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

Mitch PerryDecember 7, 2017

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Florida is one of just 13 states with a closed-primary election system, meaning only voters registered as a Republican or Democrat can participate in a primary election. While that may have worked out just fine for the major political parties, many say it doesn’t work for the public, demonstrated by those increasingly opting to bypass […]

Mitch PerryDecember 6, 2017

Janet Cruz came out Wednesday in support of fellow Hillsborough County Democrat Alma Gonzalez in Saturday’s election for Florida Democratic Party chair. “Alma’s experience and background will make her a strong voice for Florida’s working families, women, minorities and young people who feel threatened and uncertain by what they see coming out of Tallahassee and […]

Mitch PerryDecember 6, 2017

If found guilty of murder, the accused Seminole Heights killer should receive the death penalty, so say Republican attorney general candidates Ashley Moody and Ross Spano. In a letter Wednesday to Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren, Spano, who also serves as the chair of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee in the Florida Legislature, says the facts in […]

Mitch PerryDecember 6, 2017

Legislation to give the Florida Public Service Commission “exclusive jurisdiction” for deciding whether underground transmission lines are required for power-plant projects advanced through a House committee Wednesday. Pace Republican Jayer Williamson, who co-sponsored the bill in the House with Palatka Republican Bobby Payne (HB 405), told the House Natural Resources and Public Lands Subcommittee that while […]

Mitch PerryDecember 6, 2017

Even though she was never officially eligible, Monica Russo has been running for the past few weeks to become the next party chair of the Florida Democratic Party — until Wednesday. In a statement, Russo, the president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Florida and executive vice president at 1199 SEIU in Miami, said she […]

Mitch PerryDecember 6, 2017

Hillsborough County demographics are changing more and more every year, but two prestigious boards in the region are represented almost exclusively by white men (or white-led) organizations. Take the Tampa Bay Partnership. CEO Rick Homans and Dave Sobush, the agency’s director of policy and research, came before the Hillsborough County Commission Wednesday to present some […]

Mitch PerryDecember 6, 2017

Nearly three months after Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn engaged in a verbal skirmish about who had the power to call for an emergency curfew in Tampa, County Commissioners would like local state legislators to weigh in. The issue goes back to the days leading up the arrival of Hurricane Irma […]

Mitch PerryDecember 6, 2017

If you can’t beat ’em at the polls, perhaps you can take them down in the courtroom? That’s the philosophy of Pinellas County Tea Party activist Tom Rask, who is suing the Pinellas County Commission following last month’s vote to reauthorize the Penny for Pinellas sales tax. In a lawsuit filed Nov. 22, Rask claims […]

Mitch PerryDecember 6, 2017

Organizers behind this past January’s enormously successful women’s marches across Florida say they’re coming back for more in 2018. Women’s March Florida is calling for a “Day of Action” on January 21, 2018, the anniversary of what has been called the largest political protest in recent U.S. history. Protests will take place in Miami, Orlando, St. Petersburg, […]

Mitch PerryDecember 5, 2017

Siesta Key attorney Margaret Good defeated Ruta Jouniari for the Democratic nomination in a special election in Florida House District 72 Good won in a landslide, defeating her opponent by 44 points, 72%-28%. Good had 6,144 votes to Jouniari’s 2,342. Good now advances to the special general election scheduled for Feb. 13. “I am humbled and […]

Mitch Perry

Florida Democratic chair candidates weigh in on ‘open primaries’

Janet Cruz backs Alma Gonzalez in race for Florida Democratic chair

GOP AG candidates want death penalty for Seminole Heights killer case

House advances bill giving regulators sole discretion on underground power lines

Monica Russo bows out of run for Florida Democratic Party chair

Hillsborough Commission Democrats question lack of diversity in 2 local organizations

Hillsborough Commissioners want Legislature to address who has curfew power

Conservative activist files suit to rescind Penny for Pinellas vote

Women’s March Florida plans statewide events in January

Margaret Good defeats Ruta Jouniari for Democratic nomination in House District 72 special election