WMNF Offers Free Air Time to Riverview Election Candidates

Riverview election candidates have a new opportunity to reach voters through a public service initiative from WMNF 88.5 FM. The radio station is providing free air time for candidates in the Tampa Bay area, including Hillsborough County, to record short messages for broadcast.

The tradition, started by the late Rob Lorei, WMNF's former news director, aims to give candidates a platform to share their message directly with the community. The recorded messages will air during the “Community Speaks” program, broadcast Mondays from 12:06 p.m. to 1:01 p.m.

Interested candidates can leave a voicemail at 813-819-7300. The outgoing message instructs participants to begin by stating their name, political affiliation, the seat they seek and the general area they represent. Messages are allotted sixty seconds; longer recordings may be edited or cut off. WMNF may decline to play recordings that violate its style statement, which emphasizes respectful, non-antagonistic discussion.

The deadline for submitting recordings is October 29. While WMNF will attempt to include late submissions, inclusion is not guaranteed. This initiative provides a resource for voters learning about the 2026 General Election ballot and for candidates seeking to connect with the electorate.