Mitch PerryThough political ideology rarely surfaces in your typical Tampa City Council meeting, the fact of the matter is the current seven-member board is represented exclusively by Democrats at the moment.
That may change in March, though, when the leading contender to succeed Charlie Miranda in the District 6 race is engineer Jackie Toledo, a registered Republican.
Toledo has a substantial fundraising lead in that contest. So far she’s raised $60,000-plus more than her two opponents, Guido Maniscalco and Tommy Castellano. And undoubtedly she’ll raise lots more at a fundraiser scheduled for January 22 at the South Tampa home of Guy and Debbie King.
Two Tampa Bay area state Republicans: Pinellas/Hillsborough state Sen. Jeff Brandes and Tampa state Rep. Dana Young, are listed as co-hosts of the event.
Toledo got another boost to her campaign this week when she became the only newcomer on the ballot this year to earn the endorsement from the West Central Florida Federation of Labor.
