Ryan Ray
Tampa businesswoman Rebecca Smith snagged an endorsement in her race for House District 60 on Wednesday, courtesy of the Florida Architects’ Political Action Committee.
“FAPAC is honored to offer its support and endorsement of Rebecca Smith to become the District 60 Representative to the Florida State Legislature,” said Mickey Jacob, an AIA Florida member and past president of the national AIA.
“Architecture is one of the most highly regulated and complex professions. With over 30 years of experience in the construction industry, Rebecca has a deep understanding of this industry and will work to to raise the level of awareness of and make a difference for architects throughout the political process,” continued Jacob.
Smith, who founded building contract firm A.D. Morgan Corporation in 1989, is running against engineer Jackie Toledo in a GOP primary to replace House Majority Leader Dana Young, who is leaving the seat to run for state Senate. Toledo mounted a bid for Tampa City Council last year, falling short in a close race to Democrat Guido Maniscalo.
Democratic attorney David Singer is also running for HD 60, which leans Republican.
“I am humbled and grateful for the endorsement from an industry that is so important to our community. I look forward to representing the interests of District 60 residents in Tallahassee,” Smith said.
HD 60 includes all of affluent South Tampa, much of south Hillsborough County, and the rural-suburban Town N Country area.
Architecture and construction are key industries in Tampa, where the economy is based less on tourism than the nearby St. Petersburg and Sarasota areas or agriculture as it is to the east of Hillsborough.
