fact that Tampa operates runoff elections in the event that no single candidate earns more than 50% of the vote in the first election. With so many Democrats on the ballot, vote-splitting could — emphasis on could — set up a scenario in which votes split between them could offer Republicans in the race a higher percentage, sending to members of the GOP to the runoff.
While it’s early days in the race — several candidates have not even yet had to file campaign finance reports — some Democrats have already begun separating themselves from the pack.
Ariel Amirah Danley, Henderson’s daughter, has already raised more than $13,000. Much of that includes financial activity from the current fundraising period, for which reports are not due until next month, but it still puts her ahead of the group for now.
Juawana Colbert, the independent candidate and a Realtor who gained some measure of fame by appearing on a Netflix reality television series called “Selling Tampa,” has so far raised more than $8,000.
Two other candidates, Thomas Scott and Fran Tate, have also posted fundraising activity, but it was nominal, at $500 and $100, respectively.
Scott, a former Tampa City Council member and former Hillsborough County Commissioner, has name ID that could give him a boost. But he also has been out of the game for a while and his 2020 attempt to reemerge sputtered in a Democratic Primary for Hillsborough County Commission.
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The horrific shooting in Australia that claimed at least 16 lives during a Hanukkah celebration has prompted an expression of sympathy from Florida lawmakers.
The Florida Jewish Legislative Caucus issued a statement of condemnation of the violence during the Jewish observance on Sydney’s Bondi Beach. The Caucus published its statement Sunday afternoon.
“The Florida Legislative Jewish Caucus unequivocally condemns the horrific and senseless killing that occurred during Hanukkah in Australia. An act of violence against Jews celebrating their faith is an attack not only on a single community, but on the fundamental values of freedom, religious liberty, and human dignity,” the Florida Legislative Caucus said in a news release.
“We stand in unwavering solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters in Australia, with the victims’ families, and with Jewish communities around the world who are once again forced to confront hatred simply for being who they are. The State of Florida’s Jewish legislators join in mourning, remembrance, and resolve.”
The Florida LegislativeJewish Caucus has a dozen members from the House of Representatives and two State Senators.
Hundreds of people had gathered Sunday at the beach for an event to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah, when gunmen opened fire. At least 38 others were injured in the attack.
New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park said the death toll had risen from 12 to 16 overnight, including a 12-year-old child. Three other children are being treated in hospital, he said.
“This is absolutely horrendous for the community broadly, but particularly the Jewish community. … What we saw last night was the worst of humanity, but at the same time, the very best of humanity,” Park said.
The massacre at one of Australia’s most popular beaches followed a wave of antisemitic attacks that have roiled the country over the past year, although the authorities didn’t suggest those and Sunday’s shooting were connected. It is the deadliest shooting in almost three decades in a country with strict gun control laws.
One gunman was fatally shot by police and the second was arrested and in critical condition, authorities said. Police said one gunman was known to security services, but there was no specific threat.
At least 29 people were confirmed wounded, including two police officers, said Mal Lanyon, police commissioner for New South Wales state, where Sydney is located.
“This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community,” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said.
The violence erupted at the end of a summer day when thousands had flocked to Bondi Beach, including hundreds gathered for the Chanukah by the Sea event celebrating the start of the eight-day Hanukkah festival.
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Material from The Associated Press was used in this report with permission.
Behavioral health officials have a list of precautions for Floridians to deal with anxieities heading into Christmas and New Year’s Day.
While the holidays can bring a lot of comfort and joy, the can also be a stressful time and Florida’s health management entities are providing some helpful tips to deal with yuletide anxiety.
There are seven behavioral health managing entities in the state and all of them are aware that stress heading into Christmas and New Year’s Day can seem overwhelming at times. They’re advising balance may be one of the key elements in dealing with the holidays.
“The holidays are a time of joy, but they can also be a time of stress, sadness and triggering situations,” said Natalie Kelly, CEO of the Florida Association of Managing Entities. “Florida’s behavioral health Managing Entities remind Floridians that behavioral health services are available, even to those who are uninsured or underinsured.”
The state’s behavioral health professionals are also providing a list of tips to help come to grips with any holiday tension including:
— Get plenty of exercise. Exercising boosts your mood and combats depression.
— Limit alcohol intake. Alcohol is a depressant that can cause feelings of anxiety, sadness and depression.
— Set healthy boundaries and don’t overextend yourself. Setting realistic expectations can help reduce stress.
— Seek the help of a counselor for mental health needs. If you feel overwhelmed or the need to get help to address your feelings, contact a counselor.
— Call 2-1-1 if needed to connect with resources in your community.
— Call 9-8-8 if you or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts.
A mental-health treatment network has been established in the state for providers who deliver services to residents needing help. Those services extend to parents and children, veterans and the homeless.
Providers serve patients for not only mental health needs, but substance use, housing, transportation and employment help. Those managing entities are often overseen by community organizations and administrators and are accountable to state and federal funds.
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