Page 10 - Florida Sentinel 12-14-18

Feature
Elections Organizer Seeks Seat On City Council
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
For several years, one Tampa woman has worked with candidates to bring about a posi- tive change. Now, she has decided to become the candidate to bring about that change.
In keeping with her beliefs of increasing participation through education, Ella K. Cof- fee has thrown her hat into the ring. She plans to seek the District 5 Seat for City Council in March 2019. Frank Reddick, the current District 5 representative must vacate the seat due to term limits.
Coffee said she has been talking about running for office for a while. “I have worked the last 10 to 15 years educating and register- ing voters. Now, the time has come for me to move into another way of public service.”
She further said that although she has worked on other successful campaigns, “I can only hold myself accountable for what I say during the campaign.”
Coffee said she decided to run for office in District 5 because she wants to be “laser fo- cused” on the district. “Parts of the district are being left out. I want to focus on economic de- velopment, affordable housing, and trans- portation. The three being intertwined will make a huge difference.
“All promises have not been kept. An ex- ample is there was supposed to be a grocery store where the old Gene’s Bar used to be at Mallory and N. 22nd Street. Instead, they are building housing that may or may not be af- fordable.
“When companies come to town looking for areas to launch businesses, East Tampa is left out. We don’t have that relationship with City Hall. The next representative has to have a relationship with the Mayor’s Office. We need someone who is willing to build that re- lationship,” she said.
A native of Plant City, Coffee was raised by her grandmother, Mrs. Bessie Lee Wadsworth. She remembers that to her grandmother, service was a way of life. She also recalls how her grandmother helped get people out to vote and that she served the pub-
ELLA K. COFFEE
... Seeks District 5 City Council Seat
lic.
After graduating from high school, Coffee
enrolled at the University of South Florida. That was when she began building on the foundation her grandmother had laid.
As President of the Florida African Ameri- can Student Association (FAASA), she worked with collegiate chapters to get students in- volved in addressing and solving the issues students faced on campus.
A graduate of USF with a degree in Busi- ness Administration, Coffee has served at the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections as the Community Liaison for the African American community.
She worked as an Organizer for the Obama for America and Mayor Rick Kriseman campaigns. Most recently, she managed the State Senate Campaign for Lindsey Cross in District 24.
In addition to her electoral work, Coffee has served on the Board of the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP, the Hillsborough County Consumer Protection Board, and the East Tampa Community Revitalization Part- nership.
In April 2018, Coffee said she was diag- nosed with breast cancer. When asked if she thought the stress of running for office would be too great, she said, “The stress of not help- ing my community would be even greater than not helping.”
All About You!
Earns Master’s Degree
MIAH
Congratulations on earning your Master’s of Biomedical Sci- ences from the University of Central Florida (4.0)!
You are the epitome of what God desires and we couldn’t be any prouder of your accomplishments! I know that your dad, (Reco), has been with you spiritually every step of the way. Well done, Miah!
Miah accomplished this degree without any financial assis- tance package and is debt free!
Special thanks to Grandma Katherine Killins, Aunt Mil- licent, Uncle Fredirico and Cousin Fred.
Miah is accepting graduation gifts via Cash App $Myuhhhh. Her proud parents are Joy and Randy.
Graduates Summa Cum Laude From FAMU
LADIA REASON
Ladia E. Reason will be graduating with the degree of Bach- elor of Health Science in Occupational Therapy, Summa Cum Laude. The ceremony will be held on Friday, December 14th, at 6 p.m. The graduation ceremony will be held at the Alfred L. Law- son, Jr., Multipurpose Center, in Tallahassee, Florida.
She is the daughter of Henry Reason, Jr., and Larrennee Holloman, of Plant City; the sister of Landon (Condra), and Langston Reason, of Plant City; and the granddaughter of Rena M. Reason, of Plant City.
Congratulations, from your aunts, uncles, cousins, family and friends.
PAGE 10-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2018