Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Wade Boggs, a New Tampa resident, is endorsing Alan Cohn in his bid for Tampa City Council, District 7.
District 7 covers parts of north Tampa, including parts of the university area, Temple Terrace and New Tampa. Cohn, a Democrat, is so far one of two candidates filed for the race to replace incumbent Luis Viera, who is not seeking re-election and is instead running for a Florida House seat.
Cohn entered the race in mid-April and has not yet filed his first campaign finance report, which is due July 10 for the period covering April through June. Cohn’s only opponent, Morris Lopez III, has already raised more than $36,000.
Boggs’ endorsement is a big get and lends some amount of star power to Cohn’s campaign. Boggs is one of the most iconic baseball stars in MLB history, having played with premier teams like the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, and locally for the Tampa Bay Rays. Boggs also spent nearly two decades coaching baseball at Wharton High School and is active in his New Tampa community.
“Alan Cohn has spent his career asking tough questions, standing up for ordinary people, and holding powerful interests accountable,” Boggs said. “Those are exactly the qualities we need on the Tampa City Council. Alan understands our community and will be a strong voice for the residents of District 7.”
Cohn said he was honored to receive Boggs’ support.
“Like me, Wade raised his family in New Tampa and cares deeply about this community. He understands that our neighborhoods need a representative who will fight for the police, fire protection, infrastructure, and city services our residents deserve. He also knows the importance of having someone who isn’t afraid to ask tough questions, get answers, and hold government accountable,” Cohn said.
Cohn is a former longtime news anchor. He previously ran in Florida’s 15th Congressional District. He won the Democratic nomination in 2022, but lost in the General Election to U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee. He also ran unsuccessfully in CD 15 in 2020.
Tampa City Council races are held next year. District 7 is the only City Council contest so far to draw more than one candidate.
