A photograph showing political candidate Gary Hartfield sitting outdoors on a concrete bench at Kiley Garden in Tampa, Florida. Captured in a medium three-quarter shot, Hartfield sits with his hands clasped together in his lap, looking directly forward toward the camera. He wears a grey plaid suit with a white dress shirt and dark blue tie. Behind him, the open-air plaza features green lawn strips, a white concrete wall, metal railings, and the distant rooftops and spires of downtown Tampa under a partly cloudy sky. — Gary Hartfield at Kiley Garden in Tampa, Florida. Credit: Campaign photo

Mayoral candidate Bill Carlson is in the spotlight lately thanks to his taking the reins on the Rays stadium fiasco, but the Tampa City Councilman isn’t the only person running to lead the City of Tampa.

Gary Hartfield, author and founder of Serenity Village Insurance & Consulting, filed his paperwork last March telling Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the decision is part of “a deliberate and intentional plan to find ways to give back to my community.”

The 55-year-old officially kicks off his campaign this week, hoping to meet supporters old and new and tell them about his plans.

There’s no cover, but an RSVP is required, for Gary Hartfield’s campaign kickoff happening in Tampa on Thursday, Aug. 20.

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This article appears in August 20 – 26, 2026.