UT Junior Throws Hat into City Council Race

Tyler Barrett ’16 grew up with politically active grandparents who volunteered on multiple national and local campaigns and encouraged their grandson to do the same. What they probably didn’t anticipate was Barrett jumping in the ring himself.

Barrett has filed for the Tampa City Council District 4 race, which will be decided March 3. He is the third candidate announcing a run for the district currently represented by Harry Cohen.

“I feel responsible,” Barrett said. “Just because I’m a college student doesn’t make me irrelevant. It makes me more accountable for what’s going on in the community.”

Barrett, a double major in history and government and world affairs, said he wants to bring the issues of homelessness and human trafficking more into focus. But even more so, he wants to generate political responsibility in his peers.

“For me, this race is much bigger than getting into office,” he said. “If I can mobilize students to see that their voice counts, then I’m happy. We’re not running a campaign, but rather a movement.”

Scott Paine, associate professor of communication and government and world affairs who served on Tampa City Council from 1991-1999, said individuals 18 to 25 vote at a lower rate than any other age group in American society. For those who do, they tend to focus on national and global issues.

“While that is commendable, many of the most important decisions, in terms of their effect on the daily life of college students, are made by municipal and county governments,” Paine said. “Learning about the issues and about the candidates at the local level is harder than at the national or state level, but it's important. Anything that can foster a greater level of awareness and engagement in local politics among college students is a good thing.”

Barrett worked on Nan Rich’s campaign for governor, where he said he really enjoyed knocking on doors, talking with people and fully understanding what issues they felt were important. He really connected with the demographic of feminist women he met, all of whom reminded him of his grandmother.

Both of Barrett’s grandparents were self-educated. His grandfather dropped out in the third grade to work on a cotton farm and his grandmother left school in the fourth grade. They both worked hard and started a business together, and felt community activism was the way to improve the common good. When Barrett graduates in two years, he’ll be the first male in his family to get a bachelor’s degree.

At UT, Barrett is one of the founding fathers of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and is a member of People for People, which donates food to the homeless. He has worked on countless campaigns and sees law school in his future.

Barrett isn’t the only Spartan to seek political office at a young age. Art Linares ’11 is a Connecticut state senator, and Gabby McGee ’08 serves on the Oldsmar City Council, so perhaps political activism runs in UT’s blood.

“I have a heavy conviction that I need to make an impact and improve my community,” Barrett said.

To learn more about Barrett’s campaign, visit www.tyler4tampa.com.