Tampa Bay

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 […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 24, 2018

Sarasota Republican James Buchanan and Democrat Margaret Good are virtually tied in the House District 72 special election, according to new polling released Wednesday. With about three weeks left in the race, Buchanan enjoys a three-point lead over attorney Good, 49 to 46 percent, in a St. Pete Polls survey of likely HD 72 voters conducted […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 23, 2018

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Republican House District 72 candidate James Buchanan is seeking “legal options” over a new ad from his Democratic opponent, which claims the Sarasota businessman is a climate change denier. In a statement Tuesday, Buchanan’s campaign blasts Margaret Good for “falsely accusing that Buchanan is opposed to climate change.” Buchanan said his pro-environment stance was “a […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 23, 2018

The man who hoped to lead the Republican Party of Florida a year ago now is setting his sights on becoming a Sarasota County Commissioner. Christian Ziegler filed Monday to run for the Sarasota County Seat 2, hours after the incumbent, Paul Caragiulo, announced he would not be running again in 2018. “Why I’m running? Simple — […]

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 […]

Tampa Bay
A sign that reads, Gaza Solidarity Encampment, is seen during the Pro-Palestinians protest at the Columbia University campus in New York, Monday April 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

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

New HD 72 polling puts James Buchanan, Margaret Good in virtual tie

James Buchanan calls Democrat Margaret Good to take down ‘false’ HD 72 ad

Christian Ziegler files to run for Sarasota County Commission

Belleair mayoral candidate responds to Gary Katica’s remarks

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