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

Mitch PerryFebruary 17, 2018

Republican state Sen. Dennis Baxley recently withdrew a bill to allow designated people to carry concealed firearms on school grounds. Nevertheless, it didn’t slow down a Democratic congressman from California from tearing into the idea Saturday during a national radio program. Baxley sponsored SB 1236, a proposal to allow school principals or superintendents to designate individuals who could carry […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 16, 2018

House District 69 Democrat Jennifer Webb unveiled a new list of endorsements on Friday in her bid to win a south Pinellas County legislative seat. Webb was the 2016 Democratic nominee in the district and is giving it another go in 2018. She faces attorney Javier Centonzio in the Democratic primary, while Ray Blacklidge and […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 16, 2018

There are a lot of issues in the Tampa Bay area, but it’s almost universally accepted that lack of transportation options is the dominant one for 2018. A 41-mile Bus Rapid Transit plan running from Wesley Chapel to St. Petersburg was introduced to the public last month to decidedly mixed reviews. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay Republicans in Tallahassee […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 16, 2018

For Sarasota-area Democrats, hope springs eternal. Tuesday night, Margaret Good won a decisive seven-point victory over Republican James Buchanan in the House District 72 special election. Now Democrats are eyeing much bigger prey — Florida’s 16th Congressional District held by Vern Buchanan, who made millions owning car dealership before turning to politics in 2006, winning a hugely controversial victory over Democrat Christine Jennings. […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 16, 2018

With Democrats and Republicans sharply divided on the issue of gun control and gun rights, it’s little surprise that less than 24 hours after 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz shot and killed 17 people at a Broward County school, the issues would come up in a race for a contested open seat in the Florida Senate. Democrat […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 16, 2018

For months, it was well-known that President Donald Trump‘s much-hyped infrastructure proposal was only going to include minimal federal funding. In the face of that, a group of Democratic mayors expressed profound disappointment Thursday with the details of the plan. The proposed $1.5 trillion to upgrade the country’s highways, airports and railroads will contain “only” […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 16, 2018

Two weeks ago, Jacksonville Republican John Rutherford and Boca Raton Democrat Ted Deutch teamed up with two other members of Congress on legislation to improve local early intervention programs, an effort that will hopefully prevent school violence. One day after 17 people were slaughtered in his Congressional District — one of the worst acts of gun violence in […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 15, 2018

Wednesday’s shooting at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School hit home for Jeremy Ring — literally. The former state senator and Democratic chief financial officer candidate lives less than a mile from where America’s latest gun massacre took place. Ring became angry that in all the statements and news releases from Republicans over the previous 24 […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 15, 2018

Kristen Rosen Gonzalez is responding to the shooting in Broward County that left 17 dead by calling on Congress to enact a $2 per bullet excise tax to be used to retrofit schools and help with the treatment of victims of gun violence. The Miami Beach City Commissioner and candidate for Florida’s 27th Congressional District said […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 15, 2018

Florida law pre-empts local governments from passing any ordinances which regulate guns, a reality that Tampa residents became acutely aware ofwhen Mayor Bob Buckhorn attempted to keep his downtown safe ahead of the 2012 Republican National Convention. That 2011 law was mentioned briefly at the beginning of Thursday’s Tampa City Council meeting following the mass shooting Wednesday at a high […]

Mitch Perry

California lawmaker calls out Dennis Baxley over his guns in schools proposal

Jennifer Webb rolls out new list of community members backing her HD 69 campaign

Business leader pitches Tampa Bay light rail, but not on backs of local taxpayers

An early look at the Vern Buchanan-David Shapiro CD 16 showdown

In wake of Parkland shooting, gun control become an issue in state Senate race

Bob Buckhorn says mayors ‘let down’ by Donald Trump’s infrastructure plan

In wake of Parkland shooting, Ted Deutch urges Congress to pass school safety bill

Parkland resident Jeremy Ring angered by GOP leaders refusing to talk gun control

Florida congressional candidate calls for bullet excise tax to make schools safer

Tampa City Council chair slams state lawmakers after school shooting