Rico Smith announces bid for District 6 Hillsborough County Commissioner

By Lydia Nusbaum

Published Jul. 14, 2023, 4:48 p.m. ET | Updated Jul. 14, 2023

Rico Smith, running for Hillsborough County Commissioner, District 6.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (FLV) – Republican Rico Smith announced his candidacy for Hillsborough County Commissioner in District 6 Friday.

“As a lifelong resident, this is a big step and a new chapter in my commitment to serve our community,” Smith said on instagram.

According to a 2020 report, Smith served in the United Air Force Reserves as a staff sergeant. He has worked as a lead field engineer for StemRad to develop and implement test plans for medical products.

Republican James Davison and Democrat mark Nash have also thrown their hats into the race, according to the county’s website.

The candidates are looking to replace Commissioner Pat Kemp who was elected to the position in 2016 and 2020.

Hillsborough County flipped red in 2022, along with Osceola, Seminole, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Pinellas counties. Two Republicans replaced Democrats on the county commission in 2022.