Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryFebruary 6, 2018

Longtime local educator Dr. Stacy Hahn is making another run for Hillsborough County School Board District 2, the seat currently held by Sally Harris. “As an educator, working professional and mother, I’ve seen firsthand how a quality education can change a life,” Hahn said in a statement. “I’m running for the School Board to use […]

Mitch PerryOctober 12, 2017

A report about an intense confrontation between Hillsborough County School board members April Griffin and Tamara Shamburger at a Florida School Board Association training event went viral Wednesday, prompting a potential political opponent of Griffin to describe it as “another April Griffin tantrum.” Kelso Tanner is a political consultant who is running for the District […]

Mitch PerryDecember 8, 2016

For the #NeverTrumper Republicans out there, this Trump presidency might work out pretty well, after all. Jeb Bush was seen doing cartwheels after Trump selected Betty DeVos to become his Secretary of Education. “I’m so excited,” Bush said last week at the National Summit on Education Reform, sponsored by the Foundation for Excellence in Education, which Bush founded and chairs and […]

Mitch PerryDecember 6, 2016

After a rough start, Hillsborough County Democrats re-elected Ione Townsend as party chair Monday night. A raucous first 50 minutes of the group’s reorganization meeting culminated in five Tampa City Council members and two Hillsborough County school board members leaving the hall in disgust when they were not allowed to participate in the Democratic Executive […]

Joe HendersonOctober 6, 2016

Although Hurricane Matthew is not projected to strike Hillsborough County, public school classes are canceled for Friday so multiple buildings can be used to shelter evacuees from other areas. Designated evacuation centers include Brandon, Strawberry Crest, and Riverview high schools; along with Summerfield Crossing Elementary in Riverview; Pizzo Elementary near the University of South Florida, […]

Joe HendersonAugust 4, 2016

Things really got nasty around the Hillsborough County School Board in early 2015. That’s when four of the seven members voted to fire Superintendent MaryEllen Elia. They didn’t like her brusque and dismissive style. They felt Elia believed the board worked for her, not vice versa. The move was, to understate matters, highly controversial. Oh, […]

Mitch PerryDecember 30, 2015

As first said by Greek philosopher Heraclitus, in the universe change is the only constant. Nowhere was that more applicable than in Tampa Bay during the past 12 months. From the much-ballyhooed dismissal of MaryEllen Elia as Hillsborough County School Board District superintendent to redistricting and the rising (and falling) fortunes for hizzoner Bob Buckhorn, many of the leading […]

Mitch PerryMay 8, 2015

Ever since Ed Homan was termed-out of his House District 60 seat in North Tampa in 2010, it’s bounced back and forth in terms of political affiliation over the three subsequent elections. Republican Shawn Harrison won in the big Republican years of 2010 and 2014, and Democrat Mark Danish took it in 2012, the same year […]

Mitch PerryApril 21, 2015

A task force formed to study severe racial disparities in discipline and graduation rates for black and Latino teen boys in Hillsborough County presented its recommendations to the school board Tuesday. The recommendations include revisions to the school handbook’s code of conduct, a student bill of rights, and sustainability, said task force member Manny Rivero, executive […]

Mitch PerryApril 21, 2015

The Hillsborough County School Board on Tuesday approved a two-year contract for new superintendent Jeff Eakins that will pay him $225,000 annually beginning July 1. It then must be approved by the board on an annual basis beginning in 2018. The audience at the school board meeting erupted in cheers after his contract was unanimously OK’d […]

Tag: April Griffin

Stacy Hahn takes another crack at the Hillsborough School Board

April Griffin waves off Kelso Tanner’s comments

Mitch Perry Report for 12.8.16 – Al Gore gets punk’d

Uproar at Hillsborough DEC meeting; City Council, School Board members leave in disgust

Hillsborough schools cancel classes to be shelters for Matthew evacuees

Joe Henderson: Supporters of MaryEllen Elia now get chance for revenge at ballot box

Mitch Perry’s Top 10 stories of 2015 in Hillsborough politics

Mike Reedy aims to put HD 63 back in Democratic column

Hillsborough School Board hears minority task force report

Hillsborough County schools hire new superintendent