Neil Manimala
From Ballotpedia
Neil Manimala (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners to represent District 5 in Florida. He declared candidacy for the general election scheduled on November 3, 2026.[source]
Manimala completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Neil Manimala was born in Chicago, Illinois. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of South Florida in 2010 and an M.D. from the University of South Florida in 2016. His career experience includes working as a medical doctor. [1]
Manimala has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1]
- Hillsborough County Medical Association
- Hillsborough County Health Care Advisory Board
- Health Council of West Central Florida
- American Planning Association
- Florida Urology Partners
- Gold Humanism Honor Society
- American Urological Association
- Florida Urological Society
- American Medical Association
- Florida Medical Association
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay
- University of South Florida Alumni Association
- Indo-US Chamber of Commerce
- Tampa Tiger Bay Club
- Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Elections
2026
See also: Municipal elections in Hillsborough County, Florida (2026)
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners District 5 At-large
Neil Manimala is running in the general election for Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners District 5 At-large on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Neil Manimala (D)  | |
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Endorsements
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Neil Manimala completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Manimala's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I’m Dr. Neil Manimala, a board-certified urologist and lifelong Hillsborough County resident. I was raised in Valrico, graduated from our public schools, and went on to serve patients across our county. I’m also the President-elect of the Hillsborough County Medical Association and a member of our County Health Care Advisory Board, working to protect healthcare access for thousands who would otherwise be uninsured. My wife Rachel and I are preparing to welcome our first child. I’m running for County Commission because I believe Hillsborough’s future should be one where every family can afford to live here, get where they need to go, and see a doctor when they’re sick.
- Protect and strengthen Hillsborough County’s safety net so no one falls through the cracks -- from defending our local health insurance plan to ensuring housing is within reach for working families.
- Invest in a modern, connected transit system and stop unchecked sprawl so we can protect our neighborhoods, cut traffic, and keep our economy moving forward.
- Lead with competence, compassion, and common sense, building coalitions that put people over politics and focus on results, not rhetoric.
I’m deeply committed to protecting healthcare access, making housing affordable and accessible, and building the transit and infrastructure we need for the next generation. I believe stopping reckless sprawl is essential to preserving our environment, strengthening our economy, and keeping life affordable. These aren’t just policies to me. They’re about dignity, opportunity, and making sure Hillsborough is a place where our children can plant their roots and thrive.
The County Commission is where big-picture planning meets day-to-day reality. It’s unique because it sets the priorities for how we grow -- deciding whether we sprawl out or build smart, whether we invest in transit or let traffic get worse, whether we strengthen our safety net or weaken it. These choices shape the future for decades.
I look up to my parents, who immigrated from Kerala, India, with little more than hope and determination. They built a life here through hard work and generosity, and they taught me that true success is measured by how much you help others rise.
Two works come to mind. The first is Let Us Dream by Pope Francis, which isn’t about politics in the partisan sense, but about seeing the world through the eyes of those on the margins and choosing solidarity over indifference. The second is the film Interstellar. At its heart, it’s a story about sacrifice, cooperation, and leaving behind a world better than we found it. Both remind me that leadership is about serving something larger than yourself.
Integrity, humility, and the courage to do what’s right, even when it’s hard. An elected official should listen first, act with compassion, and always put people over politics.
I listen before I speak, I focus on solutions instead of scoring points, and I’m not afraid to roll up my sleeves and do the work. My years as a physician have taught me to act under pressure, weigh evidence carefully, and lead with compassion.
The County Commission makes decisions that touch almost every part of daily life: housing, roads, transit, healthcare, and the safety net. Our job is to steward taxpayer dollars wisely, make long-term investments that strengthen our communities, and ensure every resident has a fair shot at dignity and opportunity.
I want to leave a Hillsborough County where a child born here can grow up, get a good education, find a home they can afford, and build their life here, just like I did. If I can help make that possible, then I’ll have done my job.
I was in middle school during the September 11 attacks. I remember the confusion, the fear, and how our community came together in the days after. It was one of my first lessons in how deeply events far away can touch lives right here at home.
My first job was in a research lab as a freshman in college, dissecting fruit flies under a microscope. It wasn’t glamorous, but it taught me patience, precision, and that even the smallest details can lead to big discoveries.
David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell. I appreciate how it challenges the idea of what makes someone strong or successful, and how disadvantages can be turned into advantages with perseverance and perspective.
Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars. He's calm under pressure, committed to doing what’s right, and able to show grace even to those who have wronged him. He leads with wisdom, patience, and the belief that people can change.
“Goodness of God” by CeCe Winans. It’s a reminder of gratitude and grace that I find myself humming long after the music stops.
I’ve always been someone who wants to take on a lot at once: school, work, community service, family commitments. Learning how to balance all of it without burning out has been a lifelong challenge, but my faith has kept me grounded. It’s taught me to set priorities, make time for what matters most, and remember that life is about service, not just schedules.
The quiet decisions often shape our lives the most. The County Commission doesn’t just handle roads and zoning -- it oversees our local health insurance plan for those who would otherwise be uninsured, directs major investments in affordable housing, and guides how we grow: through smart, connected communities or costly, unchecked sprawl. We also make key decisions on water policy, from protecting our drinking water supply to managing stormwater and flood control. These choices that affect public health, our environment, and our ability to weather the next hurricane season. These decisions don’t always make headlines, but they shape our economy, our environment, and our quality of life for generations.
Experience can be valuable, but it’s not the only kind that matters. Too often, career politicians see problems through the lens of politics first. I see them through the eyes of a physician -- diagnosing the real issue, weighing the evidence, and building a plan that works. My career has been about service, not self-preservation, and that’s what sets me apart from those who have spent their lives in politics.
This job calls for more than knowing the rules of government. It calls for knowing how to solve problems that affect real people. The most helpful skills are the ability to listen, weigh evidence, and bring people together around solutions that work. My training as a physician taught me to diagnose problems quickly, explain them clearly, and work with a team to fix them. That same approach is what our county needs to tackle challenges like housing, transit, and public health.
The County Commission shapes how we grow and how we care for our neighbors. It sets priorities for public safety, floodwater resilience, housing, transit, and healthcare -- choices that decide our quality of life today and the future we leave to our children.
Why did the octopus get promoted? Because it could juggle ten-tacles worth of work.
U.S. Representative Kathy Castor, Former County Commissioner Mariella Smith, former County Commissioner Pat Kemp, former County Commissioner Kimberly Overman, Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera, Tampa City Councilman Guido Maniscalco, Tampa City Councilwoman Lynn Hurtak, Tampa City Councilman Alan Clendenin, Temple Terrace City Councilman Gil Schisler, Hillsborough County Medical Association PAC (HILLPAC), 314 Action Fund
Trust is earned. That means clear, accessible budgets, public input before major spending decisions, and holding ourselves accountable when we fall short. Every resident should be able to see where their money goes and why.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
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Candidate Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners District 5 At-large |
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Footnotes
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State of Florida Tallahassee (capital) |
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