11 Tampa Bay people to watch in 2024 | Editorial
Mayors, legislators and business titans typically make the news on a regular basis. That’s the nature of their jobs. But it’s also important to look beyond the headlines at those people making a difference in our community from other arenas, such as sports, education or civic activism. This list isn’t exclusive, of course, just a snapshot of some of the people who in the coming year will be shaping the look and feel of Tampa Bay.
Van Ayres, Hillsborough County schools superintendent
Van Ayres, who was named Hillsborough schools superintendent in June, faces three big challenges in the coming year. He must build on the modest gains his predecessor, Addison Davis, had in right-sizing a sprawling school district. Squeezing more efficiencies from existing facilities, including consolidating more under-used schools, will be key if the School Board hopes to put a new tax for operations before county voters in November. This district, which has more D and F graded schools than any other in Florida, according to the latest state data released in December, also needs to boost student performance, especially in reading, and focus anew on improving early childhood education.
Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg, incoming president, University of Tampa
Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg assumes office as the University of Tampa’s 11th president in June, taking over an institution that is raising its national profile in a fast-growing metropolitan area. Dahlberg, the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Texas Christian University, was named president in December, emerging from a national search to succeed Ronald Vaughn, who is retiring in May after almost 30 years as president. A professor of both computer science and engineering, Dahlberg is hailed as an innovator and an advocate for the student experience. That should sync well for the 11,000-strong student body, and for those looking to the growing university to have a strong presence in the community.
Ester Venouziou, owner, LocalShops1
Locals are already familiar with the annual Shopapalooza Festival in St. Petersburg, which sponsors understandably call “the best small business Saturday and Sunday celebration you’ve ever seen.” But organizer Ester Venouziou stays busy throughout the year promoting local businesses, artists and nonprofits. Many small businesses are still recovering from the pandemic, when online shopping shifted people’s habits and money away. But as Venouziou says, money spent locally is more likely to stay here, while supporting businesses that give St. Petersburg an independent, artsy edge. Her work helps nurture the character of a major, growing metro. Pencil in the next Shopapalooza: Nov. 30-Dec. 1, 2024.
Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans
Mike Evans is the Bucs’ best receiver ever. He holds the franchise records for career catches, receiving yards and touchdowns — and no one else is really that close. He’s consistent and reliable, having posted at least 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first 10 seasons, something no one else has done in NFL history. But he might be leaving. Maybe. Evans and the Bucs failed to come to terms on a new contract at the start of the current season, which is the last in Evans’ current five-season deal. If the 30-year-old sticks around and keeps playing well, he’d cement his place among a small group of Bucs legends. Stay tuned on this one.
State Reps. Linda Chaney and Fentrice Driskell
Republican Linda Chaney and Democrat Fentrice Driskell may be on opposite sides of the political aisle, but the two Tampa Bay lawmakers share a high profile in the Florida House. Chaney, a former St. Pete Beach city commissioner first elected to the House in 2020, is sponsoring a controversial bill this year that would relax work restrictions on children ages 16 or 17. As the House minority leader, Driskell, a Tampa attorney first elected to the House in 2018, has pushed to keep Democrats from being steamrolled amid the Legislature’s Republican supermajority. Both will be in the spotlight playing important positions for their party when the 2024 legislative session opens Jan. 9.
Deborah Figgs-Sanders, chairperson, St. Petersburg City Council
St. Petersburg’s strong-mayor form of government means that Ken Welch will take the city’s lead in securing a stadium deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. But the City Council must sign off on any agreement, which puts Deborah Figgs-Sanders, the council chairperson for 2024, in a key position to shape the stadium agreement and the larger redevelopment of the surrounding Historic Gas Plant District. Figgs-Sanders will chair council meetings as the various development agreements emerge this spring, putting her in place to set the tone and pace of the Rays debate. She also is positioned to be a leading voice in ensuring that any deal provides long-term benefits to the public.
Scott Drainville and Brad Miller, transit directors, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties
The coming year could bring about changes in mass transit on both sides of Tampa Bay. In Hillsborough, newly-installed CEO Scott Drainville is looking to get Hillsborough Area Regional Transit on track after a series of management changes and two-ill fated transportation-related ballot initiatives. His challenge in establishing efficiency and public trust comes as a legislative-mandated report to examine consolidating HART with other entities is expected by Monday. Meanwhile, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority CEO Brad Miller is facing a bill in the coming legislative session that would restructure the authority, shifting more local control to Tallahassee. Expect both to be playing defense at least in the early months.
Gloria Campbell and Marilyn Turman, Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition
It took four years of work, but Gloria Campbell and Marilyn Turman of the Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition see a brighter future for the historically Black North Greenwood community. The nonprofit was instrumental in convincing Pinellas and Clearwater officials to establish a Community Redevelopment Area for the struggling neighborhood, which will direct tax revenue to support business, housing, public safety and other improvements to the impoverished area. The passion and follow-through that coalition leaders have shown is an encouraging sign of what’s possible in the years ahead. The group plans an outreach effort this spring and the first-full year of development projects. This is an exciting initiative that could enrich Clearwater and reawaken the region’s history.
Editorials are the institutional voice of the Tampa Bay Times. The members of the Editorial Board are Editor of Editorials Graham Brink, Sherri Day, Sebastian Dortch, John Hill, Jim Verhulst and Chairman and CEO Conan Gallaty. Follow @TBTimes_Opinion on Twitter for more opinion news.
