Tampa Bay

Drew WilsonJune 14, 2018

Representing more than 500 labor unions and 1 million Florida workers, the Florida AFL-CIO announced Thursday it’s backing House Minority Leader Janet Cruz in her bid to unseat incumbent Republican Dana Young in Senate District 18. “We need a fighter for workers in Tallahassee — to lower health care costs, raise wages, and make sure the […]

Kate BradshawJune 14, 2018

Darryl Rouson is known for his willingness to work with Republicans over the years as well as his passionate advocacy on behalf of his Senate District 19 constituents. A most recent example of this is his support of a proposed constitutional amendment to expand Florida’s homestead exemption, which will appear on the statewide ballot in […]

Drew WilsonJune 14, 2018

There’s a new chapter in the saga of Susan Valdes’ resignation from the Hillsborough School Board. Valdes, now a candidate for House District 62, faced a June 8 deadline to get her resignation letter to the Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections office to meet the requirements of the new resign-to-run law signed by Gov. Rick Scott […]

Kate BradshawJune 14, 2018

It’s no wonder Ken Welch is Pinellas County Commission chair (again) this year. First elected in 2000 and later re-elected four times, Welch is thoughtful and incredibly detail-oriented. It’s clear his deliberative style has contributed to the board’s collaborative, seemingly nonpartisan approach to hammering out policy. “Commissioner Welch is a Chairman’s chairman. A grounded statesman and an […]

Peter SchorschJune 14, 2018

There certainly has been a great deal of change since we published last year’s annual list of the Most Powerful Politicians in Tampa Bay. First of all, the website we published it to — SaintPetersBlog.com — is shuttered after the decision was made to focus all of our reporting energies into FloridaPolitics.com. Second, and more important […]

Bill RuftyJune 13, 2018

Ray Pena, of Lakeland, is running for the Democratic Party’s nomination for Florida’s 15th Congressional District as the first Hispanic-American to seek the district located in portions of Hillsborough, Polk and Lake counties. He is doing it the old-fashioned way, handshaking every person he meets and appearing at all public candidate meetings. He enumerates the issues […]

Kate BradshawJune 13, 2018

First elected to her Tampa state House seat in 2010, Janet Cruz served as House Minority Leader over the 2017 and 2018 legislative sessions. She’s the first Latina to serve in that capacity. While Democratic leaders in the Republican-dominated Florida Legislature often have little influence, Cruz has managed to have some sway. She has been effective at […]

Drew WilsonJune 13, 2018

Susan Valdes’ resignation from the Hillsborough School Board may not have been above-board, something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by one of her Democratic primary opponents in House District 62. As previously reported, Valdes’ resignation from the District 1 School Board seat came in late and was initially rejected by the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections […]

Drew WilsonJune 13, 2018

Tampa businessman Steve Cona announced Tuesday that is running for District 1 seat on the Hillsborough County School Board. “Our public schools should be our biggest economic development engine; a place that cultivates and elevates the uniqueness of every student. As a school board member, I will work to ensure our students are prepared to […]

Kate BradshawJune 13, 2018

Current Hillsborough County Commission Chair Sandra Murman was first elected to her District 1 seat in 2010. Her district includes Ruskin, Gibsonton, parts of South Tampa, Town ‘n’ Country and Keystone. At the dais, Murman, a Republican, has taken some credit for steering the transit debate in 2016 after the Go Hillsborough initiative tanked — even though […]

Tampa Bay

Florida AFL-CIO backs Janet Cruz for SD 18

#10 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Darryl Rouson

Emails show Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections bent rules for Susan Valdes

#11 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Ken Welch

Sixth annual list of Tampa Bay’s 25 Most Powerful Politicians

Democratic hopeful Ray Pena hits CD 15 with old-school handshaking, retail politics

#12 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Janet Cruz

Mike Alvarez weighs in on Susan Valdes resignation controversy

Steve Cona files for Hillsborough School Board

#13 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Sandra Murman