Remembering Kendra Kay Holden
On January 14, 2025, a particular girl handed: Kendra Kay Holden (proper picture). When you ever went to the New Tampa Panera Bread, you most likely noticed Kendra there. Kendra worshiped at St. James United Methodist Church, labored as a educating assistant at Hunters Inexperienced Elementary and served as a Finest Buddies Ambassador representing individuals with mental disabilities.
Her obituary learn partially: “Kendra beloved God, Days of Our Lives, Common Hospital, Vera Bradley Baggage, Sonny’s BBQ, Olive Backyard, outlet malls, Christmas motion pictures, Cracker Barrel, unicorns, butterflies, Coke Zero and colourful bands for her Apple Watch.”
Each time I stroll into that Panera Bread, I’ll consider pricey Kendra. She was a particular little one of God.
The Penguin Challenge
Talking of those that are in a different way abled, I not too long ago acquired to see our mates in The Penguin Challenge carry out their most up-to-date present, “Seussical Jr.”
I can’t let you know how proud I’m of this group from the New Tampa Gamers. This effort permits individuals with mental disabilities to participate in a first-rate manufacturing play with the assistance of their artist friends.
I all the time get emotional seeing the performs – as a result of I consider my brother, Juan, who’s intellectually disabled, and the way I’d see him as a teenager at church performs or within the Particular Olympics. I’m happy with Juan. And I do know that the mothers and dads within the viewers are so happy with their younger individuals taking part within the Penguin Challenge.
I’ve labored to have Tampa give $150,000 to this particular New Tampa mission. That’s cash effectively spent.
Our Finest Values in 33647
Right here in New Tampa, we’re a various neighborhood. We’re one neighborhood of People – however with totally different faiths and cultures. That’s New Tampa and that’s America.
Go to Arlington Nationwide Cemetery and try the graves of our heroes – particularly in Part 60. You can find Christian crosses. You can find Stars of David for our Jewish mates. And one can find the crescent moon and star for our Muslim mates.
I’ll all the time stand for the concept of the Household of Tampa. That features the American Jewish household that fled Europe within the Thirties to come back to this new nation. That features the refugee Muslim household in New Tampa with anxiousness for his or her family members in Afghanistan. That features members of the Sikh religion, the Hindus, Buddhists, evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics.
All of us do higher once we all do higher. And all of us do higher once we all belong. I’ll stand for that all the time. I’ve and can proceed to take political “hits” for that ideally suited gladly — as a result of it’s the proper factor to do and that’s America to me.
My Subsequent Election Plans
I’ve represented District 7 on the Tampa Metropolis Council since 2016, however all good issues should come to an finish — per the Metropolis of Tampa’s Constitution. I’m time period restricted out of this workplace in 2027.
It’s no secret that I like my 33647 constituents. I work arduous for you as a result of I see public service as a blessing.
As Neighborhood Information editor Gary Nager reported in an internet publish on Feb. 16, I plan on making a choice quickly on what I’ll do subsequent. That won’t, nevertheless, embrace working for Mayor of Tampa. If I select to attempt to succeed my pricey pal, Florida Home District 67 Consultant Fentrice Driskell (who has mentioned that her reelection final 12 months might be her closing two-year time period in workplace), I’ll have massive footwear to fill.
However, I’ll do what I’ve achieved right here domestically: work arduous, construct bridges and battle for what I imagine in.
You guys know me effectively. You already know my values. You already know my work ethic. And you understand not solely the place I stand, however that I stand.
North Tampa Bay Chamber Breakfast
Whereas introducing District 7 Tampa Metropolis Council member Luis Viera, who was the visitor speaker on the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce (NTBC)’s month-to-month Enterprise Breakfast on Feb. 4, NTBC president & CEO Hope Kennedy talked about that she had heard Viera is likely to be contemplating a run for Mayor of Tampa.
However (because it says earlier in his column on the earlier web page), Viera mentioned he was extra thinking about a run for the District 67 State Home seat at the moment occupied by Home Minority Chief Fentrice Driskell, or a doable Hillsborough County Fee run in 2026.
Since that Feb. 4 assembly, Viera says he has been approached by a number of media shops about his plans going ahead. He additionally says he’s mulling over the potential of working not just for Driskell’s Dist. 67 State Home seat, but in addition for one of many three County Fee seats up for election in 2026.
“I haven’t decided but,” Viera says. “However, as soon as I announce which of these workplaces I’ll select to run for, I should hand over my Metropolis Council seat earlier than my time period ends.”
Regardless that he’s a registered Democrat (Metropolis of Tampa elections are all nonpartisan), the 47-year-old Viera additionally mentioned (on the Chamber breakfast) his capability to work with different political workplace holders — together with reaching throughout the political aisle — in Hillsborough and Pasco counties, in addition to with Rep. Driskell, Dist. 20 State Senator Danny Burgess and with Dist. 15 U.S. Congresswoman Laurel Lee.
He additionally talked about New Tampa’s standing because the “Alaska” of the Metropolis of Tampa, zip code 33647’s cultural variety, in addition to what he has completed within the 9 years since successful his first election — by 65 votes within the two-candidate Particular Election runoff in Nov. 2016 — over fellow New Tampa resident Dr. Jim Davison.
Among the many accomplishments he listed on the breakfast have been securing funding to broaden the New Tampa Rec Middle, add Tampa’s first All- Skills Park, for Tampa Fireplace Rescue Station No. 23 on Cross Creek Blvd. (and his ongoing efforts to place a further hearth station in Ok-Bar Ranch), street repaving in Tampa Palms and for the brand new park (and doable cricket pitch) in Ok-Bar Ranch. — Chamber breakfast recap by Gary Nager
