TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) - Friday is the final day for candidates to qualify for September's special election to fill Tampa's District 5 city council seat. The position has been vacant since the death of Councilwoman Gwen Henderson.

The Tiger Bay Club of Tampa will host a moderated discussion with all qualified candidates, Friday afternoon. As of Friday morning, 14 candidates had declared their intentions to participate in the race.

Richedean Hills-Ackbar is a lifelong resident of District 5 and believes there's been a void in the community since Henderson's death.

"She showed up to a lot of the local meetings, and she wasn't afraid to answer questions," Hills-Ackbar said.

Seven of the candidates participated in a forum at Blythe Andrews Jr. Public Library. They laid out plans for housing, b

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