Tampa City Council Citywide Candidates at a Glance

After making it through the qualifying period, candidates for Tampa City Council are truly off and running now. Election Day is March 1 — just weeks away — with early voting running from Feb. 19-26.

This article is part of a series of profiles on all the candidates affecting Seminole Heights Patch's coverage area.

Here is the third installment, Districts 1, 2, and 3, which are city-wide seats.

These are your candidates at a glance:

Distict 1

Rick Barcena
Age: 48
Professional experience:  Entrepreneur and restaurateur, real estate broker, chair of city’s code enforcement board
Personal information: married with two children
TOP ISSUES

• Statement: “As a small businessman, I’ve learned the chilling effect government can have on expansion – slow and cumbersome permitting processes, overzealous city inspectors and erroneous regulation. Government can’t create jobs, but it can help or hinder the private sector’s ability to do so. As we streamline government, we must be careful to keep our neighborhoods safe and livable.”

• “I will work with our next mayor to create an atmosphere in which existing businesses can thrive and new ones can grow. The challenges we face can only be overcome with new approaches. I’ll bring my business experience to the Tampa City Council and use it for you.”

Guido Maniscalco
Age: 26
Professional background: Works in his family’s jewelry store business
Personal info: single
TOP ISSUES

• Transportation:  Wants to revamp the city’s bus system by purchase pre-owned buses and hybrid vehicles; and increasing the frequency of bus service to make it a more attractive alternative for locals.

• Job creation:” I don’t believe that government to creates jobs, but it creates the opportunity and environment that is conducive to business.” Wants to speed up and streamline the process for business permits and new construction.

• City department budgets:  “As a team, I want to analyze the budget, tear it apart, and look at every single dollar to make sure it’s being spent efficiently. If we can save money, we can save jobs. “

• Homelessness: Wants a total ban on panhandling, rather than just at major intersections. After that, wants to look at city services to see what needs to be done to improve the homeless situation.

Tom Slaughter
(Did not provide information in time for publication.)

Curtis Stokes (current City Council member, District 3 at-large)    
Age: 42
Professional background: Banker of 18 years; City Council member, District 3
Personal info: Married 16 years , one son
TOP ISSUES

• Transportation: Stokes is a member of the HART line board. “I’m a strong supporter of light rail … we need to keep an alternative analysis going. Keep exploring and we need bus rapid transit, especially down Nebraska. That’s the route we picked that’s most beneficial; it has the highest ridership.  And obviously high speed rail we need.”

• Job creation: “We need to look at regulations that prevent businesses from moving to and expanding here. I think that we need to look at what the impediments are to growth and remove those. What I can’t do on the council is create jobs, but what I can do is create opportunity.”

• City department budgets: One thing I’d like to see us do is go to a multi-year budget like the county does. That way we wouldn’t be scrambling every year to balance our budget. … One thing I see is that the city may have to raise taxes to make its bond rating. Im against raising taxes. We should ask city staff to do more with less. I’m not a big proponent of raising taxes.”
• Homeless: “We’re trying to figure out if this is a homeless or an economic issue.” Stokes says if panhandling is banned, it would be prudent to put more money into some type of social service programming but which ones? “An all-out ban on panhandling is a bandaid on larger problem. Look at some way of ridding r streets of panhandling, but people are hungry. A lot of people say that’s not my issue but it’s all our issue.

Mike Suarez
Age: 46
Professional experience:  Independent Insurance Agent; previously was the Central Florida District Representative for U.S. Senator Bob Graham
Personal information: Married with three sons
TOP ISSUES

• Job creation: "Attracting new businesses is fine, but it is Tampa’s existing small businesses that really drives our economy right now." Says we should support them with a new city trust fund to finance loans to help them expand and create new jobs.

• Homelessness: Supports a ban on panhandling at this time. "The city is not equipped, either financially or structurally, to try and solve the problems associated with homelessness." Will ask all groups involved in providing to the homeless (churches, Homeless Coalition, Faith Café, etc.) for help with how to alleviate their basic needs for housing and food.

• Flooding: "Tampa’s flooded streets are legendary. Talk of a solution has gone on for too many years." Says it’s finally time to really fix the problem, no matter what it takes. Proposes we use as many abandoned or run-down apartment complexes, surplus city property, or locations where owners are delinquent in their property taxes to create “Stormwater Parks.” Runoff and flood water would be directed to these basins, 10-12 feet below current street level.

• Water bills:Will call for a workshop on the source of increased water bills for our citizens. He will also demand a review of customer service standards our water department is now using, changing them to reflect a more consumer-friendly approach.

• Responsiveness: Says city should be more responsive to citizens. H proposes a “Pothole Hotline,” where drivers can call, email or text the location of problems, and expect the city to respond promptly.

District 2

Susan W. Long
Age: 64
Professional background: Consultant; adjunct professor
Personal information: Divorced, two adult children
TOP ISSUES

• Transportation: "I think we need public transportation in Tampa. There’s no way for people who don’t own cars to get around city."

