Wesley Chapel resident Stephanie Vazquez will challenge incumbent Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman in the Nov. 3 general election, setting up a race centered on growth and development in one of Florida's fastest-expanding communities.
Both candidates ran unopposed in their Aug. 18 primaries. Vazquez, a Democrat and Air Force veteran, is campaigning to "stop reckless growth" in the county and shorten commutes, the Tampa Bay Beacons reported. Weightman, a Republican small business owner first elected in 2022, currently serves as vice chairman of the Board of County Commissioners.
District 2 covers portions of south-central Pasco County, including parts of Land O' Lakes and Wesley Chapel.
The challenger
Vazquez lives in Wesley Chapel with her husband, Yamani, and their six children, all Pasco public school students. She previously served as vice chair of the Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking and holds a master's degree in public administration from Northeastern University.
Her platform calls for infrastructure improvements, government transparency and holding developers and contractors accountable, according to the Hernando Sun. On her campaign website, Vazquez said she has heard the same message from residents across the county: they want leaders who put the community ahead of special interests.
The incumbent
Weightman was first elected in 2022, when he won a Republican primary with 49% of the vote against two opponents and then ran unopposed in the general election. He previously served on the Southwest Florida Water Management District board after being appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Weightman faced criticism after his 2022 win when it emerged he did not live in District 2 at the time, the Tampa Bay Beacons reported. He moved into the district two months after the election.
Follow the money
The fundraising gap is wide. Campaign finance reports through July 31 show Weightman had raised $130,000, primarily from businesses, developers and 15 political action committees, according to a Hernando Sun analysis. He received $5,000 from the Orlando-based Avalon Park Group. He had spent just $11,150.
Vazquez raised $56,200, predominantly from small individual donors, but had already spent $47,450, burning through more than 80% of her funds. She received $1,000 from the progressive Hillsborough Society and $500 from the abortion rights PAC Ruth's List Florida.
Steep climb
Vazquez faces long odds in a county Donald Trump carried with 61.9% of the vote in 2024. Still, her campaign has drawn endorsements from Run for Something, the Florida NOW PAC and the SPLC Action Fund.
The general election is Nov. 3. Pasco County commissioners earn $113,073 annually.
