Hillsborough County Government: Democrats Retain Control Amid Charter Changes
Unofficial results show Democrats securing a majority on the commission, while a passed amendment expands the board to nine seats and shifts elections to district-based races.
By Petra Murphy ·
Hillsborough County voters elected a Democratic majority to the County Commission on Tuesday, with all precincts reporting unofficial results. The shift follows a charter amendment that passed with 51.7% support, a measure that will restructure the local government for the first time in four decades.
The commission currently consists of seven members, but the new charter will expand the body to nine seats. Under the new rules, commissioners will be elected from specific geographic districts rather than on a countywide basis. This change means voters will select one representative for their area instead of voting for a majority of the board members. The amendment required a simple majority to pass and is set to take effect, with existing commissioners tasked with redrawing the new district lines.
In the contested countywide races, Democratic candidates secured decisive victories. In District 7, Aileen Rodriguez, a public affairs executive and former GOP U.S. Senate staffer, defeated incumbent Republican Commissioner Joshua Wostal. Rodriguez won with 56.2% of the vote, trailing by more than 10 points in the final count. She cited Wostal’s proposal to eliminate the county’s local healthcare plan for low-income residents as a key reason for her candidacy. Rodriguez celebrated the result in a social media post Tuesday night.
In District 5, Neil Manimala, a 36-year-old Democratic urologist, defeated Stacy Hahn, a Hillsborough school board member and Republican. Manimala received approximately 54.8% of the vote. Hahn had previously defeated incumbent Donna Cameron Cepeda in the August primary. Manimala campaigned on a platform to improve transportation and reform local politics, while Hahn focused on keeping taxes low and protecting quality of life.
Incumbents Harry Cohen and Gwen Myers retained their seats with strong margins. Cohen, a Democrat, defeated former state representative Jackie Toledo in District 1 with about 55.6% of the vote. His district includes downtown Tampa, South Tampa, West Tampa, and extends toward Town ‘N Country. Cohen stated his focus remained on public safety and completing projects related to the proposed Tampa Bay Rays stadium. Myers, a Democrat and former county employee, won District 3 against Republican Luiz Garcia with 72.4% of the vote. Her district covers East Tampa, Ybor City, and Progress Village.
The new board will face immediate financial challenges. Amendment 3, which increased homestead exemptions for homeowners, passed in the same election. This measure reduces property tax revenue, a primary source of funding for local government budgets. Hillsborough County has already forecast steep revenue losses as a result. The commission will also make final decisions regarding the Rays stadium deal, with the new lineup potentially influencing the terms of the remaining agreements.
