Gary Hartfield, a South Tampa entrepreneur inducted into the Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame in 2024, is weighing a bid for mayor.
Hartfield, owner of Serenity Village Insurance & Consulting, has launched a political committee, Innovate Tampa, chaired by Valerie H. Goddard.
“I’m looking at the mayor’s office because I believe Tampa is at a turning point,” Hartfield said. “Our city is growing fast, but we’ve got to make sure no one gets left behind.”
Hartfield, a Florida A&M University engineering graduate with an MBA from the University of West Florida, has led health care, insurance, education and real estate ventures. He also heads the All Hart Foundation and serves on boards for United Way Suncoast, the CEO Council of Tampa Bay, the St. Joseph’s-Baptist Health Board of Trustees and CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas.
He has also been involved in local transportation policy, serving on the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority and the Plan Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization.
Supporters say his leadership style and business background would translate to city government. “Gary represents the next generation of leaders we desperately need at the municipal, state and national levels,” said Hugh Campbell, founder of AC4S Technologies.
If he runs, Hartfield said he will focus on job creation, small business support, affordable housing and rising living costs, including property insurance.
