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

Mitch PerryOctober 13, 2017

A relatively genteel St. Petersburg City Council race between banker Barclay Harless and Realtor Brandi Gabbard broke out into verbal warfare Friday over the issue of political advocacy. The war of words in the District 2 race was over money the Pinellas County Realtors Association is putting behind Gabbard’s campaign. For years, the 41-year-old Gabbard, […]

Mitch PerryOctober 13, 2017

In one of the highest profile appearances since her election in July as chair the Hillsborough County NAACP, Yvette Lewis took a shot at some of the most prominent establishment names in Tampa. During Friday’s Cafe Con Tampa at the Oxford Exchange, Lewis shared brutally honest thoughts on several topics: A lack of diversity at the University […]

Mitch PerryOctober 13, 2017

One could reasonably approach the David Jolly-Patrick Murphy roadshow hitting Tampa Thursday night with a healthy dose of cynicism. Here are two former politicians decrying problems of Washington D.C. when, if things had turned the way they hoped they would, both would have been ensconced in the belly of the beast they were now criticizing. Nevertheless, […]

Mitch PerryOctober 12, 2017

President Donald Trump took the first steps toward fulfilling his vow to dismantle Obamacare, and Tarpon Springs Republican Gus Bilirakis is thrilled. Trump signed an executive order Thursday that calls on his administration to develop policies to increase health care competition and choice with the intent of improving the quality of health care and lower prices. […]

Mitch PerryOctober 12, 2017

A report about an intense confrontation between Hillsborough County School board members April Griffin and Tamara Shamburger at a Florida School Board Association training event went viral Wednesday, prompting a potential political opponent of Griffin to describe it as “another April Griffin tantrum.” Kelso Tanner is a political consultant who is running for the District […]

Mitch PerryOctober 12, 2017

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After running a couple of feel-good ads attempting to rebrand their candidate as hipper than he lets on, the Rick Baker campaign Thursday unleashed a thirty-second ad blasting incumbent St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman as incompetent. The television ad criticizes the incumbent for going over budget on the Pier, spending too much on staff salaries, failing to […]

Mitch PerryOctober 12, 2017

Since Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico 22 days ago, House Minority Leader Janet Cruz has traveled there twice to provide much-needed help to those struggling residents. Now the Tampa Democrat is helping get ready a third shipment of goods. On Wednesday, Cruz traveled with 30,000 pounds of relief supplies to Puerto Rico, her second trip to the ravaged […]

Mitch PerryOctober 12, 2017

When Darden Rice proposed earlier this year that the city hire four full-time legislative aides to assist the eight-member St. Petersburg City Council conduct policy research and reform constituent services, she thought it would be relatively non-controversial. “I couldn’t imagine anyone making this a campaign issue,” said Rice, who serves as the board’s chair. “Frankly, it’s […]

Mitch PerryOctober 12, 2017

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Telling them that their committee will be more important than they ever could have imagined but for all the wrong reasons, Adam Putnam offered a sobering assessment to the Senate Committee on Agriculture about the impact that Hurricane Irma left on the state’s agriculture industry Thursday. Florida suffered at least $2.5 billion in osses from the […]

Mitch PerryOctober 11, 2017

The latest attempt to end a decades-old prohibition on fireworks sales in Florida received its first hearing in the state Senate Wednesday, and it was a bit bumpy. The bill cleared the Senate Regulated Industries Committee on a 8-2 vote, but bill sponsor Greg Steube admits it still needs some work. For more than half a […]

Mitch Perry
This exhibit celebrates late-blooming artistry, proving it’s never too late for bold creativity.

Brandi Gabbard, Barclay Harless clash over PACs in St. Pete Council race

Hillsborough NAACP head Yvette Lewis takes on the establishment at Cafe Con Tampa

David Jolly, Patrick Murphy discuss fixing Washington — it was (sort of) interesting

Gus Bilirakis ‘thrilled’ with Trump’s new health care executive order

April Griffin waves off Kelso Tanner’s comments

Rick Baker ad assails Rick Kriseman as ‘most incompetent mayor’ in U.S.

Janet Cruz, Tampa non-profit join forces to aid Puerto Rico

St. Pete Council candidates agree it’s a full time job, hesitates on pay raises

Adam Putnam says Hurricane Irma was ‘lethal’ for Florida agriculture

Fireworks bill clears first Senate panel