Mike Suarez taking his first TV ad to Tampa’s neighborhoods

Tampa City Councilmember Mike Suarez took his message to the television airwaves Saturday for the first time since running for Mayor.

Suarez’s neighborhood-centric 15-second spot shows Tampa residents waving his signs from yards throughout Tampa’s diverse neighborhoods. There are people in front of expensive homes in swank neighborhoods and those in front of small bungalows in east and west Tampa.

“Every unique city has great neighborhoods especially because of the people who live there,” Suarez says in the ad, before shifting toward his campaign priorities.

“You deserve neighborhoods where you feel safe, where transportation provides freedom and where city service exceed your expectations. As your mayor we will become a city where every neighborhood is Tampa.”

The ad ends with Suarez sitting on a patio with his mom, Mary Suarez.

Suarez dropped about $10,000 on the ad, which started running Saturday and will continue through February 3. Suarez bought 650 spots that will air on various channels in Spectrum’s Central Hillsborough Market.

Suarez isn’t the only candidate taking to the airwaves this week.

Another Jane Castor ad launched Monday morning highlighting her 31- career in law enforcement including her final three as Tampa’s first female chief of police.

Former Hillsborough County Commissioner Ed Turanchik will launch a television ad campaign Tuesday that will run through February 4. That $13,000 buy will air 450 spots on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and Bay News 9.

Turanchik hasn’t released details of his ad, but based on his campaign talking points, it’s likely to center on transportation issues.

The three are running in a heated 7-way race to replace Bob Buckhorn who is leaving office due to term limits.

Retired businessman and philanthropist David Straz has been running television ads for months already. Small business consultant Topher Morrison hasn’t run any television spots, but regularly posts 60-minute videos on social media highlighting various policy ideas he’d consider if elected.

Tampa City Council member Harry Cohen and retired Judge Dick Greco Jr. are also running.

The seven candidates face off March 5 with the top two vote-getters heading to a runoff election April 23.