Tony B. Smith is a lifelong resident and proud native of Plant City, Florida, dedicated to community service and leadership. Raised locally and educated in Plant City schools, he earned a full scholarship to Clark Atlanta University, where he excelled in football and music. After a successful career in retail management, Tony answered his calling to serve, becoming a firefighter with the Tampa Fire Rescue, and after retirement, became an EMT educator with Hillsborough County Public Schools. He founded M.A.T.E.S., a wellness initiative focused on fitness, nutrition, and mental health in Plant City, and serves on the Plant City Board of Adjustment. Tony is the father of Laila, an honor student at Tampa Bay Tech, and son Taylib, who is in the Navy.
What are the three top issues facing the city right now?
1. Stormwater Management and Flooding
2. Growth and Infrastructure
3. Public Safety
If elected, what would be your first priority in office?
My first priority in office will be restoring and strengthening citizen engagement in our city’s governance. A city works best when its people are informed, involved, and empowered.
What is your position on property taxes and city spending?
Plant City families are feeling the pressure of rising costs — groceries, insurance, utilities — and property taxes are part of that conversation. My position is simple: we must be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars while protecting the services that keep our city safe and strong.
I do not believe in raising property taxes unless it is absolutely necessary and clearly justified.
Every dollar the city spends belongs to the people. My commitment is to treat it with respect, discipline, and accountability.
What steps would you take to improve public safety?
Public safety is the foundation of a strong community. If families don’t feel safe in their homes and neighborhoods, nothing else works. My approach to improving public safety in Plant City focuses on prevention, staffing, partnerships, accountability, and community engagement with education.
We must ensure our police officers and firefighters are fully staffed, properly equipped, and competitively compensated to reduce turnover. Response times matter. Retention matters. Supporting the men and women who protect us is non-negotiable.
How do you balance growth with preserving neighborhood character?
* Thoughtful long-range planning guided by resident feedback. There was a city survey done recently; our citizens have given us a blueprint on how we can achieve this. Let’s have the courage to listen to them and implement their ideas!
* Supporting historic districts and cultural traditions, agriculture and preserving our history.
* Land-use frameworks that aim to integrate new development with the city’s identity and make sure we are planning with the environment in mind.
* Ongoing community dialogue so growth reflects local values, not just market forces and development.
The balance isn’t static—it evolves with population changes and local priorities.
Why should voters choose you over opponents?
To my knowledge, I am the only candidate with public service experience. My career in education and public service reflects a commitment to people — not private gain or special interests. My decisions will be guided by what benefits our citizens and neighborhoods, not donors or outside agendas. As a teacher, I have listened, built consensus, and communicated clearly — skills essential for thoughtful City Commission leadership. I believe in transparency, accountability, and open dialogue on budgeting, growth, and neighborhood concerns. Residents deserve accessibility and honesty. I truly believe we are better together — and I will lead with that principle every day.
* Information provided by Tony B. Smith
