{"id":346133,"date":"2026-07-20T15:59:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T15:59:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/346133\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T15:59:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T15:59:12","slug":"in-tampa-city-council-race-candice-cowen-already-has-endorsements-from-state-reps-and-school-board-members","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/346133\/","title":{"rendered":"In Tampa City Council race, Candice Cowen already has endorsements from state reps and school board members"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ACandace Cowen Credit: Campaign handout<\/p>\n

Since announcing her run for Tampa City Council last month, Candice Cowen is off to a significant start.<\/p>\n

The Tampa native running for District 3 leads in campaign donations, with $9,875 as of the last reporting period<\/a>, as well as earning endorsements from State Rep. Michele Rayner, State Rep. Dianne Hart and Hillsborough County School Board Chair Karen Perez.<\/p>\n

Lynn Hurtak holds the District 3 seat until May 1 of next year, as she runs for mayor of Tampa.\u00a0 So far, there are two other candidates<\/a> on the ballot in District 3 for the\u00a0 2027 City of Tampa Municipal Election: Garret Greco, grandson of former longtime Tampa Mayor Dick Greco, and marketing CEO Quinton F. Robinson.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Election Day<\/a> is March 2, 2027; early voting days are still to be determined. The deadline to register to vote is Feb. 1, 2027.<\/p>\n

Cowen works for the City of Tampa as a community development specialist and has a long track record of serving the Tampa Bay community.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Her platform focuses on affordable housing in the at-large Tampa district as the city faces a continuing growing population. Hillsborough County is estimated to increase by 397,000 new residents between 2025 and 2030, according to Plan Hillsborough<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to grow responsibly, so that means providing housing opportunities while protecting neighborhood character, and investing in infrastructure, preserving environmental resources and just ensuring that Tampa can grow, live, work, and thrive all together,\u201d Cowen said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to a report that tracks the Federal Poverty rate amongst households, ALICE<\/a>, 44% of Hillsborough households live under the threshold to afford basic needs.<\/p>\n

Before she asks for votes next year, Cowen points to an issue on the November ballot: Florida GOP-proposed Amendment 3, which would raise the homestead property tax exemption on non-school districts to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028.<\/p>\n

When asked how she would make up the loss of tax revenue, Cowen told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, she\u2019d lead council budget talks to \u201creallocate funds and acquire different funding.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s something that we definitely need to strategize through,\u201d Cowen said. \u201cI really do hope that we\u2019re able to educate residents to understand the impacts of that [amendment]. I\u2019m just trying to get everyone updated on what the impacts may look like, how that may impact their public safety, their public parks, and their access to different opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Experts estimate<\/a> that by 2027-2028, Hillsborough County will lose nearly $348 million in tax revenue and the entire state will lose nearly $5 billion in total homestead tax revenue, according to the Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research.<\/p>\n

Cowen\u2019s desire to run for public office stems from Tampa citizens supporting her in hard times. Before her daughter turned one, she was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer, Rhabdomyosarcoma. With the help of \u201cspiritual and financial\u201d support, her daughter went into remission, Cowen said..<\/p>\n

\u201cThe community just supported us and surrounded us, and people volunteered,\u201d Cowen said. \u201cIt was just an amazing time that just showed me what Tampa was truly about. It allowed me to focus on the healing of my daughter\u2026and to this day she\u2019s currently healed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pitch in to help make the Tampa Bay Journalism Project a success.<\/a><\/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

Recent Stories<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"In\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe city employee is focused on affordable housing and running against two other candidates for the District 3 seat.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Busch\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe 35,000 square-foot-space features lions from the Oklahoma City Zoo.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Photos:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tA third man was killed while fleeing agents in St. Augustine.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

This article appears in July 16 \u2013 22, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n

\t\t\t