Kimberly Overman says Tampa City Council seat not in plans

TAMPA — She’s heard the rumors that she’ll run for Tampa City Council.

“I’ve gotten several calls,” said Hillsborough County Commissioner Kimberly Overman, who lost her reelection bid last week.

But Overman, who lives in Guido Maniscalco’s district in Seminole Heights, said she isn’t planning to jump into the fray for the city elections in March.

“I’ve been very clear, I’m not done,” Overman told the Tampa Bay Times on Friday morning. “But my next cycle is 2024 or 2026.”

Overman spoke highly of Hoyt Prindle III, a lawyer who has already announced for Maniscalco’s seat.

“He’s talented and thoughtful. He’s awesome,” Overman said of Prindle.

Overman also said she wasn’t considering a run for a citywide council seat. All seven seats are up in March. Luis Viera, Orlando Gudes and Maniscalco have filed for reelection with Maniscalco running for the District 2 citywide seat. Lynn Hurtak, appointed in March after council member John Dingfelder resigned, is running to be elected to a full four-year term for the District 3 citywide seat. Chairperson Joseph Citro is running for reelection in District 1, the other citywide post.

Charlie Miranda, who has served on council longer than anyone else in Tampa history, hasn’t announced his plans, as is his custom. He currently holds the District 2 seat. Bill Carlson, who represents South Tampa in District 4, also hasn’t filed for reelection yet.

State Sen. Janet Cruz, a Tampa Democrat who lost her reelection bid last week, threw her hat into the ring against Hurtak, Gwendolyn Henderson and Sonja Brookins, who have already filed.

And 2019 council battles have been rekindled. Jeffrey Rhodes, who narrowly lost to Gudes in the city’s only majority-minority District 5 race, is running again against Gudes. And local Democratic Party activist Alan Clendenin, who lost to Citro, is mounting another challenge against the current chairperson.

So far, no well-known candidates have emerged to challenge Mayor Jane Castor.

The filing deadline is Jan. 20 for the March 7 election. In races in which no candidate captures at least 50 percent of the vote, runoffs will take place on April 25.