Joshua Wostal
Republican · FL · Hillsborough County Commissioner, District 7
Joshua Wostal is the Republican Hillsborough County commissioner for countywide District 7 and a candidate for reelection in 2026. Elected in 2022, he is a U.S. Navy veteran, logistics-business owner, and former manufacturing-company chief operating officer. He earned an M.B.A. from the University of Florida.
Track record
Environment and Public Health
· 1 record
Joshua Wostal moved to stop adding fluoride to Hillsborough County's public water supply; the motion failed on a 3-3 tie, so fluoridation continued.
February 5, 2025Against
Source: wusf.org · researched July 13, 2026
Government Efficiency
· 1 record
Joshua Wostal asked Hillsborough County to volunteer for a state Florida DOGE spending audit and offered to serve as the county contact; the commission rejected sending his letter to the governor 3-4.
March 5, 2025For
Source: flvoicenews.com · researched July 13, 2026
Government Spending Reduction
· 6 records
Joshua Wostal publicly alleged that Tampa Bay Rays interests used automated emails and online ads to pressure officials during stadium negotiations; county staff confirmed it was reviewing 2,767 submissions traced to one Los Angeles-area IP address.
April 30, 2026For
Source: wusf.org · researched July 13, 2026
Joshua Wostal voted against a $2 million compromise allocation for Hillsborough County's HOPE affordable-housing fund after opposing the proposed $10 million allocation; the compromise passed 4-3.
September 19, 2024For
Source: hillsclerk.com · researched July 13, 2026
Joshua Wostal proposed directing staff to draft an ordinance barring county funding for organizations owned or operated by Hillsborough public officers; the proposal failed 3-4.
August 21, 2024For
Source: flvoicenews.com · researched July 13, 2026
Joshua Wostal moved to postpone the Hillsborough school district's proposed one-mill operating-tax referendum from 2024 to 2026; the commission approved his motion 4-3.
July 17, 2024For
Source: hillsclerk.com · researched July 13, 2026
Joshua Wostal proposed a $200,000 reduction to the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections' approved 2024 budget, citing lower active-voter counts and expected mailing savings; the commission approved it 4-3.
April 3, 2024For
Source: flvoicenews.com · researched July 13, 2026
Joshua Wostal voted to remove affordable-housing relief from Hillsborough County impact fees and to end county payment of mobility fees for affordable-housing projects; both measures passed 5-2.
February 7, 2024For
Source: hillsclerk.com · researched July 13, 2026
Housing Affordability
· 3 records
Joshua Wostal moved for Hillsborough County to challenge Florida's Live Local Act in court; the commission approved the motion unanimously and the county later filed suit.
December 17, 2025Against
Source: axios.com · researched July 13, 2026
Joshua Wostal voted against a $2 million compromise allocation for Hillsborough County's HOPE affordable-housing fund after opposing the proposed $10 million allocation; the compromise passed 4-3.
September 19, 2024Against
Source: hillsclerk.com · researched July 13, 2026
Joshua Wostal voted to remove affordable-housing relief from Hillsborough County impact fees and to end county payment of mobility fees for affordable-housing projects; both measures passed 5-2.
February 7, 2024Against
Source: hillsclerk.com · researched July 13, 2026
General
· 2 records
CareerSource Tampa Bay named Joshua Wostal second vice chair and a lead local elected official for its 2025-2026 program year.
September 24, 2025
Source: careersourcetampabay.com · researched July 13, 2026
Joshua Wostal voted with the 4-3 majority directing county counsel to appeal a court order that required the school-tax referendum to appear on the November 2024 ballot and to seek an emergency stay.
August 7, 2024
Source: hillsclerk.com · researched July 13, 2026
Integrity and Ethics
· 3 records
Joshua Wostal publicly alleged that Tampa Bay Rays interests used automated emails and online ads to pressure officials during stadium negotiations; county staff confirmed it was reviewing 2,767 submissions traced to one Los Angeles-area IP address.
April 30, 2026
Source: wusf.org · researched July 13, 2026
The Florida Commission on Ethics dismissed a complaint against Joshua Wostal for lack of legal sufficiency; the commission stated that this threshold review involved no factual investigation and did not determine whether the allegations were accurate.
December 11, 2024
Source: ethics.state.fl.us · researched July 13, 2026
Joshua Wostal proposed directing staff to draft an ordinance barring county funding for organizations owned or operated by Hillsborough public officers; the proposal failed 3-4.
August 21, 2024
Source: flvoicenews.com · researched July 13, 2026
Elections
- Hillsborough County Commissioner, District 7 · August 18, 2026 · Hillsborough County, Florida
Profile last researched July 13, 2026.