Vazquez seeks Pasco Commission District 2 seat

Stephanie Vazquez, a Democrat from Wesley Chapel, is running for Pasco County Commission District 2 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. She faces Republican Seth Weightman.

Asked why she is running, Vazquez said in our candidate questionnaire: "I want the people who live in Pasco to have a stronger voice in the decisions that affect our lives. We're sitting in traffic, worrying about flooding, and watching new development get approved while roads, drainage, and schools struggle to keep up."

Candidate information

Party: Democrat

Family: "My husband and I have a blended family of six children, and we call Wesley Chapel home," Vazquez said in our questionnaire. "Raising a family here makes the issues facing Pasco personal to me, from our schools and neighborhood safety to the traffic we sit in and the cost of everyday life."

Education: Vazquez said she holds "a bachelor's degree in Behavioral Science from Bellevue University, a master's degree in Entrepreneurship from the University of South Florida, and a master's degree in Public Administration from Northeastern University."

Best advice: "Never forget where you came from," Vazquez said. "I grew up in poverty, and I know what it feels like to work hard and still struggle to get by."

Experience and public service

Vazquez said in our questionnaire that she has not previously held elected office. She said she served five years on the Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking, including three years as vice chair.

Asked about her work history, Vazquez said: "I'm a Marketing Manager at Northeastern University, where I work with teams across the university to help people access education and advance their careers. My work involves strategic planning, managing budgets, and bringing people together to get things done."

She added: "Previously, I served as Public Information Officer for the City of Zephyrhills, helping residents understand city services and decisions that affected their community. I also served as Vice President of the U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking."

Vazquez also said she is an Air Force veteran whose experience spans "military service, local government, nonprofit leadership, and higher education."

Asked about accomplishments, Vazquez said: "At the U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking, I worked to open the nation's first safe home for boys who had been trafficked. I also created and scaled the TraffickingFree Zone program nationally … I was later promoted to Vice President."

On the issues

Growth management: Asked about the commission's biggest growth-management mistake, Vazquez said: "The biggest mistake has been approving growth without making sure the infrastructure can support it. When roads and drainage are already struggling, another approval has consequences for everyone who lives nearby."

She said she would "push for development decisions that account for the combined impact of projects."

"Before approving a rezoning that allows more development, I want clear answers about what infrastructure is needed, who will pay for it, and when it will be ready," Vazquez said. "If there isn't a workable plan, I'm willing to vote no."

Differences from opponents: "I haven't taken a dime from developers," Vazquez said. "My campaign is grassroots, and I've spent my time talking with residents about what they need from county government." She said she believes "infrastructure should come before development" and wants "public meetings after work hours so more residents can participate."

What brought her to run now: "What pushed me to run was seeing the same concerns come up over and over, without enough changing," Vazquez said. She also said: "I don't think you should have to be wealthy, politically connected, or a developer to have a say in our county's future."