Mitch Perry, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJanuary 2, 2018

The two longest-serving members of the St. Petersburg City Council, Jim Kennedy and Karl Nurse, appeared on the dais for the last time Tuesday, giving the reins of power to newcomers Brandi Gabbard and Gina Driscoll, who are taking their spots for Districts 2 and 6, respectively. While a member of the St. Pete board can only […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 2, 2018

After they were sworn into office Tuesday morning, there were several allusions on the dais to the fact that with Brandi Gabbard‘s and Gina Driscoll‘s victories in their respective St. Petersburg City Council races last fall, the eight-member Council is now dominantly female. Gabbard easily defeated Barclay Harless in November for the northern St. Pete District 2 […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 2, 2018

South Hillsborough County environmental activist Mariella Smith has officially filed to run as a Democrat in the Hillsborough Commission District 5 race. The announcement is no surprise, as the 63-year-old Ruskin resident announced in November that she was likely to file at the beginning of the year officially, in what will be her first bid […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 2, 2018

Calling St. Petersburg a city of “progress and progressivism,” Mayor Rick Kriseman spoke confidently about intentions for the next four years as he was sworn into office for his second inauguration. Speaking for just over ten minutes on a crisp afternoon in front of City Hall to an audience of more than 150 friends, family […]

Mitch PerryDecember 29, 2017

Senator Bill Nelson met with local representatives from the Tampa Bay Puerto Rican community on Friday, blasting recent actions (and non-actions) by congressional Republicans in the wake of Hurricane Maria’s devastating impact on the island exactly 100 days ago. “A knife was put to the neck of Puerto Rico.” That’s the phrase the Florida Democrat […]

Mitch PerryDecember 27, 2017

‘Tis the season for Top 10 lists. As I have already composed a list of the Top 10 political stories in the Tampa Bay area, allow me to indulge some of my personal favorite experiences in the things I enjoy doing when not writing about politics. Here are my top books, music and movies for […]

Mitch PerryDecember 27, 2017

While most of the country considered 2017 an electoral “off-year,” that wasn’t the case in the Tampa Bay region, thanks to the St. Petersburg municipal elections. Here’s this reporter’s list of the top ten political news stories of the year: 10. — Bob Buckhorn decides not to run for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. For years, the […]

Mitch PerryDecember 18, 2017

Tampa’s City Council is poised to vote Thursday on the first reading of an ordinance seeking to reduce human trafficking by cracking down on massage parlors. The proposal was introduced earlier this month by the city’s legal department. It came following months of concerned citizens coming before the Council, asking them to crack down on […]

Mitch PerryDecember 18, 2017

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Republican-led tax reform scheduled for a vote by both houses of Congress this week includes a provision that will benefit Florida farmers grappling with Hurricane Irma and the costly and deadly citrus greening disease. Sponsored by Longboat Key Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan and co-sponsored by every member of the Florida Congressional delegation, the measure provides […]

Mitch PerryDecember 18, 2017

Mary Thomas, the former top lawyer at the Department of Elder Affairs under Gov. Rick Scott, is on a list of finalists to become a Pinellas-Pasco circuit judge. The 6th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) sent 11 names, including Thomas, to Scott last month to fill two vacancies created by the retirements of Mark I. Shames […]

Mitch Perry
Universal Mega Movie Parade (NBCUniversal)

Karl Nurse, Jim Kennedy say goodbye to St. Pete City Council

Gina Driscoll, Brandi Gabbard become newest St. Pete City Council members

‘Smart growth’ candidate Mariella Smith running for Hillsborough County Commission

Rick Kriseman vows to tackle infrastructure, transportation in second term

Bill Nelson slams GOP response to Puerto Rico

Mitch Perry’s favorites in books, music and movies in 2017

Mitch Perry’s review of top Tampa Bay stories of 2017

Not everyone’s happy with proposed crackdown on Tampa massage parlors

GOP tax bill to help Florida farmers recovering from citrus greening, Irma

Former Rick Scott official in line for Pinellas-Pasco judgeship