Tampa’s District 5 has been in the spotlight all summer, and it’s about time. The circumstances are horrible (the district’s councilwoman, Gwen Henderson, passed in June), but there’s never been more attention on some of the most dynamic neighborhoods in all of Tampa.
The district stretches as far south as DeSoto Park in Palmetto Beach and north to the First Church of God within earshot of the roller coasters at Busch Gardens. It spans from the West Tampa Branch Library to the Grant Park neighborhood in East Tampa. Large swaths of the Heights neighborhoods, Ybor City, Wellswood, downtown, Water Street, and Davis Islands are all inside of it.
For the last two months, Tampa residents have heard from about a dozen candidates all hoping to fill the seat of the late Gwen Henderson. Even more hopefuls jumped into the race as the qualifying deadline came. All told, the roughly 44,000 voters in the district will choose between 13 candidates who made the ballot and one write-in.
There seems to be at least one candidate forum a day lately, where housing, budgets, policy, and politics have been discussed ad nauseum. There’ve been some big endorsements (and big fundraising hauls), too, but one thing finally got addressed last week during WMNF Tampa’s on-air forum.
Last Friday, this reporter asked 12 candidates what’s for dinner. More specifically, about their favorite thing to eat in the district. Because we need to judge candidates solely on what ends up on the table every night. Here are their responses, edited for brevity.
Early voting in the special election for Tampa City Council District 5 runs Sept. 4-7. Election Day is Tuesday, Sept. 9.
Albert Cooke “That’s easy—a Cuban sandwich,” the businessman and former member of Tampa’s police citizens review board, said. But where does Cooke get his? “La Segunda.” Credit: Photos by Dave Decker & via LaSegundaBakery/FacebookAriel Amirah Danley Danley, daughter of the late Gwen Henderson, said the best thing you can eat is on your grandmother’s table. “The matriarchs in my family definitely know how to take up space in the kitchen, so I’m gonna keep it at home,” she added. “I’m so happy that before my mother passed away, I was able to inherit some family recipes, and I’m looking forward to getting involved myself.” Credit: Photos by Dave Decker & via City of TampaAlison A. Hewitt Hewitt, one of the most experienced candidates in the field, is a third-generation Tampa resident and is obsessed with wings. She gets those on N 34th Street at Abella’s Sandwich Shop, but “if I need soul food, I’ll be at Mr. B’s on Nebraska.” Credit: Photos by Dave Decker & via Google MapsAudette Bruce Bruce runs communications for her church and lives near Lucky Tigre in West Tampa; she’s a disciple of the next-generation Filipino food dished out there by chef Julie Sainte Michelle Feliciano. “I’m also a big fan of Meacham Urban Farm and getting real quality food into our neighborhoods,” she add Credit: Photo by Dave Decker & via theluckytigre/InstagramCarroll “Carrie” West After judging multiple Cuban sandwich competitions, West said Tampa’s signature sandwich is his go-to. Pressed for a specific Cuban, West, a co-founder of Tampa Pride, couldn’t answer. Sorry to leave you in a pickle, dear reader. Credit: Photos by Ray Roa & via Elena Gordeichik/ShutterstockDarrell “Ash” Dudney In the current political climate, Dudney, a business owner and photographer who’s contributed work to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, said, “Whiskey, The Hub.” Credit: Photos by Dave Decker & Ray RoaElvis Piggott Pigott, a pastor who’s no stranger to a ballot, echoed Danley’s affinity for home cooking, but holds a special place in his belly for M&R Cafe Southern Cuisine on E Osborne Avenue. Credit: Photos by Dave Decker & M&R Cafe Southern Cuisine with flavor/FacebookJose N. Vazquez Figueroa A perennial candidate and business owner, Figueroa is the write-in candidate in the District 5 race and was pretty frank in his answer. “I’m Hispanic, so everybody’s thinking I love Hispanic food, but really it’s pasta,” he said. “But my favorite local restaurant is Salem’s.” Credit: Photos by Dave Decker and c/o Salem'sJuwana Colbert Colbert, a Realtor and star on Netflix’s “Selling Tampa,” admits that she does not cook. “I go to every business in District 5,” she said, “but a few of my favorites are Outside BBQ, I go to 7th+Grove, I go to Los Chapos. There’s a lot, but I like to support small businesses.” Credit: Photos by Dave Decker & 7thandGrove/FacebookNaya Young Young loves to eat, and she’s fond of a spot close to her former job as Executive Director of the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association. “I will say just Palm Avenue Sandwich Shop and La Segunda are my go-tos, and I can walk from work,” she said. Credit: Photos by Dave Decker & via Google MapsThomas DeGeorge Jr. The owner of Crowbar in Ybor City is a pescatarian and cooks at home a lot. “It’s hard to find good fish,” he told WMNF before copping to being a fan of the Versaggi family shrimp that shows up on the flat top of Jason “Clamaster” Rodriguez, who is a regular for parties on the Crowbar back patio. Credit: Photos by Dave Decker & Adrian O'FarrillThomas Scott Scott, who’s served constituents during past terms on city council and county commission is a soul food guy, specifically, at Mr. B’s on N Nebraska Avenue. Credit: Photos by Dave Decker & EatAtMrBs/FacebookJuwana Colbert at the Florida Rising forum in Tampa, Florida on Aug. 16, 2025. Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...
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