Incumbent Neale: ‘Temple Terrace Couldn’t Lose’

Mary Jane Neale wasn’t going to let newcomers onto the Temple Terrace City Council without a fight.

“I couldn't let them all just walk in,” she said.

In the end, Neale, who has served on the council since 2008, lost her re-election bid to Grant Rimbey and Eddie Vance.

Rimbey, a community activist and project manager at an architecture firm, received 5,313 votes, or 36.19 percent. Vance, a regional vice president for Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union and president of the King High School PTSA received 4,860 votes, or 33.10 percent. Neale was left with 4,508 votes, which added up to 30.71 percent. A total of 14,681 votes were cast in the race, according to the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Election Office.

“I’m more excited than anything,” said Rimbey. “Now the pressure’s on.”

He said he the election results surprised him. He said he didn’t want to think about winning during the campaign because he wanted to keep working all the way to the end.

He said he’s ready to begin working.

“I look forward to getting in there and getting started,” he said.

Vance also said he was excited after learning of the results. He had a watch party at Shamrock’s Ale House for family, friends and supporters.

“Everybody started cheering,” he said. “It felt like a release in a sense, but excitement to move forward.”

Like Rimbey, Vance said he’s ready to take his seat on the City Council.

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“I want to see what we can do to get the downtown redevelopment moving forward, and I want to make sure schools are a main focus,” he said.

Neale said she would remain active in the community. Leaving the council will give her more time to focus on the organizations that she’s heavily involved with, such as the GFWC Temple Terrace Woman’s Club and the Temple Terrace Arts Council. She said she’d like to be on the Temple Terrace Library Board.

“I’m happy they’re good guys,” Neale said of Rimbey and Vance. “Temple Terrace couldn’t lose.”