TAMPA — Early voting for the Tampa City Council District 5 special election ends Sunday, Sept. 7, with Election Day set for Tuesday, Sept. 9.

Fourteen candidates are vying for the seat once held by the late Gwendolyn Henderson, who passed away this past June.

“She was a dedicated activist for the community, and there will likely be big shoes to fill by those who wish to advance East Tampa’s future,” expressed Anthony Gilbert of East Tampa.

Thirteen candidates are listed on the ballot, and one is a write-in candidate.

District 5 spans downtown, Ybor City, East Tampa, Tampa Heights, and a small portion of West Tampa.

More than 45,000 voters are eligible to cast a ballot, but so far, Hillsborough County voter records show only about 3,000 have voted.

News Channel 8 interviewed voters like Michelle Monroe, who highlighted the importance of voting in her family: “Voting holds significant value as a right, and it is not something we take for granted,” she said.

Monroe noted though the number of candidates is high, it shows the level of care there is for the neighborhood.

“You must do your research, which illustrates how many people unite and truly care about their communities,” she noted.

Monroe said deterring crime and the well-being of children are her priorities.

“The primary concerns are neighborhoods, of course, crime, and ensuring our kids’ safety,” she stated. “Right now, schools are essential, and it’s crucial we provide a safe path to school and ensure children feel secure on their way there.”

Gilbert told 8 On Your Side he was born and raised in East Tampa and has seen years of neglect.

“Regarding recreational facilities, road repair, street safety, and overall attention, district five of East Tampa has been overlooked for years,” Gilbert stated.

He added that the lack of options leaves the youth with few positive choices.

“There’s nothing for them to aspire to or take pride in. There’s no park or pool to boast about,” Gilbert added. “This lack of facilities leads them to seek out other recreational activities, which could unfortunately lead to trouble,” he commented.

Gilbert said it will be worthwhile for the district to have a candidate who is from the district itself.

“You can know how long this has been missing, how long that’s been missing,” he said. “You can tell what’s been neglected because you’ve seen it over the years.”

Gilbert also stressed the impact of local elections and the need for a greater turnout, specifically from the Black population of the district.

“These small elections is what dedicates the dollars that we’re getting here to help us, you know, help fix the roads, help start programs, help kids stay out of trouble,” he said. “We’ll turn out to go to a football game, but we won’t turn out to vote and we really have to change that because the Black vote does matter,” he said.

According to voter records, nearly 20,000 Black people are eligible to vote in the district, which is greater than any other race or ethnicity across the district.

Both Democrats and Republicans say they are concerned about low turnout in this off-year election.

With so many candidates in the race, officials say they expect the contest will likely head to a runoff next month.

Eligible voters may cast their ballot early at any of the four polling sites listed below:

• C Blythe Andrews, Jr. Public Library
• Fred B. Karl County Center
• Robert L. Gilder Elections Service Center
• West Tampa Branch Library

Polls reopen at 10 a.m. Sunday and close at 6 p.m.