Aileen Rodriguez, a Democrat, is running for Hillsborough County Commission District 7 (At Large) against Republican incumbent Joshua Wostal in the Nov. 3 general election.

Asked why she is running, Rodriguez said in our questionnaire: "I am running to bring Hillsborough County government back to the people. For the last four years my opponent has brought D.C. style chaos and partisanship to our County Commission. For our County to progress and move forward, we need elected leaders who will lead with courtesy, decency, and empathy and always put people before politics."

She added: "I will also be the very first fully bilingual Latina on our County Commission."

Candidate information

Party affiliation: Rodriguez said in our questionnaire: "For most of my life I had been a registered Republican, however as I got older I felt that the Republican party - its platform and its values - no longer aligned with the Christian teachings I was brought up with. … For these reasons among others, I left the Republican party years ago and now am I proud Democrat."

Birthplace and upbringing: Rodriguez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and moved to the Tampa Bay area as a child, according to her campaign website. She was raised on a local dairy farm, Florida Politics reported.

Education: Rodriguez said in our questionnaire: "I am extremely proud to be a product of our local education system, having started school right here at Knights Elementary and gone on to study at Hillsborough College and later at USF where I have a degree in interpersonal and organizational communications and a concentration in psychology (Go Bulls!)."

Family: Rodriguez said in our questionnaire: "I have two wonderful sons, Aaron and Adam, an incredible husband, Jeremy, and am deeply grateful to still have my 89 year old retired mother and my two siblings."

Primary result: Rodriguez won the Democratic primary on Aug. 18 with 62.3% of the vote against Cindy Stuart, according to Florida Politics.

Experience and public service

Rodriguez said in our questionnaire: "I am proud to have worked in a number of important fields including constituent services for U.S. Senator Mel Martinez, and have also worked in community and public relations with The Helios Education Foundation, Moffit Cancer Center, and Tampa International Airport."

She described her time with Martinez: "While working for Mel Martinez as the regional director, my job was not political, it was purely about service to the Tampa Bay region and ensuring that our office was listening to the needs of our citizens."

Asked about previous public service, Rodriguez said in our questionnaire: "While I have not previously been elected I am extremely proud to have served as President of Tampa Hispanic Heritage Inc., where I worked on a number of initiatives including Roberto Clemente Day and I am also an active member in my neighborhood, Forest Hills, Civic Association."

Rodriguez has also served on the Hillsborough Community College Foundation Board, the City of Tampa's Human Rights Board and the Children's Board of Hillsborough County Grant Review Committee, according to her campaign website.

On the issues

Growth and infrastructure: Rodriguez said in our questionnaire: "We must protect the Urban Service Area, which my opponent is intent on undoing. The Urban Service Area helps direct density and growth towards where it belongs and away from where it doesn't. … We cannot allow ourselves to be kept in the pockets of the big developers who see Hillsborough County exclusively through the lens of profit."

She added: "I will be a voice for neighborhoods that feel under siege from development and will work to bring folks together to achieve more amicable compromises where possible."

Bipartisan approach: Rodriguez said in our questionnaire: "Unlike my opponent, I specifically intend to bring a bipartisan approach to the County Commission. … Potholes do not care about your politics, traffic isn't impacted by your political party - they are just problems that need solving!"

Differences from opponent: Rodriguez said in our questionnaire: "I will defend the Hillsborough County Indigent Health Care Plan, he wants to eliminate it. I will defend HART, he wants to eliminate it. … I will stand up for neighborhoods under siege by development, he doesn't."