Tampa Bay

Jeff RosenfieldFebruary 1, 2018

Six candidates vying for three open Safety Harbor City Commission seats Tuesday, March 13, will have the chance to interact with voters for the first time as a group. Thursday night, the Safety Harbor Candidate Forum is set for 6:30 p.m. in the Baranoff Ballroom at the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa. Here’s a breakdown […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 1, 2018

Ken Hagan has built a formidable war chest as he attempts to parlay name recognition and extensive local government experience into staying on the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners for another term this year. Challenger Angela Birdsong, however, is not deterred. “He has amassed a lot of power and money and friends, but I think that things […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 1, 2018

Navy veteran and Valrico-based businessman Andrew Learned is reporting he raised more than $64,000 in 2017 in his bid to win the Democratic nomination for Florida’s 15th Congressional District, and currently has more than $22,000 in cash on hand. The district is currently held by Republican Dennis Ross, who has held the seat since 2010. Though Ross’s fourth […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 1, 2018

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One of the most competitive Republican primaries in Pinellas County is in House District 66, where Nick DiCeglie and Berny Jacques square off later this year. DiCeglie issued a fundraising email Wednesday, beginning his pitch by mentioning the white-hot topic of so-called “sanctuary cities” in Florida. “Lately, certain Florida officials have been calling to create […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 31, 2018

Acknowledging they’ve been behind the curve in criminal justice reform, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office will soon join some of Florida’s biggest counties in offering court diversion for adults. The HCSO announced Wednesday it would begin offering an Adult Pre-Arrest Diversion (ADAP) program for adults 18 years and older beginning Feb. 1. The move comes […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 31, 2018

For the first time since he won the eastern Hillsborough County District 57 House seat in 2012, Republican Jake Raburn will face competition in a general election. Democrat Ronald James Vatalaro, a 34-year-old Ruskin resident who works in digital marketing, filed paperwork on Monday with the Division of Elections to run in the seat. It’s […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 31, 2018

It was a simple question: “Where are you from?” House District 72 Democratic candidate Margaret Good has not been shy about being raised outside of Florida. But when asked recently by a reporter with WWSB, the Sarasota attorney seemed hesitant to clarify exactly where outside Florida. Good is facing Republican businessmen James Buchanan, who holds […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 30, 2018

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Three candidates vying in the House District 72 special election engaged in their first — and likely only — televised debate Tuesday night, two weeks before voters decide Feb. 13. Republican James Buchanan, Democrat Margaret Good, and Libertarian Alison Foxall all appeared on the hourlong debate (with commercials) aired on WWSB, the ABC affiliate in Sarasota. Anchor Alan […]

Jeff RosenfieldJanuary 30, 2018

The Town of Belleair’s 2018 mayoral election is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing races in Pinellas County, as longtime incumbent Gary Katica continues to dismiss his relatively unknown challenger, Spencer Connerat, in the lead-up to Election Day March 13. Katica has been mayor of the small Pinellas County community for the […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 29, 2018

Clearwater Republican Ed Hooper picked up a pair of endorsements for his state Senate campaign Monday from clerks of court in Pasco and Pinellas counties. “Ed Hooper knows who how to get things done. In the Senate, we can count on him to make sure our voices are heard and our needs fought for. There […]

Tampa Bay
Image via Palatka Main Street.

Safety Harbor election hopefuls ready for candidate forum

Angela Birdsong not intimidated by Ken Hagan’s fundraising

CD 15 hopeful Andrew Learned tops Democrats in fundraising

HD 66 candidates weigh in on sanctuary cities

Hillsborough County rolls out adult court diversion program

Democrat Ron Vatalaro looks to challenge Jake Raburn in House District 57

Video: Special election candidate struggles to answer where she’s from

House District 72 candidates hold first TV debate in Sarasota

Belleair Mayor Gary Katica refuses to debate challenger

Ed Hooper endorsed by Pasco, Pinellas clerks of court