11 people to watch in Tampa Bay this year
Doctors, lawyers and grassroots organizers are among the key leaders who will shape the region amid the post-pandemic recovery.
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This article represents the opinion of the Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board.
Published Jan. 10
Updated Jan. 12
Who will be among the important local leaders in the Tampa Bay area in 2021? Only the future knows, but here are a few names to keep your eye on in the coming year.
Michele Rayner-Goolsby [ MARTHA ASENCIO RHINE | Times ]
Michele Rayner-Goolsby. Sheâs the first openly queer Black woman to serve in the Florida Legislature, winning last yearâs House race in District 70 which includes parts of Pinellas, Manatee, Hillsborough and Sarasota counties. Sheâs a civil rights attorney, who represented the family of Markeis McGlockton, a 28-year-old Black man fatally shot at a Pinellas convenience store in 2018 in a controversial stand your ground case. Sheâs also a well-known activist, who has pushed for reforms in criminal justice, affordable housing and health care, among other areas. Sheâs smart, affable and has a realistic outlook on what she can get done as a first-term Democrat in a Republican-dominated Legislature. Her star is bright. Weâll see how effectively she takes on this new challenge.