Wade Boggs Backs Alan Cohn in District 7 Race

wade boggs is backing Alan Cohn in the Tampa City Council District 7 race, giving the Democrat an endorsement from a Hall of Famer who has stayed active in New Tampa. District 7 covers parts of north Tampa, including the university area, Temple Terrace and New Tampa.

Boggs said, "Alan Cohn has spent his career asking tough questions, standing up for ordinary people, and holding powerful interests accountable." He added, "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."

Boggs and New Tampa

Boggs played for the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays, and he spent nearly two decades coaching baseball at Wharton High School. That local resume gives his endorsement a sharper edge in a district that includes his own New Tampa community, where Cohn also lives.

Cohn responded, "Like me, Wade raised his family in New Tampa and cares deeply about this community." He added, "He understands that our neighborhoods need a representative who will fight for the police, fire protection, infrastructure, and city services our residents deserve." Cohn also said, "He also knows the importance of having someone who isn’t afraid to ask tough questions, get answers, and hold government accountable."

District 7 Field

The race is still small. Cohn is one of two candidates filed for District 7, while Morris Lopez III has already raised more than $36,000. Incumbent Luis Viera is not seeking re-election and is running for a Florida House seat instead, leaving the council seat open next year.

Cohn entered the race in mid-April and had not yet filed his first campaign finance report at the time of the article. That report is due July 10 and will cover April through June, giving voters a first full look at how the campaign is being financed before Tampa City Council races are held next year.

Alan Cohn's Record

Cohn has already been through two congressional races in Florida's 15th Congressional District. He ran unsuccessfully in 2020, then won the Democratic nomination in 2022 before losing the General Election to U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee.

The Boggs endorsement adds a recognizable local name to a District 7 contest that is still early and still narrow. With only two candidates filed, the money raised so far and the July 10 filing deadline will help define whether Cohn can close the gap before the race moves into next year.