A wide-angle interior photograph by Dave Decker showing a crowded luncheon event hosted by the Tampa Tiger Bay Club at the historic Cuban Club in Ybor City, Florida, on April 17, 2026. Set inside a large ballroom with teal ceilings and chandelier lighting, numerous tables are filled with attendees seated for lunch while facing a stage adorned with orange backdrop banners at the far end of the room. A photographer stands on the left framing the crowd, while a speaker or guest in a bright pink jacket walks down the right aisle toward the stage. — Tampa Tiger Bay Club at Cuban Club in Ybor City, Florida on April 17, 2026. Credit: Dave Decker/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Byron Donalds and his wife Erika Donalds are now one step closer to the governor’s mansion.

As the state of Florida continues to expand its pre-emption of local governments, leadership will be key at the local level. Will Hillsborough County elect commissioners ready to roll over for Tallahassee, or folks with spine ready to stand up?

Some of the sharpest politicos in the Bay area will start to answer that question for a candidate forum where all candidates qualified for the fall’s Hillsborough County Commission election are invited to attend.

Tampa Tiger Bay’s Hillsborough County Commission forum happens Friday, Aug. 21 at the Cuban Club in Ybor City. Lunch is served at 11:45 a.m., and non-member tickets are $35.

Pitch in to help make the Tampa Bay Journalism Project a success.

This article appears in August 20 – 26, 2026.