Tampa Bay

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 […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 29, 2018

Victor Crist is hitting back hard at comments from Democrat Mariella Smith and her campaign over his intention to extend his career on the Hillsborough County Commission by running for the District 5 countywide seat. Smith is one of five Democrats seeking an opportunity this year to take on the GOP incumbent this fall. The Smith […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 29, 2018

Two Pinellas County Republicans want reassurance that students at the University of South Florida’s two smaller sister campuses will receive “significant benefits” under a proposed plan to consolidate the three-campus system into a single university. Citing “years of distrust between campuses” in a letter to USF Board of Trustees Chair Brian Lamb, state Rep. Chris […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 29, 2018

Freshman Democratic U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist brought in about $486,000 during the final three months of 2017, putting his re-election campaign past the $2 million mark for the year. Crist’s year-end report isn’t viewable yet on the Federal Elections Commission website, though the Crist campaign said it started 2018 with about $1.76 million in the […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 26, 2018

Pinellas County GOP chair Nick DiCeglie joins several heavyweight lobbyists in Tallahassee next month to fundraise in support of his bid for term-limited Larry Ahern’s House District 66 seat. The event begins 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20 at the Governors Club Board Room, 202 S. Adams St. in Tallahassee. Among those big conservative names on the […]

Tampa Bay

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

Victor Crist calls Mariella Smith a ‘political wannabe’ with little to show for herself

Legislative leaders seek reassurance as USF consolidation plan moves ahead

Charlie Crist tops $2 million raised for re-election bid

Nick DiCeglie sets high-powered Tally fundraiser for HD 66 bid