Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonMay 14, 2018

Dover state Rep. Ross Spano announced Monday that he’s earned the support of 12 more current and former officials within Florida’s 15th Congressional District. The Hillsborough Republican shored up support from in his home county with endorsements from Valrico Rep. Jake Raburn, former Plant City Rep. Rich Glorioso, Hillsborough Tax Collector Doug Belden Hillsborough County […]

Mitch PerryMarch 7, 2018

Commissioner Les Miller‘s proposal to have Hillsborough County ban assault weapons died Wednesday after failing to pick up a second vote from the County Commission. The five-member board did come out to support a measure extending the waiting period to buy a firearm in the county from three days to five, as well as voting to advance new […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 22, 2018

— Tampa Bay ranks third statewide in job creation — Tampa Bay added 28,000 new private-sector jobs in the last year, the third-highest number of jobs among all Florida metro areas. In a statement this week from Gov. Rick Scott, Tampa Bay’s unemployment rate had dropped to 3.4 percent, down 1.1 percentage points from the same […]

Mitch PerryNovember 15, 2017

In a move critics called “chilling,” the Hillsborough County Commission voted 4-3 on Wednesday to seek financial reimbursement from four activists who filed a failed ethics complaint against Commissioners Ken Hagan and Sandy Murman. Hagan filed a petition for fees and costs for his attorney, Mark Levine, following the Florida Commission on Ethics’ announcement last month that it found no […]

Mitch PerryNovember 15, 2017

Ken Hagan is offering no guarantees for a possible Tampa Bay Rays stadium move to Ybor City. For the first time since the Hillsborough County Commissioner divulged to the media last month that a site in Ybor City was identified where the Tampa Bay Rays could (maybe) relocate, Hagan addressed the issue with colleagues Wednesday. During […]

Peter SchorschOctober 16, 2017

Chad Chronister is looking to shed the “interim” tag in front of his title as Hillsborough County Sheriff next year, and a peek at the host committee he’s wrangled for his Oct. 25 campaign kickoff shows his support is both far reaching and bipartisan. Chronister has been with the office since 1992 and was a […]

Mitch PerryJune 13, 2017

Former Hillsborough County judge Ashley Moody just kicked off her campaign for Attorney General and is already building support amongst those who know her best – Republicans from her home county. On Tuesday, Moody announced that all five Republican members of the Hillsborough County Commission – Stacy White, Sandy Murman, Al Higginbotham, Ken Hagan and Victor Crist – are backing her […]

Joe HendersonNovember 25, 2016

Pat Kemp officially joined the Hillsborough County Commission when she was sworn into office Wednesday. If she stays true to her nature – and there is no to believe she won’t – Kemp might just turn the Commission on its ear. I hope she does. Most politicians like to play it safe and tell voters […]

Mitch PerryNovember 9, 2016

A change in government in Washington has been preceded by a changing of the guard at one of the Tampa Bay area’s most troubled government agencies, the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission. On the same day the PTC finally approved rules legalizing ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft to operate in the county, the agency lost […]

Joe HendersonNovember 8, 2016

Democrat Pat Kemp defeated challenger Tim Schock for the Hillsborough County Commission District 6 seat. Kemp had 55 percent of the vote for a solid victory. Voters had two strong choices in this countywide race. Kemp, who narrowly lost to Republican Al Higginbotham in 2014, had transportation as her main issue. She has long been […]

Tag: Al Higginbotham

Ross Spano lands a dozen endorsements for CD 15 campaign

Hillsborough Commission rejects assault weapons ban

Not Just A Body Of Water — A weekly newsletter about Tampa Bay politics — 1.21.18

Hillsborough approves filing reimbursement for complaint against Ken Hagan

Stee-rike! ‘No guarantee’ of money for Rays stadium in Tampa

Chad Chronister boasts bipartisan backing in fundraiser invite

All 5 Republican members of Hillsborough Commission are backing Ashley Moody for AG

Joe Henderson: Look for Pat Kemp to turn Hillsborough Commission on its ear

Kyle Cockream to step down from Hillsborough County PTC at the end of the year

Pat Kemp defeats Tim Schock in Hillsborough County District 6

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