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

Mitch PerryApril 5, 2017

Charlie Crist is reporting more than $717,000 raised in the first quarter of 2017, a record-breaking amount for any freshman lawmaker during the first months in office. “I’m humbled by this historic outpouring of early support and honored that so many people are rallying behind the people of Pinellas County,” Crist said in a statement. “This is a part […]

Mitch PerryApril 4, 2017

Legislation to regulate transportation network companies (TNC) in Florida advanced Tuesday on its second reading through the Florida House. The bill sponsored by Palm Harbor Republican Chris Sprowls and Tampa Republican Jamie Grant (HB 221) requires ride-sharing companies to have third-parties conduct local and national criminal background checks on drivers. “That includes a multistage, multi-jurisdictional background check, a […]

Mitch PerryApril 4, 2017

Legislation that would bring new measures of accountability to Florida’s Public Service Commission passed a House Committee on Tuesday. Pinellas Republican Kathleen Peters’s bill (HB 7071) would create performance-based incentives for utilities by rating their reliability, customer service, power plant performance and costs. It also would bar lawmakers from serving on the commission within six years of […]

Mitch PerryApril 4, 2017

After reading published reports documenting experiments on dogs being conducted by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Sarasota U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan has contacted the Inspector General for the VA to demand answers about what’s going on there. Stars and Stripes and Military Times reported last month that an animal rights activist group has accused the VA of conducting medical experiments on dozens of […]

Mitch PerryApril 3, 2017

A bill that would automatically expunge a youth’s arrest record after a diversion program is completed passed through a House committee on Monday, but goes in a different direction than its Senate companion. The House bill sponsored by Seminole Republican Larry Ahern and Deltona Republican David Santiago (HB 205) would allow police officers the discretion to decide when offering a first time juvenile […]

Mitch PerryApril 3, 2017

Bob Buckhorn announced last month that he won’t run for governor next year, saying it wasn’t worth separating himself from his family over the next couple of years. It’s certainly not for lack of how he would run his campaign, based on remarks he made on Monday in Tampa. Appearing with St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, the two […]

Mitch PerryApril 3, 2017

Democrat Scott Fuhrman intends once again to run against longtime Miami Republican Illeana Ros-Lehtinen in Florida’s 27th Congressional District in 2018. “I will be the voice for families across Miami-Dade who are united in saying that the time has come for change in District 27,” Fuhrman said in a statement issued Monday. “I am running for Congress because […]

Mitch PerryApril 3, 2017

In Tampa, Florida Democratic Party Chair Stephen Bittel waxed optimistically last month about the Democrats’ chance of winning back the state Senate in 2020. Notably, he didn’t say anything about the House, where Republicans outnumber Democrats, 79-41. Tampa Rep. Janet Cruz, serving the first year of a two-year stint as Minority Leader and four weeks into the 2017 Session, admits […]

Mitch PerryApril 2, 2017

The 2018 political campaign gets a little more interesting this week when 38-year-old Central Florida businessman Chris King officially enters the contest for the Democratic nomination for Governor. “As many of you are probably aware, next Tuesday I will be launching my candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Governor, and I look forward traveling all […]

Mitch PerryApril 2, 2017

Governor Rick Scott has reappointed Virginia Sanchez to the Governing Board of the Suwannee River Water Management District. Sanchez, 54, of Old Town, is a co-owner of Sanchez Farms, LLC. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and her master’s degree from Florida A&M University. Sanchez is reappointed for a term beginning March 31, 2017, […]

Mitch Perry
Image via AP.

Charlie Crist finds footing in Congress, raises record $717K in 1st quarter

House gets one step closer to passing statewide regs on Uber, Lyft

Bill to reform public utilities advances in House committee

Vern Buchanan calls for V.A. probe of dog abuse

Bill to automatically expunge juvenile arrest records passes, but critics say it doesn’t go far enough

At economic lunch, Bob Buckhorn blasts ‘Koch Brothers led ideology’ in Tallahassee

Democrat Scott Fuhrman relaunches challenge to Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in ’18

Janet Cruz’s ‘tough haul,’ frustrations of the Democratic House caucus

Chris King bills himself as ‘progressive entrepreneur’ as he prepares to enter 2018 gubernatorial race

Rick Scott reappoints Virginia Sanchez to Suwanee River Water Management District board