Stanley Gloster has filed to run for the District 5 Tampa City Council seat in 2011. Gloster, 40, is a driver for FedEx who was active in the fight against a tent city for the homeless proposed by Catholic Charities in Hillsborough County. He also has recently become active in the Hillsborough County Republican Party, serving as vice president of the county's African-American Republican Party. He has entered a nonpartisan race, but if no other Republican files to run for the seat, he'll probably get some significant support from the local party. According to his Facebook profile, some party regulars have already pledged to attend his first fundraiser Nov. 12, including party chairman Deborah Cox-Roush, Kelso Tanner and Mark Proctor.

This is Gloster's first run for public office. He said after living in East Tampa for 28 years, he felt like it was time to try to get involved in bringing some changes to the district. "I see more and more crime and less jobs coming to this area, and I don't see anybody trying to do anything to make the area better," he said. "We have nothing but retread politicians out there." Ouch! Tom Scott currently holds the District 5 seat. He was previously a County Commissioner and has filed to run for mayor. "I'm not trying to say anything about Thomas Scott," Gloster said. "He's a good guy."

Janet Zink, Times Staff Writer

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