The 1979 Tampa mayoral election was held on September 4, 1979. Incumbent Mayor Bill Poe declined to seek re-election. County Commissioner Bob Bondi; Bob Martinez, a 1974 candidate for mayor; and City Councilmember Charles Miranda announced that they would run to succeed Poe. Martinez ended up winning the election by a wide margin, receiving 58 percent of the vote to Bondi's 27 percent and Miranda's 7 percent, avoiding the need for a runoff election.