Mitch Perry
David Singer, the South Tampa-based land use attorney now running as a Democrat in the Florida House District 60 race, has received a nice boost to his campaign by getting the endorsement of all seven members of the Tampa City Council.
Singer is running against Republican Jackie Toledo in the race on Nov. 8. Toledo, a professional engineer and entrepreneur, narrowly defeated Rebecca Smith to capture the GOP nomination for the seat last week.
“Electing David Singer gives our city and our community a real partner in Tallahassee,” said Councilman Harry Cohen, who at one point flirted with the possibility of running for the seat himself. “In the years to come we will have to work together to solve some of our most pressing issues, and David will make sure that Tampa’s interests are effectively represented with a clear, intelligent, and thoughtful voice.”
“As a mother, grandmother and a citywide elected official, I feel that David represents what is right with our city,” said Councilwoman Yolie Capin. “He is pro-business, pro-transit, and will work to unite our city and state around common interests and shared values.”
“It is a great pleasure to endorse my friend, David Singer, for state representative District 60,” added Council Chair Mike Suarez. “As a small business owner and father of two little girls, he understands the challenges facing families today. His intelligence, business expertise and demeanor will be welcomed in the Legislature and he will be a great representative of our Tampa values.”
Council members Guido Maniscalco, Frank Reddick, Charlie Miranda and Lisa Montelione — all Democrats — also are backing Singer, according to the announcement he issued Wednesday evening.
“Tampa City Council members work hard for our community every day,” Singer said. “I am proud to earn these endorsements from this engaged, respected, and diverse group of leaders. We agreed Tampa needs Tallahassee leaders to step up and provide our community with an investment in a comprehensive transit system to ease traffic and provide commuters and residents more transportation options.”
Toledo nearly became a member of the council last year, losing an extremely close race to Maniscalco in a runoff election in the District 6 race. Though most members of the council said they wanted to be neutral in the local race, Cohen, Capin, Suarez and Reddick all penned a letter late in that campaign criticizing third-party attacks, after an anonymous mailer went out defending Toledo against “vicious” attacks and described her as an apolitical, unifying leader.
