| Rose Ferlita | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 26, 1945 Tampa, Florida |
| Nationality | Italian-American and Spanish-American |
| Alma mater | University of Florida |
Rose V. Ferlita (born on December 26, 1945 in Tampa, Florida) is a Pharmacist and Moderate politician[1] affiliated with the Republican party (United States).
She was raised in Ybor City and grew up working with her family at the Ferlita Bakery. Ferlita attended high school at the Academy of the Holy Names in Tampa and later enrolled at Loyola University New Orleans for her undergraduate studies. She completed her graduate courses at the University of Florida, College of Pharmacy, in Gainesville, Florida.
Rose Ferlita attained her business experience by serving 18 years as a pharmacist in the corporate world with Eckerd and CVS Corporation in Hillsborough County, Florida. In 1984, she founded Rose Drugs, Inc., where she served the pharmacy needs of Seminole Heights, College Hill and surrounding areas. In March 1999, boosted by a grassroots effort, Ferlita won her first election to Tampa City Council. She served as the District 2 Citywide Tampa City Council Representative and was subsequently re-elected in March 2003.
In 2006, Rose Ferlita ran to fill the vacant seat in the District 1 Hillsborough County Commission race previously held by Kathy Castor, who had successfully run for Florida's 11th Congressional District. In accordance with Florida election law, Ferlita submitted her resignation to the City Council prior to the elections for County Commission. After a heated Republican primary, she won with more than 53% of the votes during the September 5, 2006 primary election. Two months later at the General Election on November 7, 2006 she secured another election victory with more than 58% of the votes.
On July 8, 2010, Ferlita announced her intent to run for mayor of Tampa in 2011. On March 22, 2011, during her watch party at the Sons of Italy Hall in West Tampa, she conceded victory to Democrat Bob Buckhorn with 37% of the vote to his 63%, stating to her friends and supporters that in the end "it's not about the race you lost. It's about the friends you have."
Rose Ferlita currently lives in Hyde Park (Tampa) with her two rescue dogs Hal and Murray.
Hillsborough County of Florida, County Commissioner, District 1; November 2006
City of Tampa Council Member, District Two, City-wide; April 1999 - November 2006
City of Tampa Public Safety Chair
City of Tampa Public Works Vice Chair
Public Transportation Commission
Public Safety Coordinating Council