Janelle Irwin Taylor
Tampa City Council candidate Nicholas Glover is asking his supporters to help him pound the pavement to get out the vote.
“We know in order to win the community, we must be in the community and I’m excited to be running a truly authentic grassroots campaign that thrives off of our hardworking volunteers,” Glover said in a Facebook video message. “I need you to join me and my team by knocking on doors and making phone calls to share my vision for this great city. Your support means everything to me.”
Glover posted the message Monday to coincide with the start of early voting in Tampa.
“We feel great heading into early voting,” Glover said. “Our message is clearly resonating with voters. They’re tired of the same broken promises from the same politicians every election year. We’re finally going to take the bold action to address the issues we face.”
The Glover campaign launches “days of action” every weekend to bring together supporters for canvassing and phone banking. Supporters also phone bank remotely from their homes calling voters all over the city.
The campaign trains volunteers on messaging and strategy before sending them into neighborhoods to get out the vote.
The campaign is also reaching voters through direct mail and digital communication. The campaign is touting itself as the only truly grassroots effort. Glover entered the race later than other candidates, but has mostly caught up in fundraising.
As of February 15, Glover raised more than $42,000 from local supporters. That’s still $13,000 less than Stephen Lytle and $80,000 less than John Dingfelder, but Dingfelder, a former Tampa City Council member, has loaned his campaign $50,000.
“We saw voters stand up where politicians have failed us for decades with the All for Transportation and Strengthen Our Schools referendums,” Glover added. “The same politicians who failed to bring transit, housing, and education solutions to Tampa are telling us ‘it’s not your turn’. We’re not asking for their permission and this isn’t a crown they get to pass down to their friends. Regular people are standing up and making their voices heard.”
Glover also faces Vibha Shevade in the four-way race for the citywide District 3 seat currently held by Yvonne Yolie Capin. Capin is leaving office due to term limits.
Election Day is March 5 with a runoff, if necessary, scheduled for April 23.
If elected, Glover would be the first African-American to hold that district.
