Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryFebruary 8, 2018

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After losing a bid for re-election in fall 2016, Mark Ober‘s career as Hillsborough County’s State Attorney didn’t end on his terms. So during a Florida Cabinet meeting Thursday in Tampa, Ober took the opportunity to deliver a valedictory speech he was denied a year and a half earlier. “I am absolutely overwhelmed to be in your […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 31, 2018

Acknowledging they’ve been behind the curve in criminal justice reform, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office will soon join some of Florida’s biggest counties in offering court diversion for adults. The HCSO announced Wednesday it would begin offering an Adult Pre-Arrest Diversion (ADAP) program for adults 18 years and older beginning Feb. 1. The move comes […]

Mitch PerryDecember 13, 2017

Every day of the year, Americans are shot to death by either current or former domestic partners. From 2012 to 2017, Hillsborough County experienced 61 domestic violence homicides, with over 200 such deaths in Florida last year alone. Citing those statistics, Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren vowed Wednesday to take action, saying he refused to […]

Mitch PerryNovember 3, 2017

Since entering the race this spring, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King has been bashing the Republican-led Legislature for raiding the state’s affordable housing trust funds. But that’s hardly the only trust fund Florida lawmakers dipped into over the past few years. They’ve also been pilfering funds intended for state prosecutors, which is prompting Hillsborough County State Attorney […]

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 PerrySeptember 10, 2017

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Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn declared Sunday morning that a curfew will begin tonight at 6 p.m. in Tampa, and will not be lifted until he and other city officials deem it safe after Hurricane Irma passes. “I’m serious about that and Tampa Police is serious about that,” Buckhorn said, adding, “We will be very aggressive […]

Mitch PerryAugust 19, 2017

This summer, the Tampa Tiger Bay Club has bypassed its normal practice of asking politicians to come into its den. Instead, the civic-minded organization has invited speakers to discuss some of the pressing issues facing Florida. This has often led to advocates and critics of an issue dueling it out during Tiger Bay forums. Not […]

Mitch PerryJune 4, 2017

After the bloody assault at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando nearly a year ago resulted in the deaths of 49 people, 13 members of the Florida Legislature — 12 Democrats and Miami GOP state Sen. Anitere Flores — were on the losing side of a request to hold a special session on gun regulations. Despite that attitude at the Capitol, Michelle Gajda, the […]

Mitch PerryMay 23, 2017

Floridians interested in crime and the criminal justice system in their own communities have a new tool at their disposal. At 9 a.m. Tuesday, the nonprofit Measures for Justice (MFJ) launched a first-of-its-kind Data Portal seeking to bring transparency to the criminal justice process — from arrest to post-conviction at the county level — throughout Florida and other […]

Mitch PerryMay 22, 2017

In recent years, criminal justice reform, especially in drug sentencing, has taken on more momentum, with governors in some of most conservative parts of the country embracing such efforts. In Florida, progressive State Attorney candidates like Andrew Warren in Tampa and Aramis Ayala in Orlando won their respective races last year by running on a similar […]

Tag: Andrew Warren

Florida Cabinet recognizes Mark Ober, David Gee in Tampa

Hillsborough County rolls out adult court diversion program

Andrew Warren announces plan to ‘aggressively’ disarm domestic abusers

Andrew Warren urges state lawmakers to stop raiding prosecutor trust funds

Chad Chronister boasts bipartisan backing in fundraiser invite

Bob Buckhorn warns curfew violators in Tampa as Irma approaches

Advocates push for restoration of voting rights for ex-felons at Tampa Tiger Bay Forum

In Tampa, public officials call for common sense solutions to end gun violence epidemic

New national website gives data on how justice is served in every Florida county

Andrew Warren and Aramis Ayala blast Jeff Sessions plan for stricter sentencing in criminal cases