Tampa Bay

Mitch PerryFebruary 27, 2018

Ever since legislation calling for consolidating the University of South Florida System was unveiled in mid-January, officials from the St. Petersburg community have raised serious objections. The bill, sponsored by Estero Republican Ray Rodrigues (HB 423), would make USF St. Petersburg and USF Sarasota-Manatee operate separately from the main campus in Tampa under its own accreditation. […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 27, 2018

Former Rep. Ray Pilon is planning a return to the Legislature, but it isn’t due to the seismic shakeup caused by U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney’s announcement that he won’t run for re-election. The Sarasota Republican said in an email to Florida Politics that he plans to file for House District 72, the seat he held […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 27, 2018

With Thonotosassa Republican state Sen. Tom Lee widely expected to leave his Senate District 20 seat in Hillsborough County sometime after the Legislative Session ends to run for Chief Financial Officer, who will take his place? Tampa’s Shawn Harrison and Zephryhills’ Danny Burgess are two names that have been floated. But there’s already a Republican in the race: John […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 26, 2018

Republican Nick DiCeglie announced Monday that Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Ken Burke has endorsed his campaign for House District 66. “Nick has all the qualities to make for an outstanding legislator,” Burke said. “He is a leader in his community and church. He is a good father and husband. He […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 26, 2018

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On Monday, a House committee advanced Hillsborough County’s proposal to create a special district for funding some features of the $3 billion Water Street Tampa development in the city’s Channelside neighborhood. The House Government Accountability Committee unanimously approved HB 1393 that creates the Water Street Tampa Improvement District. Advancing the proposal are Strategic Property Partners and […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 26, 2018

Louis Betz and Travis Mitchell received $130,000 in lobbying compensation between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 to finish out the year with an estimated $520,000 in earnings. Louis Betz & Associates had 25 legislative branch clients and 11 executive branch clients last quarter. Top principals included Waste Management Inc of Florida, which paid $30,000 for […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 26, 2018

While Palm Harbor Republican Chris Sprowls is expected to glide to another two-year term in the Florida House this November, at least the Democratic Party has now put up a candidate to run against him. On Friday, Alex Stephen Toth, also of Palm Harbor, filed to run for the House District 65 seat. Sprowls, 34, […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 26, 2018

The Second Amendment has already surfaced as an issue in the Attorney General race, although a different perspective will likely emerge once Sean Shaw hits the campaign trail full-time. The Tampa Democrat hasn’t done much campaigning since he officially entered the contest last month, but, undoubtedly, he will transition into candidate-mode when the Legislative Session […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 26, 2018

Last week U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney put out the “Rooney out” message, launching a wave of speculation over who could step in and win the heavily Republican CD 17 in the fall. So far, all the GOP candidates running to replace Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam – former Winter Haven Rep. Baxter Troutman, Lehigh Acres Rep. […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 24, 2018

Chanting “we want change now,” hundreds of Blake High School students marched to Curtis Hixon Park Friday afternoon, calling for gun-control measures in the wake of the massacre in Parkland last week. The crowd was stacked with mostly students, joined by other Tampa Bay area activists determined to perhaps finally see gun regulations enacted following […]

Tampa Bay

Last-hour effort to delay USF System consolidation fails

Ray Pilon planning return to House District 72

‘Manners’ time: Republican John Houman still running for SD 20

Pinellas County clerk endorses Nick DiCeglie for HD 66

House advances proposed Water Street Tampa special district

Louis Betz & Associates earns $520K in 2017

Chris Sprowls gets Democratic opponent in HD 65 race

Sean Shaw: Second Amendment silent on assault weapons

How the dominoes could fall after ‘Rooney out’

Hundreds of high-school students protest gun violence in Tampa rally