Tampa City Council Chair and cool person Yvonne "Yolie" Capin is terming out of her seat in 2018 — but she's not quite done with public service yet.
On Wednesday, she filed to run for the Hillsborough County Commission District 1 seat, a contest that will be decided in November of 2008.
Currently, Commissioner Sandy Murman holds that seat, but she is also terming out and is thus running for the District 7 seat, which Commissioner Al Higginbotham is terming out of.
Ah, the Circle of Political Life.
Capin's current seat is a citywide one, and the seat she's vying for on the commission comprises south Tampa, Ruskin, Apollo Beach, Citrus Park and other environs.
Her current seat is also a nonpartisan one, but at the county level she'll be running as a Democrat.
Murman is a Republican, as are a majority of the commissioners, but she is among the more moderate Republicans at the dais on most issues.
Capin's politics are a bit more to the left — not Bernie Sanders left, but somewhere between moderate and progressive. She is passionate about strengthening ties with Cuba, and for preserving Tampa's character as a means of economic development.
If she is elected, that would mean the commission will have added a third Democrat to the dais, which could help shape conversations on issues like transit, environmental protection and fighting the GOP-led state legislature on efforts to preempt local governments from passing certain laws.
It's unclear what her chances are, given how, despite her popularity, Democrats are less likely to show up during an off-year election (though who knows what will happen in 2018 since apparently more people are paying attention).
Thus far, Capin is the only candidate in the race, though it is probable she will have a challenger.
