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Frank Reddick seeking re-election to Tampa City Council

 
Tampa City Council member Frank Reddick represents District 5 in east Tampa.
Tampa City Council member Frank Reddick represents District 5 in east Tampa.
Published July 3, 2014

TAMPA — Frank Reddick on Wednesday filed to run for re-election to the Tampa City Council seat for District 5 in east Tampa.

It is an area, Reddick said, whose residents have felt neglected for years.

"I want to continue to be that voice that helps bring positive change to District 5 and to the city of Tampa," Reddick said in a statement announcing his candidacy.

Reddick, 58, was appointed to represent District 5 in late 2006 but in an election four months later lost the seat to former Hillsborough County Commissioner Tom Scott. In 2011, he was elected to replace Scott, who left the seat to run for mayor.

On the council, Reddick has taken on causes in east Tampa that have sometimes put him at odds with Mayor Bob Buckhorn or his administration.

Last year, cutting the ribbon on a renovated and reopened Williams Park pool, Buckhorn said Reddick "fought for this pool for a long time" and gave him credit for "constantly keeping pressure on me and this administration" to budget the $1.3 million repair job after early indications that it might not happen.

Reddick said his accomplishments on the council also have included getting the property management company at Central Court Apartments to spend $2.5 million on improvements after hearing residents' concerns; calling for pedestrian safety projects on Hillsborough Avenue following a rash of fatal or serious accidents; successfully demanding the installation of a sidewalk and streetlight on N 43rd Street after a pregnant woman and her unborn son were killed while walking along the unlit road; and seeking a city ban on the sale of bath salts and synthetic marijuana.

In a second term, Reddick said he would pursue improvements to the 29th Street and 34th Street corridors, including the Rainbow Heights Community Center on 34th, and push for infrastructure, better street lighting and more economic opportunity.

"There is so much more that needs to be done," he said. "My goal is to be a strong advocate for my constituents."

Also in the race is retired Tampa police Sgt. Borthland Murray, 48, who filed to run in September. Murray has said he thinks he has a good grasp of what east Tampa residents want, including better street lights, safe parks and other public spaces, and has said that he would want to look at ways to cut city spending and a bureaucracy that he feels is top-heavy with management.

City elections take place in March.

Contact Richard Danielson at rdanielson@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3403. Follow @Danielson_Times.