Closing the gap in Tampa mayor's race

It's difficult to engage younger voters in this year's Tampa mayoral election when all five candidates are beyond the half-century mark in age. They need to see beyond that.

So says David Singer, senior counsel at Holland & Knight in Tampa who is organizing a candidate's forum Wednesday night on behalf of several young professionals groups, including College Leadership Florida, Connect Florida and Emerge Tampa Bay.

“Our leaders will shape the future of our city, regardless of their age,” Singer tells Coffee Talk. “The candidates need to understand that young professionals now will be leaders in the future.”

Those attending the forum are likely to raise spirited questions on topics of importance to younger voters, such as quality of life, job creation, transportation, urban development, and attracting talent and investment, Singer says. This election could determine whether the younger demographic makes Tampa its home or takes its talents to other cities, he adds.

“Being a resident of Tampa is a choice,” says Singer, who managed the Moving Hillsborough Forward transit campaign in last November's election. “It's important to understand what kind of city we will inherit.”

The forum is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. at the Beck Building, 220 W. Seventh Ave., moderated by Singer and Jess Johnson of Vertical Integration. Candidates will give opening and closings statements, and will also be allowed to distribute information.

Tampa will elect its new mayor and city council March 1. It should be noted that only 3% of registered voters under age 30 in Tampa participated in the 2007 city election.