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

Mitch PerryJanuary 26, 2015

As most people are aware, motorists in Florida (and everywhere else in the country) can have alcohol in their system while driving, as long as it doesn’t exceed a blood-alcohol content of .08, which reflects the percentage of alcohol by volume in the blood. Two years ago, the National Transportation Safety Board voted to recommend to […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 26, 2015

There were a lot of good things happening in St. Petersburg in 2013, yet city voters overwhelmingly rejected incumbent Mayor Bill Foster, instead choosing Rick Kriseman to lead the city for the next four years. The former City Councilman and state Representative was seen as someone more in synch with where the city was going […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 23, 2015

The 114th Congress elected last November includes 246 Republicans in the House of Representatives, the most since 1947. But with such a large tent, it’s evident that there will be disagreements between moderates and conservatives — and between the GOP-controlled House and Senate, and such tensions are evident just three weeks into the new session. […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 23, 2015

Bob Buckhorn has never been shy about admitting that he’s thinking of running for governor in 2018. And, in fact, he may already be raising money for that effort. Up until the middle of last week, the Tampa mayor was telling members of the news media that he would be returning checks to contributors if […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 23, 2015

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Unlike four years ago, there isn’t that much buzz about the upcoming Tampa City Council elections scheduled to take place in March. The lack of a competitive mayoral contest is the main culprit for the lack of interest, which trickled down to two City Council contests last week, where incumbents Frank Reddick (in District 5) […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 23, 2015

The Hillsborough County School Board’s unceremonious dumping of Superintendent MaryEllen Elia reverberates three days after the fact. In today’s Times, Ernest Hooper bemoans the fact that Sally Harris, the swing vote that went against Elia on Tuesday night leading to her ouster, beat big-time establishment pick Michelle Shimberg in the District 2 race last November, and […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 23, 2015

The Hillsborough County School Board’s unceremonious dumping of Superintendent MaryEllen Elia reverberates three days after the fact. In today’s Times, Ernest Hooper bemoans the fact that Sally Harris, the swing vote that went against Elia on Tuesday night leading to her ouster, beat big-time establishment pick Michelle Shimberg in the District 2 race last November, and […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 22, 2015

Florida House Democrats Dwight Dudley and Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda have been battling for years to repeal the state’s nuclear cost recovery fees, to absolutely no success in Tallahassee. Or much GOP support. But that’s changing in 2015. In yet another indication of how Pinellas County Republican lawmakers got the message last fall from their constituents last year that […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 22, 2015

Bob Buckhorn was within 24 hours last week of being automatically re-elected due to a lack of challenger. But when it was revealed that a write-in candidate had surfaced in Jose Vazquez, the narrative didn’t really change all that much. “With only a frivolous write-in candidate filing to run against him, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn is […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 22, 2015

Marc Caputo, arguably the best political reporter in Florida, is leaving the Miami Herald to go work for Politico. That news came this morning via Politico’s Mike Allen in his Playbook column. Quoting from an email from editor Susan Glasser, Caputo will write a daily Florida Playbook, “as well as leveraging his unique knowledge and […]

Mitch Perry

Jeff Brandes says taking Uber & Lyft is the short-term solution for impaired driving problem

Mitch Perry Report for 1.26.15 – Rick Kriseman strides forward into 2015

David Jolly admits to GOP tensions at St. Pete town hall

Bob Buckhorn already fundraising for 2018 gubernatorial bid?

Tiger Bay forum kicks off 2015 Tampa City Council debate season

Mitch Perry Report for 1.23.15 — Popular (if not elite) opinion on MaryEllen Elia’s ouster isn’t monolithic

Mitch Perry Report for 1.23.15 — Popular (if not elite) opinion on MaryEllen Elia's ouster isn't monolithic

Another Pinellas Republican files bill to repeal nuclear cost recovery fee

Meet Jose Vazquez, the man who dares to take on Bob Buckhorn

The Miami Herald’s Marc Caputo moves to Politico