Photo by Dave Decker
Robin Lockett has a unique opportunity to change the makeup of council and has earned it.
Michael Derewenko is a former skateboarder and current business owner who’s not been shy about about standing up to developers, strengthening the citizen’s police review board and allowing council more power to in the city’s day-to-day operations.
Mike Suarez did two terms on council from 2011-2019. He was against the confirmation of Tampa’s since-disgraced police chief, says council should have asked more questions about the troubled City Center at Hanna project in its inception, and is also against the PURE wastewater plan.
Incumbent Charlie Miranda is termed out and running in District 6, so Guido Maniscalco (termed out in D6) is running in D2 instead. Maniscalco is a likable elected official, and easy to talk to. His calm demeanor on the dais can be a balm when discussions get heated, and if it weren’t for his no vote on independent counsel for the police citizens review board, we would endorse him outright.
Robin Lockett has a unique opportunity to change the makeup of council and has earned it. Like Maniscalco, she is a tried and true Tampeño (although she prefers the term “Tampanian”). Lockett—former President of the Hillsborough Democratic Black Caucus and past Political chair of Hillsborough County Democratic Black Caucus—is also a mainstay at Tampa City Council where she regularly advocates for issues that affect the most vulnerable people in our community. She understands marginalized communities in Tampa and has been a fierce advocate for their well being every step of the way.
If Lockett does not make it to a runoff, we’ll back Maniscalco, but council needs her voice—and her desire for council to “review EVERYTHING through a lens of equity”—on the dais now more than ever.
CL endorses Robin Lockett for Tampa City Council District 2.
See all of CL's endorsements and charter amendment recommendations here.
