![\"Portrait](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Naya-Young-Photo-by-Ray-Roa.png\")
Naya Young at WMNF in Tampa, Florida on Oct. 17, 2025. Credit: Ray Roa \/ Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\nNaya Young at WMNF in Tampa, Florida on Oct. 17, 2025. Credit: Ray Roa \/ Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\n
One of Tampa\u2019s most crowded single-seat elections is finally over, and Naya Young<\/a> is headed for Tampa City Hall.<\/p>\n The graduate of Middleton High School, University of South Florida and Howard University defeated lifelong Tampa politico Thomas Scott in Tuesday\u2019s runoff<\/a> election. <\/p>\n Tampa\u2019s city charter (Sec. 8.21<\/a>) says, \u201cThe successful candidate shall take office immediately upon certification.\u201d\u00a0 A representative for the Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that their office will certify the election results on Friday, Oct. 31 at 2 p.m. Alan Clendenin, Tampa City Council Chairman, told CL that Young will be sworn at city council chambers on Friday, Oct. 31 after the SOE certifies the results.<\/p>\n Young\u2019s victory comes 141 days after the death of Councilwoman Gwen Henderson<\/a>, whose passing triggered the special election.<\/p>\n The race, at one point, included 13 official candidates, plus one write-in<\/a>.<\/p>\n In last month\u2019s primary, Young, a 33-year-old grassroots activist and former Executive Director of the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association, finished in second place with 13.29% of the vote.\u00a0<\/p>\n With 26 of 28 precincts reporting, about half an hour after polls closed on Tuesday, she had earned 3,053 votes (61%). Scott had 1,963 votes (39%).<\/p>\n Scott\u2019s loss ends his bid for a return to city council where he served from 2007-2011. He also served as a Hillsborough County Commissioner from 1996-2006, but had not won an election since beating the late Frank Reddick for the same District 5 seat in 2007.<\/p>\n Young has never held elected office, and her victory comes despite a huge fundraising gap<\/a>.<\/p>\n As previously reported, Scott\u2019s campaign raised a total of $62,695, while Young\u2019s only brought in $26,643. Despite the smaller dollar figure, Young had 201 individual donations while Scott had only 138.<\/p>\n Scott\u2019s donations came largely from developers and contractors who donated roughly 57% of his campaign cash. His largest donors also found ways to skirt contribution limits by donating through PACs.<\/p>\n For Young, development-related interests donated just $2,406 (about 9%); her highest category of contributors was educators, who donated a combined $4,508 (about 17%).<\/p>\n 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 this reporter <\/a>that throughout his political life, \u201cdevelopers, realtors, ordinary people,\u201d have given to his campaigns because of his leadership, experience and integrity.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople are supporting me because they believe Tom Scott is reasonable, is fair, and is a person who will listen to everybody and then make a prudent decision for the community,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, who donated to Scott\u2019s campaign and is likely to run for a third term, was asked about the fundraising gaps between the candidates and told CL that businesses \u201ccrave Rev. Scott\u2019s calm and stable presence.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked about her lower fundraising total, Young called her haul a \u201csmall but mighty number,\u201d adding that her campaign has been able to get a lot done with the donations.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s just a true testament to people in the city and individuals who really just believe in wanting something new, wanting a fresh perspective\u2014not wanting to continue going on like politics as usual,\u201d Young said. \u201cWe need something new in the city, and I\u2019m proud of that number.\u201d<\/p>\n This is a developing post.<\/p>\n Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us:\u00a0Google News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0NewsBreak<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Reddit<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Facebook\u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0BlueSky<\/a><\/p>\n This article appears in Oct. 23 \u2013 29, 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n \t