RUN FOR SOMETHING: Neil Manimala for Hillsborough County Commission, District 5 Countywide
The son of immigrants, Neil was raised in Valrico, Florida, where his parents both worked in healthcare. His mother was a nurse, and his father a respiratory therapist. Like so many Hillsborough County families, they worked opposite shifts to raise Neil and his younger brother, building a life grounded in service, sacrifice, and opportunity.
A proud graduate of Hillsborough County public schools, Neil stayed close to home, earning both his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of South Florida. Today, he serves as a board-certified urologist with Florida Urology Partners, where he cares for patients every day and sees firsthand how public policy shapes health outcomes, affordability, and quality of life.
In addition to his medical practice, Neil serves on the Hillsborough County Health Care Advisory Board and the Health Council of West Central Florida, and he is the president-elect of the Hillsborough County Medical Association. As a member of the American Planning Association, he understands that county land-use decisions must balance growth with flood resilience, environmental responsibility, and long-term community well-being.
Neil is running for County Commission to promote sustainable development, modernize transportation, strengthen public safety, and invest in flood-resilient infrastructure that protects homes, businesses, and neighborhoods. He supports targeted, surgical investments that expand transit options, reduce congestion, and lower everyday costs for working families, seniors, and young people. He believes in careful stewardship of taxpayer dollars, focusing on results that improve daily life and deliver lasting value.
Neil lives in Hillsborough County with his wife, Rachel, a nurse who has most recently worked at the VA, their infant daughter, Mariam, and their rescue dog, Benji. They are parishioners at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. As a father, Neil is running to help build a county where families can afford to stay, seniors can age with dignity, and the next generation can put down roots and thrive.
https://www.neilmanimala.com/