Kelly Hayes
Tampa City Council member Luis Viera will be kicking off his re-election campaign this Wednesday at the Columbia Museum, where he’ll be hosted by several prominent local Democrats.
The campaign launch event will start at 6 p.m. at the Columbia Museum, 2029 East 7th Avenue. Viera will be hosted by former Sen. Betty Castor, who became the first woman elected to the Florida Cabinet, Sens. Janet Cruz and Darryl Rouson, as well as incoming House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell and Rep. Ben Diamond.
Hillsborough County Commissioners Harry Cohen, Gwen Myers and Mariella Smith are also part of Viera’s host committee.
The two-term Council member filed paperwork at the start of August to run in Tampa’s upcoming municipal election, set for March 7, 2023. All current Council seats will be up for election on that ballot, as members’ current terms expire April 30, 2023.
Viera was first elected after winning a Special Election in late 2016. On the Council, he’s been an advocate for tenants, those with disabilities and first responders. If re-elected, he plans to continue his work on disability-friendly parks and the city’s public safety master plan.
He also plans to continue fighting for tenant rights, including providing renters short-term relief and finding long-term solutions. Back in March, Viera successfully re-introduced a Tenant’s Bill of Rights measure, after promising to revive it when it failed a month prior.
Viera was elected to replace Council member Lisa Monteleone, who left her seat to run for state House in 2016. A lawyer by trade, did his undergraduate studies at the University of South Florida before attending Stetson School of Law. He served as Council Chair before passing the gavel to Guido Maniscalco and then Orlando Gudes.
Viera is so far the only candidate in the race for the District 7 seat.
