Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

Hillsborough County Commission candidates Kimberly Overman and Mariella Smith nabbed key victories in their bids for the open District 5 and 7 countywide seats. The two wins mean Democrats will now control the commission. Smith toppled longtime Republican commissioner Victor Crist 52 percent to 45 percent with NPA Joe Kotvas taking the rest of the vote. […]

Drew WilsonNovember 3, 2018

Tampa attorney Todd Marks, a candidate for Hillsborough County Commission, said he was standing in solidarity with the county NAACP chapter in the wake of a death threat it received for its opposition to the transit sales tax slated for the general election ballot. The death threat came in via a letter, postmarked from St. […]

Staff ReportsNovember 2, 2018

Former Hillsborough County NAACP head Bennie Small Jr. is suing the civil rights group and its current president over procedural votes he says violated the organization’s rules. The Hillsborough County chapter of the NAACP is named in the suit along with current president Yvette Lewis. Small is the immediate past president of the group and […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 1, 2018

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) star Titus O’Neil is backing the Hillsborough County transportation initiative on the November 6 ballot. O’Neil, who is a Hillsborough County resident, released a 1-minute video Thursday urging voters who haven’t already done so to vote yes on the All For Transportation referendum. “This initiative will fund road and transportation improvements […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 30, 2018

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Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White is opposing the All For Transportation tax plan that would increase sales tax 1 percent to fund transportation and transit projects countywide. White incorrectly told ABC Action News the plan does not include road improvements that would benefit drivers: “This is not a roads plan. There is little to anything in […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 29, 2018

Two sales tax initiative campaigns are joining forces in a last minute push to garner support ahead of the Nov. 6 election. All For Transportation and Strengthen Our Schools are asking voters to support 1 percent and one-half percent sales taxes to fund better transportation and transit and public school improvements. The two groups want […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 27, 2018

Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik brought his total contributions from his personal account and business interests to $600,000 for Hillsborough County’s transportation referendum, Supervisor of Elections reports show. Vinik’s Strategic Property Partners, which is behind the $3 billion Water Street Tampa development, contributed $150,000 during the most recent campaign fundraising period of Oct. 13-19. […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 25, 2018

The anti-tax, anti-rail group No Tax for Tracks showed up late to the game last week, sending voters mailers condemning Hillsborough County’s transportation initiative as a giant waste of money. Now two images are floating around social media making outlandish accusations about the proposed 1 percent sales tax increase that would fund both – yes, […]

Joe HendersonOctober 23, 2018

No tax for tracks. No tax for anything. What else is new? The grumpy demographic in Hillsborough County has weighed in on the All For Transportation referendum and guess what? They’re agin’ it! I know you’re shocked. The first mailer appeared in my mailbox Monday. The old “No Tax For Tracks” group reformed about three […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 19, 2018

A group serving the Tampa Bay area African-American community is backing Hillsborough County’s transportation initiative. The Florida Sentinel Bulletin, a bi-weekly newspaper, endorsed the All For Transportation referendum in its Friday edition. The publication isn’t considered a major player in the Tampa Bay market, but it is a key media arm of the African-American community […]

Tag: All for Transportation
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Democrats claim Hillsborough County Commission for the first time in 14 years

Todd Marks stands with Hillsborough NAACP after death threats

Former NAACP head sues Hillsborough chapter

WWE superstar Titus O’Neil backs Hillsborough transportation initiative

Hillsborough Commissioner Stacy White rejects transportation plan

Hillsborough sales tax campaigns: Don’t forget bottom of ballot

Jeff Vinik has now donated more than $600K for Hillsborough transportation referendum

No Tax for Tracks spreads Hillsborough transportation initiative falsehoods

Joe Henderson: No tax for tracks, or anything else in Hillsborough

Black community newspaper backs Hillsborough transportation initiative