Tampa Bay

Jeff RosenfieldJanuary 22, 2018

Last week, incumbent Belleair Mayor Gary Katica spoke with Florida Politics about his opponent in the upcoming election, 49-year-old Spencer Connerat. The 84-year-old Katica, first elected in 2007 and ran unopposed in the last three elections, called out Connerat for his inexperience when it comes to town affairs as well as what he characterized as […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 22, 2018

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A disgraced St. Petersburg police officer behind a brutal arrest four years ago is now heading to court, facing accusations of excessive force. In 2014, Kenneth Pienik, then an officer with the St. Petersburg Police Department, arrested 50-year-old Lithia resident Stephen Woodworth for DUI. At the time, Woodworth was an employee of Pop-A-Lock, an automotive […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 21, 2018

Kay Akins is still “pissed off” about Donald Trump‘s election more than a year ago. “It gets worse every day.” The Naperville, Illinois resident joined thousands of protesters Sunday in what felt like a seismic level of antipathy for the President of the United States, felt in both St. Petersburg and many parts of the country. A […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 20, 2018

The Florida Commission on Ethics decided Friday to give Hillsborough County Commission Ken Hagan the opportunity to amend a petition requesting that activist George Niemann pay his legal fees. The decision came after a commission attorney advocated that Hagan’s petition be dismissed. The county paid Hagan’s attorney, Mark Levine, $7,841 last year to defend the District 5 commissioner […]

Joe HendersonJanuary 19, 2018

The controversial proposal in the Legislature to combine the three campuses of the University of South Florida has drawn the ire of U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist of St. Petersburg. In a letter to Senate President Joe Negron and House Speaker Richard Corcoran, Crist said he is “deeply concerned” over the bill offered by state Rep. Chris Sprowls, a […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 19, 2018

A transportation plan for the Tampa Bay area that would use bus rapid transit (BRT) and not rail to move riders from Wesley Chapel in Pasco County to downtown St. Petersburg was introduced to the public Friday. Called a “catalyst” project because of the hopes that it would jumpstart transit planning in the region, the […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 18, 2018

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, the City Council, and Police Chief Tony Holloway received an earful from the public Thursday as residents expressed their frustration with the shutting down of areas in the south side of town following a parade honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Officers blocked streets, parking lots and other spaces where people […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 18, 2018

The Clearwater Chamber of Commerce’s political committee, ClearPAC, on Wednesday endorsed David Allbritton and Hoyt Hamilton in the upcoming Clearwater City Council election. Allbritton, a retired contractor, is running for Seat 4 against Tom Keller. The seat is currently held by termed-out council member Bill Jonson. Hamilton is running for re-election to Seat 5 against […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 18, 2018

There will not be special elections to replace two Florida lawmakers, Gov. Rick Scott said in a press gaggle Thursday. Scott said that “we have listened to the Supervisors of Elections” and “we’re going to follow their lead.” The two legislators: Villages Rep. Don Hahnfeldt, an HD 33 Republican who passed away in December; and Clearwater Republican […]

Jeff RosenfieldJanuary 17, 2018

The 2018 Safety Harbor candidate forum has received a venue change, moving from the City Commission Chambers at City Hall to the Baranoff Theater at the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa. The event is still set to start at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, with a meet-and-greet in the foyer, followed by a two-hour question […]

Tampa Bay

Belleair mayoral candidate responds to Gary Katica’s remarks

Four years after brutal arrest, former St. Pete officer sued over excessive force

Thousands gather in St. Petersburg for Women’s March

Ethics commission delays Ken Hagan’s legal fee case

Charlie Crist ‘deeply concerned’ about USF unification bill

Rapid transit plan – Wesley Chapel to St. Pete – gets unveiled

St. Pete Police Chief says only problem on MLK Day was lack of communications

ClearPAC backs David Allbritton and Hoyt Hamilton for Clearwater City Council

No special election for Jack Latvala seat, declares governor

Safety Harbor candidate forum gets venue change