Joe Henderson, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Joe HendersonAugust 23, 2018

Ronda Storms said she can take the mudslinging that is a part of running for public office. It’s just the way the game is played. But the Valrico Republican, who is running to succeed Ross Spano in HD 59, will not, not, not stand for the charge in a recent mailer that she voted for […]

Joe HendersonAugust 22, 2018

Ross Spano left no doubt how he feels about the Hillsborough transportation tax referendum that will be on the ballot in November. In a commentary on his website RossSpano.com, he urged voters to defeat the one-cent-per-dollar sales tax increase advanced by the group All For Transportation. Spano, a Republican, is running for the CD-15 seat […]

Joe HendersonAugust 21, 2018

An item on the agenda for Friday’s Hillsborough County School Board meeting could lead people to believe it is seeking a referendum for a sales-tax hike in November to pay for major capital needs. Not so fast. Superintendent Jeff Eakins told Florida Politics late Monday that while the district is not ruling it out, the […]

Joe HendersonAugust 21, 2018

Since Susan Valdes entered the race for the HD 62 seat being vacated by House Minority Leader Janet Cruz, well, let’s just say the campaign hasn’t exactly been a well-oiled machine. The decision Monday by Cruz, a longtime friend, to rescind her endorsement of Valdes over the issue of charter school money might raise a […]

Joe HendersonAugust 20, 2018

There was an interesting moment last Thursday when Gwen Graham, the presumed leader at this point for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, stopped by the historic Columbia restaurant in Tampa’s Ybor City to accept the endorsement of Mayor Bob Buckhorn. During his introduction of Graham, Buckhorn noted that Graham would be the first female Governor in […]

Joe HendersonAugust 16, 2018

Speculation has been out there for months that Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn would make an interesting candidate for Florida’s Lieutenant Governor. That’s not likely to subside when he formally endorses Democrat Gwen Graham at a news conference Thursday afternoon in Tampa. But do endorsements matter in statewide races? I mean, OK — this is a […]

Joe HendersonAugust 16, 2018

The job of the free press is to find out stuff the public needs to know, make sure it’s accurate, and then share that information with the people. A lot of times the mission means upsetting the powerful and those who support them. These days, it means enduring taunts of “fake news” and people who […]

Joe HendersonAugust 15, 2018

Red tide is in all the headlines now. It’s bad. But let’s go back to a time before Florida’s beaches were filled with rotting fish, dolphins and manatees. Back to a time when Rick Scott came to Tallahassee as Florida’s Governor in 2011 with a two-fold mission: Cut the state budget and get people back to […]

Joe HendersonAugust 13, 2018

It’s not surprising that Pinellas County prosecutors decided not to buy the “stand your ground” argument and charged Michael Drejka with manslaughter Monday in the shooting death of Markeis McGlockton after an argument over a parking space. This story had gotten much publicity, most of it negative, after Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri initially declined to arrest Drejka […]

Joe HendersonAugust 12, 2018

I grew up about 40 minutes from Miami University. It is a picturesque place, tucked way off the beaten path in the rolling southwest Ohio hills and home to one of the most beautiful campuses you will ever see. I did not attend school there, but many of my friends did. I did spend a few […]

Joe Henderson
Pollsters find that both of Florida's hot-button constitutional amendments in 2024 are falling short. Image via WFSU.

Ronda Storms out to set the record straight

Ross Spano says Hillsborough transit tax plan should be no go

Hillsborough school board to discuss sales tax referendum

Joe Henderson: Susan Valdes forced to play defense again

Joe Henderson: Gwen Graham focused on policies, not breaking ceilings

Bob Buckhorn goes all-in for Gwen Graham

Joe Henderson: Free press needed now more than ever

Joe Henderson: Red tide is an emergency now, but can Rick Scott be surprised?

Joe Henderson: What’s reasonable? ‘Stand your ground’ trial may provide answer

Joe Henderson: For Melissa Howard, truth should matter more than degree