Tampa Business Leader Gary Hartfield Explores Run for Mayor
TAMPA — Gary Hartfield says he is exploring the possibility of running for Mayor of Tampa. Hartfield, who was recently inducted into the Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame, is an entrepreneur and the owner of Serenity Village Insurance & Consulting in South Tampa.
“We need an innovator like Gary in Tampa,” said Valerie H. Goddard, who is named on Hartfield’s new political committee, Innovate Tampa. “We are excited to support a community leader who can help us build Tampa’s future together.”
“I’m looking at the Mayor’s office because I believe Tampa is at a turning point,” said Hartfield. “Our city is growing fast, but we’ve got to make sure no one gets left behind. I’ve built my life on creating opportunities through business, through service, and through community. I’m ready to bring that same spirit to City Hall.”
Hartfield heads the philanthropic All Hart Foundation and serves on the boards of several nonprofits, including United Way Suncoast and CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas. He’s also been active in transportation policy, serving on the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) and the Plan Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization (TPO).
Some residents have already voiced their support. “Gary represents the next generation of leaders we desperately need at the municipal, state and national levels,” said Hugh Campbell, a Tampa entrepreneur who founded AC4S Technologies. “I am supporting Gary for Mayor of Tampa – let’s go!”
“I have skills that brought me success in business,” said Hartfield. “Now, I want to apply those skills to the issues facing our city. Our community needs more jobs, greater support for small businesses, affordable housing solutions, and relief from the rising cost of living, including property insurance. These are big challenges, but together we can deliver real change for Tampa families.”
Hartfield joins former mayor Bob Buckhorn as candidates not officially in the race, but who are making it clear that they intend to run.
“It's probably the worst kept secret in Tampa,” said Buckhorn in June. “I'm not running for a redo. I'm not running for Bob Buckhorn 2.0. I'm running to help this city get to that next level, write its next chapters, and then I'm going home," he continued.
Other possible candidates include Tampa Councilmember Bill Carlson and Hillsborough Property Appraiser Bob Henriquez.
Currently, the only candidates officially filed for the next Tampa mayoral race are registered-Republican Julie Magill, who earned 9.9% in the 2024 School Board D1 election, and 24-year-old student Alan Henderson. Neither official candidate has reported more than $500 raised to date.