Candidate Profile: Florida House of Representatives: Z.J. Hafeez

Candidate Profile: Florida House of Representatives: Z.J. Hafeez

State House District 67

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Age: 26

Residence: Apollo Beach, FL

Occupation: Legal Consultant for Quality Health Plans of Tampa

Education: Bachelors degree from New College of Florida. Georgetown University Law School

Income: Did not State

A South Shore native with deep roots in the local community, Z. J. Hafeez is running as the sole unopposed Democrat for district 67.

During his high school days, Hafeez was appointed to serve on the Citizen Advisory Committee for Hillsborough County, as well as work with the Hillsborough County School Board – under Dr. Earl J. Lennard – to represent student input at the District level.

Hafeez attended New College of Florida where he studied political science and economics, and completed a senior honors thesis, which was later published. As a self-motivated individual, Hafeez helped rejuvenate over five organizations at the college, and continued his involvement with journalism by becoming a political correspondent on a local radio show.

During college, Hafeez was a founding member of Sarasota Openly Addresses Racism, and met regularly to discuss how to combat racial prejudices by making society more open and tolerant.  He was also active with the Sarasota NAACP.  

In addition to community activism and engagement, Hafeez also cultivated his international interests by participating as a delegate in the United Nations Comes to Sarasota, as part of the Sarasota chapter of the United Nations Association.  

After receiving his Bachelors degree from New College, Hafeez relocated to Washington, DC to attend law school at the esteemed Georgetown University. As a law student, Hafeez frequently worked with political officials, attended high-level meetings on Capitol Hill, and coordinated projects and events between international embassies and students—often interacting with chiefs of missions and ambassadors.  

At school, Hafeez kept himself close to the local community through his involvement with the Street Law clinic, in which he taught the basics of law to disadvantaged inner-city youth at Eastern Senior High School. Furthermore, he participated in the prominent Harrison Institute for Public Law & Policy, where he further developed his public policy making skills.  

Upon graduation from law school, Hafeez followed up on his international work in D.C., policy experience, and successes in Moot Court to work at the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. During his time in Geneva, he worked with many world leaders on international trade issues.   

Currently, Hafeez serves as the Chairman of the Tampa Bay Community Education Center's Youth Group, and brings his wide array of experience and skills to his native South Shore Community in the Tampa Bay Area. Hafeez works as a legal consultant for Quality Health Plans in Tampa.