The St. Petersburg municipal race in District 4 concluded quietly when no candidate filed by the qualifying deadline, leaving Lisset Hanewicz re-elected to a second term without appearing on the ballot. Her uncontested victory means voters will not choose a representative for District 4 at the polls this cycle, and with colleague Richie Floyd also returning unopposed, only two city council districts will remain in play during the municipal election. Hanewicz responded to the news by thanking supporters and reaffirming her intention to continue working for the neighborhoods she represents.
How the uncontested result reshapes the local ballot
Because no challenger qualified to run against Hanewicz, the seat effectively renewed itself for another four-year span. That outcome narrows the contest list for city voters, leaving just Districts 2 and 6 scheduled for competitive races this year. The absence of an opponent changes the campaign dynamic: resources that might have been used in a district race can now be redirected elsewhere, and the city will hold fewer local contests on election day. Hanewicz’s statement after the deadline emphasized gratitude and a commitment to ongoing municipal work, reflecting an approach focused on steady governance rather than a high-profile campaign season.
Record, background and council leadership
Hanewicz first won a council seat in 2026 and served an extended initial term after the city shifted municipal elections to even-numbered years, giving her an additional year in office. As Council Chair she will retain that leadership role through 2026. She was the first Latina to join the St. Petersburg City Council, a milestone she has combined with a platform stressing taxpayer protections while working to strengthen city service delivery. Her professional background as a lawyer has informed her approach to policy and oversight, including prior roles as a prosecutor in the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney’s Office and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
From neighborhood activism to citywide office
Before holding elected office, Hanewicz stepped away from private practice to prepare for family life and later returned to community leadership as president of the Crescent Lake Neighborhood Association, where she led efforts to revive the group’s activity and engagement. That neighborhood work, she says, catalyzed her decision to seek a council seat. Her legal training and prosecutorial experience have surfaced in council debates, where she has often drilled into procedural details and evidence when questioning city actions or proposals.
Recent oversight actions and public priorities
On the council floor, Hanewicz has been a vocal presence in several high-profile municipal issues. She pressed city leadership over the handling of a plan involving the St. Pete Science Center, laying out how the originally agreed-upon sale and rehabilitation plan faltered amid disputes over the need for a feasibility study. Her methodical breakdown of the sequence of events helped persuade the council to unanimously back the Science Center project, which the administration later accepted. That episode demonstrates her emphasis on accountability and thorough review of administrative claims when public assets and contracts are at stake.
Transparency and public records
Hanewicz has also raised concerns about the city’s handling of public records requests after identifying delays and instances where requested documents were not delivered. Citing a resident lawsuit filed in November alleging a records request went unfilled for more than a year, she asked for a committee discussion to examine the city’s process and identify possible improvements. Her push reflects a broader focus on improving municipal responsiveness and ensuring residents can obtain information in a timely manner.
Fundraising and community footprint
Financially, Hanewicz entered the re-election period with nearly $17,000 raised by the end of March and had spent under $3,000 of that total, indicating a solid campaign reserve despite the uncontested result. District 4 itself covers neighborhoods including Crescent Lake, Historic Old Northeast, Greater Woodlawn, and Meadowlawn — areas where Hanewicz’s neighborhood work and council activities have been most visible. Her personal story — born in Tampa to Cuban exiles who arrived on the Freedom Flights, raised in Miami, the first in her family to attend college, and later earning a law degree — remains part of her public narrative and connection to diverse city communities.
With the qualifying period closed and Hanewicz’s seat secured for another term, attention in St. Petersburg will shift toward the remaining contested districts and the council’s ongoing work. Hanewicz’s combination of legal experience, neighborhood organizing, and council leadership will continue to shape debates over city services, fiscal stewardship, and transparency as she serves out her new term.
