Temple Terrace residents elected new city councilmembers tonight, filling three available seats with one incumbent and two new officials.
Alison Fernandez secured re-election, while Karen Michalski and Amber Treat won election, according to unofficial results from the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections.
Five candidates were on the ballot for the three seats in Temple Terrace, with Councilmembers Gil Schisler and James Chambers leaving due to term limits.
Fernandez was seeking another term alongside four challengers.
Temple Terrace’s other city council candidates included Ryan Gessman and Eugene Papantoniou.
How Temple Terrace’s government works
Temple Terrace operates under a council-manager form of government. City Council serves as the policy-making branch and consists of the mayor and four council members. Elected officials are responsible for representing residents as they review city activities and establish policies for the community.
Unlike a strong-mayor form of government, like the City of Tampa, Temple Terrace’s City Council appoints a city manager to oversee the city’s daily operations. The city manager serves as the chief administrative officer, implementing council policies and overseeing city departments.
Nearly 17,000 voters were cast. Fernandez received the most votes with 4,817, accounting for 28.50% of the vote. Michalski followed with 4,258 votes (25.20%), while Treat received 3,275 votes (19.38%).
Gessman received 2,602 votes (15.40%), and Papantoniou received 1,948 votes (11.53%).
Fernandez is a longtime resident, who first moved to Temple Terrace in 1972 and returned in 1996, where she and her husband raised their four sons. She graduated from Florida State University with degrees in finance and accounting and previously worked as a financial auditor for KPMG.
Fernandez has also spent years volunteering with local schools, parent-teacher associations and community organizations. During a recent candidate forum, she said her financial background and experience have helped her ask important questions and make informed decisions on behalf of residents.
Michalski is an environmental advocate with degrees in chemistry and mathematics from the University of South Florida. She currently works as a support chemist for a Swiss instrument company, where she consults with customers across various industries on testing water, food, pharmaceuticals and other products.
She has served as president of the Democratic Environmental Caucus of Hillsborough County since 2020, following years of environmental advocacy. Her priorities include addressing neighborhood concerns such as flooding, residential development and public transportation. During the forum, Michalski said she hopes to bring a scientific, fact-based approach to council decisions while listening to residents, city staff and fellow council members.
Treat first moved to Temple Terrace in 1996 and returned to the city with her family in 2021 after several years living in Maryland. She has remained involved in community organizations, including the Temple Terrace Junior Women’s Club and Women’s Club, and has served on the Woodmont board and the city’s Board of Adjustment.
Treat also has experience with neighborhood association budgets and community issues, including water and fencing concerns. During a recent candidate forum, she said she wants to prioritize the city’s water system and infrastructure while preserving the small-town atmosphere that makes Temple Terrace special.
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This article appears in Oct. 29 – Nov. 04, 2026.
