Tampa Bay

Drew WilsonAugust 24, 2018

In the twilight hours of the Republican primary for Florida’s 15th Congressional District, former state Rep. Neil Combee has accused his chief rival in the five-way race of a serious crime: Buying votes. In a press release issued by Combee’s campaign Friday, the Auburndale Republican condemned the campaign of Dover state Rep. Ross Spano for […]

Joe HendersonAugust 24, 2018

Negative campaigning works, right? Obviously it does, but we don’t have to like it. That’s why Hillsborough GOP Chairman Jim Waurishuk sent a straightforward message to his party’s local candidates. The retired U.S. Air Force colonel wants, no, demands … oh, I’ll let him tell it. “IMMEDIATELY CEASE AND DESIST AND STOP NOW!!!” The capital letters […]

Drew WilsonAugust 24, 2018

The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce announced Thursday that it is in favor of the referendum to add a one-cent sales tax to fund transportation initiatives in Hillsborough County. The referendum, backed by “All for Transportation,” made the 2018 ballot last month through the citizen’s charter amendment process. It would bring in an estimated $280 million […]

Staff ReportsAugust 23, 2018

David Shapiro, a Democratic candidate for Florida’s 16th Congressional District, called for all hands on deck Thursday. Namely, he led a protest against Vern Buchanan‘s receipt of a foreign loan to help him buy a yacht. However, Shapiro also faced some criticism of his own from counter-protesters raising questions about Shapiro’s stock portfolio. A story […]

Drew WilsonAugust 23, 2018

Tampa Downtown Partnership, a non-profit group that administers a special services district aimed at bettering Tampa’s downtown, is throwing its support behind the transportation tax referendum that will go before Hillsborough County voters in November. The referendum, known as “All for Transportation,” would add a penny-per-dollar sales tax in Hillsborough to fund transportation initiatives. In […]

Joe HendersonAugust 23, 2018

Ronda Storms said she can take the mudslinging that is a part of running for public office. It’s just the way the game is played. But the Valrico Republican, who is running to succeed Ross Spano in HD 59, will not, not, not stand for the charge in a recent mailer that she voted for […]

Staff ReportsAugust 22, 2018

Incumbent state Rep. Jamie Grant has beaten Republican rival Terry Power in the battle for House District 64, ending one of the more acrimonious primary fights this election season. HD 64 covers a northwestern section of Hillsborough County and some of eastern Pinellas County. At 7:30 p.m., Grant was leading 67 percent-33 percent in Hillsborough (23 […]

Drew WilsonAugust 22, 2018

Tampa Democrat Mike Alvarez said Wednesday that if he’s elected to House District 62, he has a plan to bring much-needed construction and maintenance funding to public schools. The proposed plan, titled the “Make Schools Student Ready Act,” would boost the funding schools receive from the Public Education Capital Outlay Trust Fund, or PECO, which […]

Drew WilsonAugust 22, 2018

Ridesharing company Uber announced Wednesday that Pinellas County is now part of a pilot program to help emergency services respond more quickly to rider emergencies. Currently, Uber said, if a rider hits the “emergency button” in the app during their trip, their location data and the make, model and license plate number of the car […]

Joe HendersonAugust 22, 2018

Ross Spano left no doubt how he feels about the Hillsborough transportation tax referendum that will be on the ballot in November. In a commentary on his website RossSpano.com, he urged voters to defeat the one-cent-per-dollar sales tax increase advanced by the group All For Transportation. Spano, a Republican, is running for the CD-15 seat […]

Tampa Bay

Neil Combee accuses Ross Spano of buying votes in CD 15 primary

Hillsborough GOP chief tells candidates to ‘immediately cease and desist’ negative campaigning

Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce endorses Hillsborough transit tax plan

David Shapiro anchors outside Vern Buchanan’s office, leads protest against yacht purchase

Tampa Downtown Partnership backs Hillsborough transit tax plan

Ronda Storms out to set the record straight

Jamie Grant defeats Terry Power in HD 64 GOP primary

Mike Alvarez pitches school funding bill in closing days of HD 62 primary

Uber brings ‘911 Integration’ program to Pinellas County

Ross Spano says Hillsborough transit tax plan should be no go