• Job creation: "No question that Tampa needs more jobs and higher- paying jobs. The only way you are going to get that in long run is to bring more businesses in Tampa,  and you’re not going to get that when you have a panhandler on every corner."
• Homelessness:  "I think we need to have a total ban on panhandling, not just arterior roads. It’s dangerous for me, for you for them, for children, and I think it damages Tampa’s ability to bring in new businesses."

• City budget: "It’s horrible and it’s going to be worse. ... We’re going to look at things that are painful like city employee salaries and benefits. I don’t know what we’re going to need money wise but we’re going to have to make some hard decisions because there just isn’t any money."

• Other:  "My background is in finance and statistics. I go into businesses that have financial problems and declining revenue and help provide solutions -- that’s what I do. I think I’d be more qualified than most (to help with the city’s financial woes)."

Mary Mulhern (current City Council member, District 2 at-large)
(Did not provide information in time for publication.)

Scott Strepina
Age: 32
Professional background: Accounting/finance
Personal information: married, oned child
TOP ISSUES

• Transportation: "Transportation needs to be addressed. Tampa continues to rank poorly across other cities in the US. For Tampa to be competitive transportation needs to be addressed. Ultimately the funding mechanism was voted down in November. I am encouraged to hear of a toned down transportation plan with a more regional perspective."

• Job Creation: "The city of Tampa's number one focus must be to offer an environment that will allow existing businesses to grow. In addition we must aggressively compete for new businesses."

• City Budget: "We need to begin a dialogue of privitization and consolidation of services with Hillsborough County. Pensions need to be addressed and a dialogue of a 401K or something similar needs to be discussed for new recruits for the police and firefighters as well as the city's general employees."

• Homelessness: "We need to divert the homeless which are panhandling to resources available within the city (Trinity Cafe, Metropolitan Ministries). I support an outright ban similar to St. Pete. Panhandling is a symptom of a much larger problem (the economy). We need to roll out short term measures as well as long range plans to strengthen Tampa's economy."

District 3

Yvonne Yolie Capin (current City Council member, District 4)
Age: Not provided
Professional experience: self-employed business owner
Personal information: Married, one daughter
TOP ISSUES

• Safe and prosperous neighborhoods: "Neighborhoods are the building blocks of our the city. Safe prosperous and vibrant neighborhoods will attract new business and high paying jobs to Tampa. Public and private efforts have helped in the transformation of Downtown, South Tampa, Ybor City, Westshore, East Tampa and Seminole Heights. The City of Tampa should continue to enhance our neighborhoods through citizen participation and private and public investment. And we should also increase our focus in the North Tampa/Sulphur Springs and West Tampa area."

• Leadership: "Tampa is the hub and Tampa Bay’s largest city and must reclaim its legacy as the political, cultural, educational and economic leader in the Central Florida super-region."

• Transportation:  "We must start anew to develop a plan to tie the rapid transit train to Orlando with local connector lines. A first priority should be a seamless connection to the rapid transit train from the airport and USF. We can do this by funding the commuter rail system and in the case of the airport look for Federal moneys to extend the rapid transit line to Tampa International airport as is planned for Miami International airport, while simultaneously pursuing a light rail connection in the event Federal money may no longer be available. We should also pursue state funds for the project like our neighbors in Orlando."

• Seaport/Airport: "Tampa’s economic well being relies on industry, services, tourism and trade. And a key element to a thriving economy is a world class transportation system. We are part of the interstate system, and have been selected to spearhead what will be a national network of high speed trains. The Panama Canal is scheduled to be widened to accommodate today’s bigger ships and Tampa is the nearest full-service U.S. port to the Panama Canal. The Tampa Port authority is planning and preparing for the increase in shipping to our port. Council shall continue to support this effort. We have one of the best airports in the world. A connection to the high speed train will increase traffic to Tampa International Airport and as a result increase the number of visitors and businesspersons to Tampa. Trade and tourism are clean, profitable industries and Tampa is well placed to exploit the increase in traffic to its fullest. And we should."

• Water supply: "The recent threat to develop Cone Ranch in Northeast Hillsborough County brought to light the risks to Tampa’s water supply. Water must be allowed to flow freely between the Green Swamp, in Northwest Polk County, and the Hillsborough River. The Green Swamp is the primary source of water for the Hillsborough River and an important recharge area for the aquifer. Disrupting this flow will be catastrophic to Tampa. The land there must be protected, preserved and kept free of development."

Michael Ciftci 
Age: 27
Professional experience: Founding partner of utility efficiency consulting firm
Personal information: Single, but in a committed relationship
TOP ISSUES

• "My number one priority as a City Council member will be to reignite our economy with a three-point plan: First, I will be Tampa’s best salesman. We must aggressively pursue and court potential companies and employers to Tampa. Our city has every competitive advantage a major city could dream of.  To create new jobs we must ensure that Tampa’s regulatory environment is as nurturing as possible for the business community."

