Side-by-side photo of two speakers at an event. On the left, a man in a dark suit and tie speaks into a microphone. On the right, a woman in an orange dress also speaks into a microphone while seated. Both appear engaged in discussion against a dark backdrop.
Thomas Scott (L) and Naya Young both captured at a Tiger Bay candidate forum on Aug. 15, 2025. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Two hours is a long time to talk about local politics, especially in the context of a special city council election that’s essentially been happening since the untimely death of Tampa City Councilwoman Gwen Henderson last June.

Candidates Naya Young and Thomas Scott have reached the runoff stage, and Tampa Heights Civic Association has tapped a trio of informed, engaged and entertaining hosts—Florida Phoenix reporter Mitch Perry, Winzig Consulting’s Kari Goetz, and Tampa Bay Developer podcast host Garrett Greco—for a forum that promises to be “part talk show, part conversation, and a little late-night style fun.”

And yes, there’s a Zoom link if you can’t make it in person.

There’s no cover for the District 5 City Council Runoff Candidate Forum on Thursday, Oct. 9. at the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association.

Related location

Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association Community Center

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UPDATED 10/06/25 12:13 p.m. Updated because Goetz no longer works for United Way Suncoast.

This article appears in Oct. 2 – 8, 2025.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...