Thomas Scott (L) and Naya Young at WMNF in Tampa, Florida on Oct. 17, 2025. Credit: Ray Roa / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
By the time Tampa’s new District 5 councilperson is sworn in, five months will have passed since the unexpected death of Councilwoman Gwen Henderson. Both Thomas Scott and Naya Young—who emerged from a crowded election last month—admit that they’ve been on the trail for a long time.
“It’s been quite, quite busy, but I’ve enjoyed it,” Scott told WMNF-Tampa last Friday. Young echoed that sentiment, adding that, “Between the forums and the meetings and canvassing and talking to people, I’ve definitely just enjoyed the journey and the experience.”
Scott, 72, told the community radio station that he doesn’t know whether he’d run for re-election if he wins the seat, saying he’s focused on the campaign and the next year-and-change in office. Young, 33, was more committal.
“I would definitely want to run again, even though it is a short amount of time. We can get in and really start some conversations and really do some good work in the 15 months, and then have another whole term so we can really, really start to move this ball,” Young—who has an undergraduate degree in culture and media communication from the University of South Florida and a master’s degree in political science from Howard University—added.
Both candidates would bring care and attention to a seat that’s been vacant for far too long, but Young offers a chance to write a new chapter instead of living in the past.
Scott, a familiar face in city politics for nearly five decades, is running on experience. He served 10 years on Hillsborough County Commission, including a long run as chairman. Scott also previously served on the Tampa City Council from 2007-2011. Young is just 33 years old, but got her start in politics as a teenager when she canvassed for former Democratic Sen. James Hargrett and then former Rep. Betty Reed.
Her past nonprofit work as Executive Director of Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association has exposed her not just to the realities of young people, but the struggles of their parents. “I realized in my nonprofit seat, I couldn’t necessarily change policy or condition. My families were still going home to some of the same situations, whether it be housing, whether it be transportation, or finding a good, stable job. And so that’s why I’m running,” Young told WMNF.
Less than 6,000 voters in District 5 went to the ballot box in last month’s election—with the possibility of even lower turnout for the runoff—but interest in the race has been citywide, especially from a donor standpoint.
According to data from Hillsborough’s Supervisor of Elections, Scott’s campaign raised a total of $62,695, while Young’s only brought in $26,643. Despite the smaller dollar figure, Young had 201 individual donations while Scott had only 138.
Young’s highest category of contributors is educators, who donated a combined $4,508 (about 17%), but Scott was favored by developers and contractors. At least $36,000 (about 57%) of Scott’s funding comes from those sorted into the real estate, developer, or construction categories; for Young, that figure is $2,406 (about 9%).
As residents get priced out of homes and rentals while development booms around them, Scott was asked to tell voters why they should trust him. He told WMNF that throughout his political life, “developers, realtors, ordinary people,” have given to his campaigns because of his leadership, experience and integrity.
“People are supporting me because they believe Tom Scott is is reasonable, is fair, and is a person who will listen to everybody and then make a prudent decision for the community,” he added.
Former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, who donated to Scott’s campaign and is likely to run for a third term, was asked about the fundraising gaps between the candidates and told CL that businesses “crave Rev. Scott’s calm and stable presence.”
Scott’s donors also found ways to skirt contribution limits. Three PACs—Realtors Political Action Committee, Realtors Political Activity Committee, and Realtors Political Advocacy Committee—donated a total of $6,000.Those PACs are registered to controversial Florida attorney Emmett Mitchell IV, who the Palm Beach Post called the engineer of a year 2000 Florida felons list. “African American leaders said [the list] purged thousands of eligible blacks from voter rolls in the state and helped swing [the 2000 presidential] election to the GOP,” the paper added.
John Dingfelder, a former Tampa City Councilman and public affairs program host at WMNF said that candidates don’t always know who’s donating to them. Scott told the station that he had no idea who Mitchell was, adding that he’s always been, “an elected official who always fought hard for people of color.”
Asked about her lower fundraising total, Young called her haul a “small but mighty number,” adding that her campaign has been able to get a lot done with the donations.
“I think it’s just a true testament to people in the city and individuals who really just believe in wanting something new, wanting a fresh perspective—not wanting to continue going on like politics as usual,” Young said. “We need something new in the city, and I’m proud of that number.”
Like his war chest, Scott’s list of endorsements is loaded. The Suncoast Tampa Association of Realtors has obviously come out in favor of Scott. Sheriff Chad Chronister, who’s currently embroiled in fallout from an academic cheating scandal in his department, has endorsed the former elected official, along with attorney Joseph Probasco, and more than a dozen religious leaders. Unions including the ATU, police union and AFL-CIO have come out in favor of Scott along with the Florida Sentinel Bulletin Newspaper.
Ana Cruz—partner of Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, and managing partner for one of the country’s most powerful lobbying firms Ballard Partners—donated to Scott’s campaign and so did Cruz’s mother, former State Senator Janet Cruz Rifkin.
Young’s endorsement list isn’t as long as Scott, but she earned an endorsement from the Florida Rising advocacy group in the first round of voting.
“Throughout her career, Naya has remained committed to centering youth and community voices, creating spaces for meaningful dialogue, and ensuring that children, families, and communities are connected to the resources and opportunities needed for success,” the group, which donated $1,000 to her campaign, wrote. “She knows firsthand the challenges that our communities are facing. When elected, she will ensure that the voices and needs of District 5 are heard at City Council.”
She’s also endorsed by former State Senator and Representative Les Miller, who also served as Hillsborough County Commission Chairman. Ruth’s List has come out for Young, along with Hillsborough County’s LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus.
The latter is no surprise considering Scott’s 2005 county commission vote to ban Hillsborough from acknowledging or promoting gay pride events. Scott said his vote and the issue was related to funding, and not discrimination; Politifact rated that argument “False.” Four years later, Scott—the longtime pastor at 34th Street Church of God—did vote in favor of Tampa expanding anti-discrimination laws to include transgendered individuals, after a string of citizens, including other Black religious leaders, invoked the bible and scripture as reasons why the city council should reject the amendment.
“I believe love covers multitudes,” Scott said at the time, “this is about those who have made a decision and changed their gender and that they should not be discriminated against.”
Young has also earned the vote of fellow candidates in the race, including Crowbar owner and business leader Tom DeGeorge. In the days ahead of the first round of voting, another candidate, Ash Dudney, took the unusual step of asking his own supporters to vote for his opponent.
“While many candidates have their mind in the right place, and many have their heart in the right place—it is of my personal opinion and assessment that only Naya Young exhibits both qualities of heart & mind driving her to represent this community,” Dudney wrote. “Her passion has been palpable, her energy is undeniable, and her quick-witted intelligence is clear. If you want somebody who will fight for those that need it most, is willing to seek counsel from those with more storied experience, and will offer a breath of new life on the City Council dais, I believe the representative you want is Naya Young.”
Thomas Scott undoubtedly cares about the district and city at large. He’s demonstrated an ability to change his views on certain issues. But how many times will we ask a new generation of leadership to wait their turn? Naya Young is ready to serve, and she’s surrounded by a family and community that’s ready to not only pitch in, but make their voices heard whether they agree with her or not.
Tampa has an opportunity to put a familiar face back on the dais, but it’s time for this city to look forward. We trust Naya Young’s vision to do just that.
The Oct. 23, 2025 cover of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. Credit: Illustration by Bob Whitmore / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
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This article appears in Oct. 16 – 22, 2025.
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