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

Mitch PerryOctober 31, 2017

After a nine-year interregnum, El Al Israel Airlines will resume nonstop flights from Miami to Tel Aviv, Israel, this weekend. Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine expects to be on that inaugural flight as it travels back to Israel. In May, Miami International Airport and El Al officials made it official. Starting in November, the Miami Herald reported, the Israeli-based […]

Mitch PerryOctober 31, 2017

On Halloween morning, Tampa U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor said Americans shouldn’t be fearful about signing up for the Affordable Care Act, which begins open enrollment on Wednesday. “Do not let them scare you away from affordable health insurance,” Castor said at a news conference held at the Old Tampa Bookstore in downtown Tampa. Open enrollment […]

Mitch PerryOctober 31, 2017

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To date, Winter Park affordable housing executive Chris King has been the lone Democrat in the gubernatorial race boasting an entrepreneurial business background. But that could change later this week if Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine enters the fray. While Levine has served in public office for the past four years, his entire career before that […]

Mitch PerryOctober 31, 2017

Rick Kriseman‘s campaign received another high-profile boost as Martin O’Malley made a trip to campaign headquarters early Monday evening. A visit by the former Maryland Governor and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate was yet another indication of how serious the Democratic National Committee and Florida Democratic Party are in seeing Kriseman get re-elected as St. Petersburg mayor next week. O’Malley […]

Mitch PerryOctober 30, 2017

(UPDATE) Before the 2017 Legislative Session, a number of Florida lawmakers — on both sides of the aisle — talked a good game on criminal justice reform. Nevertheless, they fell far short on a number of fronts. But there’s always next year, which is why Democratic state Rep. Ben Diamond of St. Petersburg is proposing legislation (HB 481) to […]

Mitch PerryOctober 30, 2017

Vern Buchanan still wants heads to roll at the Internal Revenue Service. Nearly two months after Donald Trump‘s Justice Department announced plans to charge former IRS official Lois Lerner over her role in the Tea Party targeting scandal, the Sarasota Republican congressman said the DOJ should reevaluate that position, following the news that the IRS officials admitted to […]

Mitch PerryOctober 30, 2017

The St. Petersburg municipal elections are officially nonpartisan in law — but certainly not in spirit when it comes to the mayoral and District 6 City Council races this year. That’s not a real issue in the District 2 race, where both Barclay Harless and Brandi Gabbard are Democrats battling each other to represent the Gateway/Gandy […]

Mitch PerryOctober 30, 2017

As Veterans Day approaches, more than 40 local members of the armed forces were honored Monday for service during the Vietnam War at a pinning ceremony at Tampa’s Bryan Glazer Family Jewish Community Center. “Some of you were not welcomed home with open arms — many were — but if you were not … we’re going […]

Mitch PerryOctober 30, 2017

Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning is the latest leading county Republican name to back Ardian Zika‘s candidacy for the House District 37 seat next year. “Ardian Zika will fight for Florida students in Tallahassee,” Browning said Monday in a statement from the Zika campaign. “With five young children, Ardian knows and understands firsthand the importance of providing […]

Mitch PerryOctober 29, 2017

For Bill Nelson, it’s not enough for Democrats both in Florida and nationally to be critical and watch the Republican Party self-immolate in Washington. It is their duty as Americans to take leadership. “The Republican Party will have to answer to the path that they’ve chosen,” Nelson told hundreds of Democrats gathered Saturday at the Florida Democratic […]

Mitch Perry

Philip Levine to fly El Al inaugural direct flight from Miami to Tel Aviv

Kathy Castor: Don’t be scared to sign up for Affordable Care Act

Chris King doesn’t lack for confidence

Martin O’Malley hits the phones for Rick Kriseman in St. Pete

Ben Diamond wants to unshackle judges from minimum drug sentencing

Vern Buchanan still wants ‘heads to roll’ in IRS targeting scandal

Darden Rice, Ken Welch give to both sides in St. Pete District 2 race

Veterans recognized at Tampa Vietnam War commemoration

Pasco Superintendent Kurt Browning supporting Ardian Zika in HD 37

Bill Nelson to Florida Democrats: We have a ‘duty’ to clean up Trump’s mess