4 Tampa City Council Races To Go To Runoffs Election April 25

TAMPA, FL — Because the apparent victors of four Tampa City Council seats didn't receive a majority of the vote in the Tampa municipal elections on Tuesday, Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer said those races will move to a runoff election April 25.

"In the city of Tampa municipal elections, city council and mayoral candidates must receive a majority of the votes or they move on to a runoff. Based on the unofficial results, that will be the case in the races for City Council District 1, District 2, District 3 and District 6," Latimer said.

A "majority vote" constitutes more than 50 percent of votes cast, said Gerri Kramer, communications director of the supervisor of elections office.

Therefore, the District 1 at-large seat now held by council chairman Joseph Citro, the District 2 at-large seat held by Guido Maniscalco, the District 3 at-large seat held by Lynn Hurtak and the District 6 seat held by Charlie Miranda may need to go to a runoff election between the two candidates receiving the most votes in compliance with Tampa's charter.

"The canvassing board meets this evening at 5 p.m. to update and certify the unofficial results, and tomorrow to certify official results," Kramer said. "There will be an update to the results this evening, so nothing is official yet."

The meeting is open to the public at the Hillsborough County Elections Service Center, 2514 N Falkenburg Road, Tampa.

District 1 At-Large Council Seat Results

• Sonja P. Brookins 22.47 percent, 6,921 votes
• Joseph Citro 20.1 percent, 6,191 votes
• Alan Clendenin 40.33 percent, 12,424 votes
• Chase Harrison 17.10 percent, 5,267 votes

District 2 At Large Council Seat Results

• Michael Derewenko 6.71 percent, 2,064 votes
• Robin Lockett 24.77 percent, 7,618 votes
• Guido Maniscalco 46.98 percent, 14,450 votes
• Mike Suarez 21.54 percent, 6,625 votes

District 3 At-Large Council Seat Results

• K.J. Allen 5.24 percent, 1,648 votes
• Janet Cruz 38.76 percent, 12,182 votes
• George "TheHunted" Feshev 9.54 percent, 2,999
• Lynn Hurtak 42.52 percent, 13,362 votes
• Jose Vazquez 3.94 percent, 1,237

District 6 Council Seat Results

• Tyler Barrett 7.75 percent, 632 votes
• Rick Fifer 12.03 percent, 981 votes
• Charlie Miranda 49.39 percent, 4,028 votes
• Nicole Payne 9.23 percent, 753 votes
• Hoyt Prindle 21.59 percent, 1,761 votes

The District 5 city council race is also up in the air.

Incumbent Orlando L. Gudes received 48.86 percent of the votes while his opponent, Gwendolyn "Gwen" Henderson, received 50.31 percent.

Under Florida law, an automatic machine recount is necessary when the margin is less than 0.5 percent and a manual recount is required if the margin is 0.25 percent.

In the District 5 race, the margin is 1.45 percent. If the canvassing board decides a recount is needed, Kramer said it will begin Friday at 8 a.m.

The District 4 council seat election will be certified Thursday night. Incumbent Bill Carlson was victorious over millionaire developer Blake Casper with 59.3o percent, or 8,114 votes, to Casper's 40.70 percent, or 5,569 votes.

District 7 council seat incumbent Luis Viera ran unopposed.

Of Tampa's 240,586 registered voters, only 13.64 percent (32,815 voters) voted in the municipal election that included the race for Tampa mayor, six of seven Tampa City Council seats and four Tampa charter amendments. These results include residents who voted early, voted by mail and voted on election day.

Related:

• Tampa Mayor Re-Elected; 2 Incumbent Council Members Ousted
• Despite Controversies, Tampa Mayor Expected To See Easy Re-Election
• Carlson, Hurtak Will Fight To Retain Tampa City Council Seats

If a runoff election is deemed necessary the canvassing board Thursday night, residents who wish to vote and haven't yet registered this year can register by March 27.

Early voting for the runoff will be scheduled from April 17 to 23.