Donna Cameron Cepeda

Dr. Donna Cameron Cepeda is an author, United States Army veteran, and conservative Republican politician currently serving as the Hillsborough County Commissioner for District 5. She won election to this countywide, at-large seat in November 2022 after defeating Democratic incumbent Mariella Smith, and her current four-year term runs through November 16, 2026. A native of New York who relocated to Tampa over thirty years ago, Cepeda earned a Doctor of Theology degree from Life Christian University and has authored multiple Christian-based self-help and spiritual books. Before entering public office, she served as an active-duty soldier in the U.S. Army and subsequently spent over fifteen years working in corporate finance, bringing a background in banking, lending, and military leadership to the county board. During her tenure, Cepeda has prioritized expanding veteran services, eliminating wasteful county spending, and funding public safety initiatives like the local sheriff and fire rescue departments.

The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners is the governing body of Hillsborough County, Florida, a unit of local government at the county level. Commissioners are responsible for setting county policy, adopting the annual budget, enacting ordinances, and overseeing the delivery of county services to residents.