New Tampa’s Voter Turnout Lags Behind City In Municipal Election

By Matt Wiley

The 2015 City of Tampa municipal election is a wrap and the votes have been tallied, with turnout low throughout the city, especially (again) in New Tampa.

According to the official results from the March 3 election posted on the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections office’s website, of the 211,158 registered voters in the City of Tampa, only 26,992 ballots were cast, for a citywide voter turnout of just 12.78 percent to pick Tampa’s mayor and fill three of seven city council seats. Two Council seats — including New Tampa’s District 7 (represented by incumbent Lisa Montelione) — were decided on the last day to qualify for the election in January.

Montelione had faced opposition from former council member and Grand Hampton resident Joseph Caetano, but he failed to qualify to be placed on the ballot. Although New Tampa’s district was decided by default, voters in our area still had the opportunity to vote for the three citywide council seats.

In New Tampa’s eight voting precincts (comprised of each city-based community; voters in Cross Creek, Live Oak Preserve and Pebble Creek live in unincorporated Hillsborough County and are not eligible to participate in municipal elections), of the 28,705 registered voters, only 2,240 ballots were cast, for a voter turnout of just 7.8 percent.

Not surprisingly, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn cruised to an easy re-election,as he ran unopposed, except for write-in candidate Jose Vazquez (whose name did not appear on the actual ballot). Across the city, Buckhorn gathered 24,607 votes for 95 percent of the vote. In New Tampa’s precincts, Buckhorn gathered 2,071 votes for 92 percent of our area’s vote.

“Four years ago, in the midst of the recession, it felt like we had more challenges than we did opportunities,” said Mayor Buckhorn. “Today, we know that our opportunities outweigh our challenges. From the New Tampa Nature Park to Tampa Fire Station 22, we have accomplished a lot in the New Tampa area, and the next four years promise to be just as exciting.”

Meanwhile, in citywide District 1, incumbent Mike Suarez was re-elected to four more years on the City Council, defeating challenger Susan Long by receiving 15,474 votes, or 62 percent of the city’s voters. In New Tamp’s precincts, Suarez received 1,234 votes for 55 percent of our area’s vote.

For the District 2 seat, former District 6 Council member Charlie Miranda was able to defeat Joseph Citro and Julie Jenkins with 15,268 votes, or 59 percent of the vote, while New Tampa cast 49 percent of its votes (or 1,116 ballots) in Miranda’s favor.

In District 3, Yvone Yolie Capin cruised to an easy victory over Paul Erni with 18,154 votes citywide, or 71 percent of the vote. In New Tampa, she received 1,474 votes, or 65 percent of our area’s vote. (Note-All city elections are non-partisan.)

For more information, please visit VoteHillsborough.org.