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

Mitch PerryNovember 6, 2017

The Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida (DPCF) is giving its imprimatur to both Democrats in the Sarasota-area House District 72 seat being vacated by Republican Alex Miller. Businesswoman Ruta Jouniari and attorney Margaret Good are competing in the Democratic primary scheduled for Dec. According to the Progressive Caucus, its endorsement “certifies” that both candidates have […]

Mitch PerryNovember 6, 2017

If Rick Kriseman ends up surviving Rick Baker‘s formidable challenge to be re-elected Tuesday for another four years as St. Petersburg mayor, it will be despite the intense hammering he received at the hands of the Tampa Bay Times editorial page. The Times recommended Baker in advance of both the Aug. 29 primary and the […]

Mitch PerryNovember 6, 2017

A local bill that would make the Jeff Vinik-led Water Street Tampa development a “stewardship district” was passed by the Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation at its meeting Friday in Plant City. But first, state Sen. Tom Lee said the bill needed additional vetting before becoming law. Such special districts aren’t out of the ordinary; the Legislature […]

Mitch PerryNovember 4, 2017

Rick Baker will take endorsements from a squad of ex-mayors over those from out-of-town politicos. The comments from the former two-term mayor came after Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum was the latest prominent Democrat to stump for incumbent Rick Kriseman during the final weekend of the city’s mayoral race. “I honestly don’t think that’s going to help him,” Baker told reporters […]

Mitch PerryNovember 4, 2017

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman‘s campaign — in a bruising battle for re-election against former Mayor Rick Baker — often invokes Donald Trump. But Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum thinks there’s another Republican more apropos for comparison: Gov. Rick Scott. “I know some people say it’s a non-partisan race. Well, let me tell you, when the governor of this state … […]

Mitch PerryNovember 3, 2017

Since entering the race this spring, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King has been bashing the Republican-led Legislature for raiding the state’s affordable housing trust funds. But that’s hardly the only trust fund Florida lawmakers dipped into over the past few years. They’ve also been pilfering funds intended for state prosecutors, which is prompting Hillsborough County State Attorney […]

Mitch PerryNovember 3, 2017

He’s already been endorsed by Barack Obama and Joe Biden; now Cory Booker is putting his stature behind Rick Kriseman‘s re-election bid. Friday afternoon, the New Jersey Democratic senator cut a robocall for the St. Petersburg mayor. “Rick Kriseman is the clear choice for St. Pete mayor,” Booker said in a statement. “He is a progressive and a proven leader, […]

Mitch PerryNovember 3, 2017

A proposed constitutional amendment that seeks to automatically restore some felons’ voting rights appears more likely than ever to come before Florida voters next year. But ballot access is only one step toward becoming law. The amendment must pass with 60 percent of voters next November — no sure thing since it will likely face […]

Mitch PerryNovember 2, 2017

Lakeland city commissioners will host a public forum to help decide the fate of a Confederate statue in Munn Park. City Commissioner Don Selvage told his colleagues last month that the statue’s status is something that must be made by them and not kicked down the road to future commissioners. Debates about what do so with […]

Mitch PerryNovember 2, 2017

President Donald Trump is expecting to put forth a massive infrastructure bill shortly after Congress approves tax reform, a top official with the U.S. Department of Transportation said Thursday in Tampa. Jim Ray, a senior adviser to DOT Secretary Elaine Chao, told an audience at Port Tampa Bay that the Trump administration’s $1 trillion proposal will be broken […]

Mitch Perry

Progressive Caucus co-endorses both Democrats in HD 72 race

Rick Baker thinks media coverage of the race was fair. Rick Kriseman? Not so much

Tom Lee wants to know more about local bill for Water Street Tampa

Rick Baker says his local endorsements are better than Rick Kriseman’s out-of-towners

During rally in St. Pete, Andrew Gillum contrasts Rick Kriseman to Rick Scott

Andrew Warren urges state lawmakers to stop raiding prosecutor trust funds

Cory Booker records robocall for Rick Kriseman in St. Pete mayoral contest

Tampa attorney argues against proposed voter restoration amendment

Lakeland is latest battleground over Confederate monuments

Federal transportation official tells Tampa audience that nat’l infrastructure bill coming after tax reform