Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryMarch 6, 2015

It’s been written about ad nauseum about the lack of a strong Democratic bench in Florida. That certainly was the case in 2014, when the party had to resort to a flawed former Republican to become its gubernatorial nominee against an equally flawed current Republican. That’s why Bob Buckhorn began raising campaign funds for a […]

Mitch PerryMarch 4, 2015

Mayor Bob Buckhorn may be neutral about the idea, but the business community is all in when it comes to the possibility of Tampa landing a Cuban consulate. Last week, the board of directors of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce unanimously endorsed re-establishing a secure Cuban consulate in the Tampa/Hillsborough County area when relations […]

Mitch PerryMarch 3, 2015

Admitting that it hasn’t exactly been a very exciting campaign, Bob Buckhorn said today’s municipal election in Tampa is still very important. “Everyone has an obligation to vote,” he said while coming out of a polling place at the Sandy Freedman Tennis Courts center on Davis Island this morning. “If you don’t vote, don’t complain.” […]

Mitch PerryMarch 3, 2015

The most lackluster campaign that this reporter has covered in his 15 years living in Tampa comes to a conclusion tonight — at least for most of the candidates vying to win the five Tampa City Council seats up for election. There’s not much drama. Though there has been a lot of coverage of the […]

Mitch PerryMarch 2, 2015

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor of Tampa will be of one of about 100 members of Congress to participate in the 50th anniversary of the march on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., this weekend. The original march on the Edmund Pettus Bridge was one of the crucial civil rights march that led to the historic […]

Mitch PerryMarch 2, 2015

Last week the Tampa Bay Business Journal reported that HART is seeking more than $50 million from the Florida Legislature this year, an amount that apparently surprised some members of the Hillsborough County transit agency. “I don’t remember $50 million,” board member Bryan Crino confessed at the agency’s monthly board meeting on Monday. That’s because most of […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 27, 2015

What a difference four years make. On March 1, 2011, Bob Buckhorn and his supporters crammed into JJ’s Cafe and Bar in Ybor City, fingers crossed, hoping he would make it into the run-off election three weeks later. He did, barely, getting 384 more votes than Dick Greco. Flash forward three weeks later, and Buckhorn […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorFebruary 23, 2015

Early voting for Tampa municipal elections starts Monday at seven locations citywide. It runs through March 1. Election Day is March 3. Officials expect voter turnout this election to be low despite more absentee ballots being returned than the previous municipal election. That’s because there’s not a lot of action on the ballot. There won’t […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 19, 2015

To its supporters, it was a case of justice delayed but not denied, when on Thursday the Florida Board of Governor in Tallahassee unanimously recommended the state provide $57 million to USF to move its medical center to downtown Tampa. The next step in the process for the $153 million center to house the Morsani […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 18, 2015

Last week, at a candidates forum in South Tampa, District 4 challenger Kent King assailed incumbent Harry Cohen’s performance on council over the past four years, saying he hasn’t represented South Tampa well at City Hall. But after King told moderator Christine Burdick at this morning’s Downtown Partnership candidates forum that the City Council is not the “lead […]

Tag: Bob Buckhorn
Image via Palatka Main Street.

Mitch Perry Report for 3.6.15 — Democrats lack of bench strength transcends Florida

Tampa Chamber supports bringing Cuban consulate to Tampa

Bob Buckhorn says he wants to see Charlie Miranda elected in District 2 race

Mitch Perry Report for 3.3.15 — Democracy now in Tampa

Kathy Castor taking part in congressional march on Selma bridge this weekend

Hillsborough County transit agency has $50 million in needs from Tallahassee this session

Bob Buckhorn ready to party on Election Night

Early voting begins in Tampa but turnout expectation is low

State BOG all in for USF med school move to downtown Tampa

Transit talk dominates discussion at Tampa Downtown Partnership City Council forum