Tampa Bay

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 […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 26, 2018

There’s something shady going on with CareerSource Pinellas and CareerSource Tampa Bay, and Democratic U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist wants to know whether the U.S. Department of Labor has any oversight in place and if changes are needed to prevent fraud in the future. The first-term congressman, who represents Pinellas County, sent a letter Thursday to Labor […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 26, 2018

The state university system’s Board of Governors said Thursday it was fully behind a plan to combine the three USF campuses, but the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce said lawmakers need to “hit pause” on the consolidation plan. Republican Rep. Chris Sprowls added a provision to the House higher education bill, HB 423, that would […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 25, 2018

Five Democrats have already filed for the Hillsborough County Commission District 5 seat, but there’s no doubt the Party establishment is putting all their chips behind community activist Mariella Smith. Congresswoman Kathy Castor, former Education Commissioner Betty Castor and current County Commissioner Pat Kemp were part of Smith’s kickoff event Tuesday night. An audience of around […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 25, 2018

Chad Chronister was just sworn in as Hillsborough County Sheriff less than four months ago, and he’s already on a pace for more than $500,000 raised as he goes before voters for the first time in November. But he wasn’t the star attraction at his own fundraiser at World of Beer in Tampa’s Westshore district […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 25, 2018

Democrat David Shapiro is reporting $250,128 raised over the past three months of 2017, his first quarter as a candidate for Florida’s 16th Congressional District. That report includes contributions from more than 500 individual contributors from across the district. Shapiro is a Sarasota attorney running against Longboat Key Republican incumbent Vern Buchanan, who has represented the […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 24, 2018

Tampa adult club entrepreneur and activist Joe Redner‘s legal case challenging Florida’s ban on homegrown marijuana will go to trial, a state circuit court judge ruled Wednesday. Tallahassee-based Circuit Judge Karen Gievers denied a motion to dismiss put forward by the Florida Department of Health. Gievers also rejected Redner’s motion for an emergency temporary injunction, but — more […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 24, 2018

Libertarian Alison Foxall‘s fundraising may be minuscule, at least compared to her Democratic and Republican counterparts. Nevertheless, the House District 72 candidate is reporting record-breaking campaign cash, more than any Libertarian has ever raised in a Florida House race. Foxall raised $19,252 since entering the HD 72 special election slated for Feb. 13. That breaks […]

Tampa Bay

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

Charlie Crist wants answers on CareerSource oversight

University system says unified USF ‘just makes sense,’; St. Pete Chamber says ‘slow down’

Mariella Smith says facing Victor Crist is like ‘David and Goliath’

Rob O’Neill — the Navy SEAL who shot Osama bin Laden — visits Tampa for Chad Chronister fundraiser

Vern Buchanan challenger David Shapiro reports raising over $250K in Q4

Court advances Joe Redner’s legal battle to grow medical marijuana

HD 72 hopeful Alison Foxall claims best fundraising ever for a Libertarian House candidate

Florida politics had 11 questions before federal qualifying week. Here are the answers.