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

Joe HendersonJuly 26, 2018

For decades, Republican candidates have been successful in Florida by rarely deviating from a script that labels Democrats as big-spenders, soft on crime, anti-business and anti-gun. When confronted by these aggressive tactics, Dems generally answered with flustered babble that, roughly translated, was basically “that’s not nice.” This campaign has been different though. Instead of trying […]

Joe HendersonJuly 25, 2018

Voting in Florida is a right, not a privilege. And since life today doesn’t run at the same pace as it did back when Ozzie met Harriett (look it up, kids), the government should make it as easy as possible for citizens to exercise that right. So yes, it was, as League of Women Voters […]

Joe HendersonJuly 24, 2018

In Florida now, the rule of law now seems to be shoot first, justify later. So, what happened to Markeis McGlockton last week at a Circle A convenience store in Clearwater is exactly lawmakers had in mind when they widened the range of what’s permissible under Florida’s “stand your ground” law. Don’t let anyone tell […]

Joe HendersonJuly 23, 2018

Supporters of a drive to place a sales tax increase on the November ballot in Hillsborough County said Monday they planned to turn in about 10,000 additional signed petitions to the Supervisor of Elections. That should move backers of the All For Transportation initiative within striking distance of the approximately 49,000 valid petitions they will […]

Joe HendersonJuly 23, 2018

April Griffin says she has not changed her mind about leaving the Hillsborough County School Board after three terms that at times have been tumultuous, rancorous but never, ever dull. “No looking back,” she said. Even though she won’t be running for re-election this fall, Griffin wants her supporters to know she is throwing her […]

Joe HendersonJuly 19, 2018

Alex Sink understands high-stakes politics. Sink, a Democrat, became the first woman to win a major-party nomination for Governor in 2010, but she narrowly lost to Rick Scott. Sink’s late husband, Bill McBride, also ran for the state’s top office in 2002 but lost to Jeb Bush. Sink is also the only Democrat to win […]

Joe HendersonJuly 18, 2018

I started the phone conversation Tuesday afternoon with Aakash Patel by asking, “If you are elected to the Hillsborough County Commission…” He interrupted. “You mean when I’m elected,” he said. The man may be a first-time political candidate, running as a conservative Republican for a countywide District 7 seat, but he is not going into […]

Joe HendersonJuly 17, 2018

I wonder if GOP gubernatorial candidates Adam Putnam and Ron DeSantis are feeling a little queasy. It was a quite the global spectacle Monday, watching President Donald Trump all but genuflect to Russian “President” Vladimir Putin, but it had to be worse for Putnam and DeSantis right here in our little corner of the planet. Both […]

Joe HendersonJuly 16, 2018

Florida lawmakers seem to be convinced that any problem where the solution is a tax increase is a problem worth ignoring. According to WalletHub, Florida is the ninth-lowest state for taxes. Since we rank third-highest in population, that means something has to give. Actually, a lot of things have been cast aside as either unimportant […]

Joe HendersonJuly 12, 2018

Perhaps no politician in Hillsborough County has been more identified with the effort to build a stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays than Ken Hagan. The veteran County Commissioner was key in trying to convince the Rays that Ybor City was the right place to put a stadium. What he does behind the scenes could […]

Joe Henderson
One of several proposed designs for Florida's new Margaritaville license plates. Image via the office of Rep. Linda Chaney.

Joe Henderson: State Democrats try a new tactic: fighting back

Joe Henderson: Judge rules for college voting rights over incumbent privilege

Joe Henderson: Stand Your Ground worked just like lawmakers intended

All For Transportation closer to goal in Hillsborough

Joe Henderson: April Griffin endorses Karen Perez for Hillsborough School Board

Joe Henderson: Alex Sink says Trump’s stumbles should help Gwen Graham, all Dems

Joe Henderson: Aakash Patel doesn’t lack confidence in run for County Commission

Joe Henderson: Has Donald Trump become liability for Florida GOP gubernatorial contenders?

Joe Henderson: Tampa transportation group makes petition push

Joe Henderson: Ken Hagan’s likely pitch for Rays stadium? It’s an investment