Bob Buckhorn endorses Lee Lowry for City Council District 4

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn is backing Lee Lowry in the Tampa City Council District 4 race, the campaign announced Monday.

Lowry became the third candidate in the race to replace Harry Cohen who is leaving office due to term limits and running for mayor.

District 4 covers South Tampa, Westshore and Davis Islands.

Lowry has worked with Buckhorn for several years serving as his appointee on the Citizens Review Board for the Tampa Police Department. The two have collaborated on issues surrounding human trafficking.

“I fully support Lee as she is passionate, capable, and exactly the type of candidate the City Council can use,” Buckhorn said. “It is also important to have a woman’s voice at the table, and she is the right leader to bring that perspective. I look forward to her success and I encourage others to support her in this endeavor.”

Lowry also serves on the Florida Statewide Council on Human Trafficking as an appointee of former Florida Gov. Rick Scott, and is the immediate past Chair of the State Public Affairs Committee of The Junior Leagues of Florida. 

She lives in South Tampa and works as the lead fundraiser for the Hillsborough Community College Foundation, which will prove to be a valuable skill in her political race

Lowry formerly served as the Director of Development and Communications at St. John’s Episcopal Church and Parish Day School, and spent several years as the President, CFO and COO of The Junior League of Tampa.

She is running to on a platform of improving city infrastructure, alleviating traffic congestion and increasing public safety.

She’s running against Tucker Hall President Bill Carlson and small business owner Sal Guagliardo. Carlson has raised nearly $70,000, while Guagliardo has raised more than $38,000. Lowry hasn’t posted any fundraising numbers yet.

The city of Tampa municipal election is March 5 with a runoff, if necessary, scheduled for April 23.