• "Second, I will work to develop Tampa into a world leader in renewable energy and sustainable technology manufacturing. I will work with the Florida Legislature to create the incentives that will allow these industries of the future to blossom in Tampa."

• "Third, I will make my City Council Office District 3 the customer service desk for our constituents and small business community so that Tampa’s government works for us. Our job creators should spend their time working – not wasting their time at City Hall. And our constituents should have a City Hall that cares about them – like on this water bill issue. The city’s water department is a case study in how not to run a municipal government agency. We will ensure that our constituents, City Hall’s customers, feel attended to, listened to, and cared about!"

Chris Hart
(Did not provide information in time for publication.)

Seth Nelson
Age: 40
Professional background: Law
Personal information: Divorced, one son
TOP ISSUES:

• Transportation:  "Disappointed that the transportation referendum didn’t pass, but understand that it had to go against strong headwinds.  … I served on advisory panel for the MPO and theone thing everyone agrees on is that we have a problem."

• Job creation: "First and foremost, the city needs to strive to make it a much more business-friendly environment (permitting process needs to be quicker, make the attitude less adversarial, come together with public and private partnerships. Something we can all do is to support our locally owned businesses. If you spend 10 percent of your disposable income on locally owned businesses, the city revenue can increase by 30 percent."

• City department budgets:  "Main thing we can do is stop talking about spending money and start talking about investing money."

• Homelessness: "If we truly want to help our homeless neighbors we need to stop defunding 501c3s. We need to help get city funds to organizations that offer professional, evidence-based programs that truly show we can help with homeless, alcoholism, mental health issues and job training."

Jason W. Wilson
Age: 32
Professional Background: Incoming associate research director and attending emergency medicine physician at Tampa General Hospital, chief resident of emergency medicine 2010-2011
Personal information: Married, one son
TOP ISSUES

• Transportation: "Tampa must implement a coherent plan for transportation in order to not just compete but lead in the 21st century. The recent "no" vote on a taxed based initiative only demonstrates that voters are not ready to take sole burden of financing the project. However, this is not a rejection of a plan for improved transportation. We must work with TBARTA and MPO to actually implement the vision they have painted for a regionalized transportation system with multiple modes of transit. This should include out of the box thinking when it comes to financing such an initiative -- including multi-county support. It is not clear what type of transportation mode we will select but we must sit down and consider all possibilities. We can not, however, do nothing while we think about the future. At present, we can begin a cultural shift that moves our community to a mixed use model and an openness to mass transit. Specifically, I would like to implement the BPAC proposals and work further with SWFBUD to make our roads safe for bicycle commuters. Furthermore, I would like to work with HART to ensure that buses become an option for all Tampa citizens -- not just a mode of transportation for the 'other.'"
• Job Creation: "If the city can not 'create jobs', we can certainly create opportunities for jobs. We must also work hard to keep the jobs we have. Let me explain: The city must find opportunities to implement job creation. This can be done through private-public partnerships, branding, and company recruitment. Recently, the current city council members missed a great opportunity to form a private-public partnership with local health care workers. The rising costs of health care benefits for city workers necessitated exploring new and creative options to reduce costs. When the City of Tampa selected a third party company to come in and build their own health care clinics (outside of the city) with taxpayer dollars, we failed to support the clinics that are already here in Tampa. Instead of giving city taxpayer money to a company in another state to build clinics in another jurisdiction, those dollars could have stayed here and helped physicians expand clinic hours and patient loads leading to increased job opportunities for ancillary staff."
• Budget: "The municipal budget is going to be a challenge for the next city council and Mayor. However, there are opportunities in the budget to make changes that will help in the short term and in the future. The pension liability in our city budget must be closely examined. This does not mean that we need to cut benefits to our hard working police and fire department employees. Instead, we must continue to reward their hard work while making the city liability more predictable. Instead of tying surplus years in the pension to the budget - allowing the city to use that surplus - we should put that money into a reserve fund for lean times."
• Equality and Fair Neighborhood Representation: "I believe strongly that all of the neighborhoods in the city-wide district 3 must be fairly represented, from Port Tampa to New Tampa. This means growing appropriate businesses in different areas and getting out of the way when there is an opportunity that is the right thing at the right place at the right time for a neighborhood. Equality also extends to the personal level and our city must protect and represent all forms of family and types of loving relationships -- whether those be between a man and a woman, same sex or transgender. The city must strive for equality if we are going to be a leader in the 21st century."
• Public Safety: "Police and Fire do more than fight crime and put out flames in the City of Tampa. These men and women are also public servants of public safety and I want to be their partner on this council as I am their partner already in the ER setting. Emergency medicine physicians work naturally with police and fire as it is often an ER physician that serves as medical director of a fire department."
• Health Care and Pain Clinics: "Health care issues will continue to represent a large portion of government debate in the coming decades as we struggle to define whether or not health care is a civil right and how we will respond to the increasing proportion of health care expenditures in all budgets -- from the municipal to the federal."