Hillsborough County Commissioner Harry Cohen is a quiet success in native politics who usually instructions respect even amongst his political foes.
His productiveness, whereas not all the time forward-facing, places Cohen constantly amongst contenders on this listing. He landed final yr at No. 23.
As a member of the minority occasion on the Fee, he’s identified for brokering compromises on native coverage and, when mandatory, working to tamp down extra excessive proposals. That’s as a result of, as considered one of simply two Democrats on the seven-member County Fee, Cohen should navigate the complexities of governing amid a GOP supermajority, a process that’s significantly difficult contemplating he as soon as served from the bulk.
“Harry Cohen is without doubt one of the best and intellectually critical public officers in Tampa Bay. His management on the Hillsborough County Fee displays sound judgment, readability of thought, and a constant willingness to interact onerous points with each self-discipline and customary sense,” mentioned Matt Herndon of RSA Consulting.
Cohen faces re-election this yr. As a testomony to his command of workplace, he possible faces a straightforward path to victory. As of early April, Cohen had drawn only one challenger — John Scott Butherus II — however his opponent didn’t seem prone to wage a critical marketing campaign, and he in the end withdrew from the race after studying he didn’t dwell within the district.
In the meantime, Cohen has been aggressively elevating funds. As of the top of December, Cohen had raised more than $80,000 by means of his marketing campaign account. His affiliated committee, Hillsborough Together, remained flush with almost $240,000 available. As of the top of March, Cohen raised almost $450,000 for his reelection, which for now’s unopposed.
“Harry Cohen is among the many most level-headed and efficient leaders in Tampa Bay. His intensive expertise and deep data of the problems that matter most to the group make him a key useful resource for leaders throughout the political spectrum looking for steerage or recommendation on crucial issues,” mentioned Christina Barker, Chief of Employees on the Vinik Household Workplace. “Commissioner Cohen doesn’t search the highlight or converse from a soapbox; when he speaks, it’s clear he has executed his analysis and his feedback are fastidiously thought of. His pragmatic strategy ensures his constituents really feel nicely represented, and he stays significantly targeted on the neighborhoods in his district, ensuring each situation he addresses considers its impression on native communities.”
The Hillsborough County Democrat has confirmed himself resilient lately, surviving his 2022 re-election bid — simply two years after his profitable election, which flipped a seat from purple to blue — in a cycle that was the political model of Recreation of Thrones’ purple marriage ceremony.
Cohen received by lower than a proportion level, a razor-thin victory that appeared like a landslide in comparison with two of Cohen’s Democratic colleagues. Former Commissioner Mariella Smith misplaced her seat by almost 6 proportion factors, whereas former Commissioner Kimberly Overman misplaced hers by about 5 factors.
Cohen has additionally confirmed himself a pacesetter on maybe the most important situation going through the Tampa Bay area presently: a proposal to construct a brand new Tampa Bay Rays stadium and associated mixed-use growth on the web site of the Hillsborough School Dale Mabry campus. Within the first week of April, Cohen took a stand against releasing internal documents relating to negotiations, arguing it will be “very irresponsible” to point out the county’s playing cards “earlier than they’ve come to a conclusion of the negotiations.”
Cohen is considered one of solely two Democrats on the Hillsborough County Fee. He was first elected to the Fee in 2020, changing former Commissioner Sandy Murman, a Republican. Previous to his service on the Fee, Cohen served two phrases on the Tampa Metropolis Council. He ran for Tampa Mayor in 2019, ending third earlier than now-Mayor Jane Castor went on to overwhelmingly defeat the late David Straz in a runoff election.
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As for methodology, the Tampa Bay area is outlined as Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties, with Hernando, Polk and Sarasota included when their elected officers impression Pinellas or Hillsborough.
A politician is outlined as somebody presently in workplace or actively operating for workplace.
Panelists ranked their High 25, with a first-place vote incomes 25 factors, second place incomes 24, and so forth all the way down to 1 level for twenty fifth. These totals had been mixed to supply the ultimate listing.
We additionally need to thank our skilled and educated panelists, who had been important to growing the 2026 listing: Vinik Household Workplace Chief of Employees Christina Barker; Mercury Public Affairs Managing Director Ashley Bauman; Michael Corcoran and Matt Blair of Corcoran Companions; former Sen. Jeff Brandes; Stephanie Cardozo of The Southern Group; Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick managing associate Ron Christaldi; political advisor/strategist Barry Edwards; Vicidial Group President Matt Florell; Dawn Consulting Group President Shawn Foster; businessman Michael Griffin; St. Pete Catalyst Writer Joe Hamilton; Clay Hollis of Tucker/Corridor; Natalie King of RSA Consulting Group; Moffitt Most cancers Middle VP of Public Affairs and Communications Merritt Martin; political advisor Chris Mitchell; Mike Moore of The Southern Group; RSA President and CEO Ron Pierce; Tucker/Corridor CEO Darren Richards; political advisor Jim Rimes; political advisor Preston Rudie of Catalyst Communications Group; TECO Vice President of State and Regional Affairs Stephanie Smith; lobbyist Alan Suskey of Shumaker Advisors; and Michelle and Peter Schorsch, publishers of Florida Politics.
