Tampa Bay

Mitch PerryJanuary 11, 2018

(UPDATED) House District 69 Republican candidate Ray Blacklidge raised $10,395 during December, his campaign announced Tuesday. This latest haul brings Blacklidge’s total amount to more than $87,000. When combined with funds raised for his political committee, Friends of Ray Blacklidge, his total amount now exceeds $100,000. “Our momentum in this campaign continues to grow,” he said in a […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 10, 2018

A special election in Sarasota-area House District 72 is starting to get nasty, with still more than a month before voters go to the polls. In the past week, the Republican Party of Florida began airing a commercial attacking Democrat Margaret Good, the Siesta Key-based attorney who won her Party’s primary last month. Good is running against […]

Jeff RosenfieldJanuary 10, 2018

Six candidates will be running for three open city commission seats in Safety Harbor’s 2018 municipal election. The qualifying period ended noon Tuesday for the March 13 ballot. The candidates, listed alphabetically by seat: SEAT #1: – Nancy Besore – Scott Long (incumbent) SEAT #2: – Spencer Bell – Cliff Merz (i) SEAT #3: – […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 9, 2018

A Democrat finally emerges to run in the open Pinellas County House District 66 this year. He’s Alex Heeren, a Technology Integration Coordinator with the Pinellas County School District. “I’m running for the Florida House because District 66 deserves a representative who will actually listen to the residents,” Heeren said Tuesday. “Everyone deserves the opportunity to […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 9, 2018

Mike Wells picked up an endorsement Tuesday for his Pasco County Commission re-election campaign from county tax collector and former Republican state Rep. Mike Fasano. “It is my honor to endorse Mike Wells for Pasco County Commissioner. Mike is a true community servant, with the experience necessary to effectively advocate on behalf of Pasco County […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 9, 2018

Deborah Tamargo is stepping down from her position as Hillsborough County Republican Executive Committee Chair. The change is effective as of 5 p.m. Tuesday. By order of succession, Party Secretary Jeanne Webb will assume the interim chair position, Tamargo said. Tamargo’s resignation follows months of controversy that had boiled up inside the Hillsborough GOP, advanced when Webb […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 8, 2018

Saying he’s proud to be the underdog in the race, Topher Morrison is running for Tampa mayor, becoming the second candidate to declare for the March 2019 elections. Morrison made the announcement Monday at the 1895 Kitchen-Bar-Market on Franklin Street (the oldest building in downtown Tampa), speaking at a podium literally backed by friends and other small-business people. […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 8, 2018

Wengay Newton received a rebuke Monday when several high-profile St. Petersburg Democrats announced their support of Vito Sheeley, the political operative challenging the incumbent in the overwhelmingly Democratic House District 70 this year. In a joint statement, Pinellas County School Board Chair Rene Flowers, Pinellas County Commission Chair Ken Welch, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and City Council Chair Lisa Wheeler-Bowman said they […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 8, 2018

Kathy Castor is endorsing longtime neighborhood and environmentalist activist Mariella Smith in her bid for Hillsborough County Commission District 5. “Mariella Smith is a champion for citizens, our neighborhoods, a healthy environment and a strong local economy,” the Hillsborough County congresswoman said in a statement Monday. “She has a deep understanding of how to move […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 8, 2018

An incident at an Indian Rock Beach restaurant led to the arrest of both the son and wife of the late Pinellas County Congressman C.W. “Bill” Young. Beverly Young, 62, and her 30-year-old son, Patrick, were arrested Friday evening. As first reported by WFLA, Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies were called to JD’s Restaurant & Lounge […]

Tampa Bay

Republican Ray Blacklidge continues fundraising lead in HD 69

Margaret Good campaign blasts attack ad airing in contentious HD 72 special election

Six candidates to vie for three open Safety Harbor City Commission seats

Democrat Alex Heeren enters House District 66 race

Mike Fasano endorses Mike Wells for Pasco County Commission

Hillsborough GOP Chair Deb Tamargo steps down

Self-proclaimed underdog Topher Morrison announces bid for Tampa mayor

High-profile St. Pete Democrats now backing Vito Sheeley in contentious HD 70 primary

Kathy Castor is Mariella Smith’s first major endorsement for county commission bid

Wife, son of late C.W. Bill Young arrested in Indian Rocks Beach