Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorJune 22, 2015

If no one emerges by 5 p.m. Monday evening as a qualified candidate for St. Pete City Council District 3, Ed Montanari will emerge as the council member elect to replace outgoing Bill Dudley. As of Monday afternoon Montanari seems to have it in the bag. No one has filed paperwork to run against him […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJune 9, 2015

Ed Montanari has officially qualified as a candidate for St. Petersburg City Council. Montanari is running for District 3 to replace outgoing Council member Bill Dudley. “Thank you for your continued support and prayers as we embark on a successful campaign,” Montanari wrote in an email Tuesday afternoon announcing he had filed the paperwork. Tuesday […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJune 2, 2015

St. Pete City Council candidate Ed Montanari has raised more than $45,000, according to sources close to his campaign. The total so far comes from more than 175 contributors. Montanari has not posted first quarter treasurer reports, but if the numbers reported to SaintPetersblog are accurate, it puts Montanari at already unprecedented fundraising levels and he still […]

Mitch PerryApril 15, 2015

A new St. Pete Polls survey released overnight shows that if St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman‘s Pier Selection Committee does not choose the most popular pier design from a recent survey conducted by the city, the city council should reject that choice. When asked directly if the selection committee opts not to choose the Destination St. Pete Pier design, should the […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 26, 2015

There were a lot of good things happening in St. Petersburg in 2013, yet city voters overwhelmingly rejected incumbent Mayor Bill Foster, instead choosing Rick Kriseman to lead the city for the next four years. The former City Councilman and state Representative was seen as someone more in synch with where the city was going […]

Mitch PerryDecember 11, 2014

Today’s St. Petersburg City Council meeting will be like every other meeting on the second Thursday of the month after all. There will be some public commendations offered, and the public won’t be permitted to give comments. That’s because Mayor Rick Kriseman smartly opted yesterday afternoon to delay the vote on the deal to allow […]

Mitch PerryDecember 9, 2014

Finally. This morning St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman has scheduled a news conference with officials from the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field to discuss the details of an agreement reached between the city and the Rays. That agreement will allow the team to go outside the city to search for new stadium sites in […]

Guest AuthorNovember 6, 2013

If we’re honest, political watchers like me hate a surprise. We are creatures of prognostication. What does the polling say? Which way are people leaning based on anecdotal information? What is our best guess at the outcome? For election night 2013, the answers to all of those questions broke in favor of Democrats, more or […]

Bob SparksOctober 21, 2013

Odd numbered years are not a political junkie’s delight. Though millions of Americans may wish otherwise, no U.S. House or Senate members are up for re-election. Florida politicos must satisfy their political appetites through local races or ballot issues. One Florida campaign clearly worth watching is for mayor of St. Petersburg. While this is officially […]

Tag: Bill Foster
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Ed Montanari likely to win City Council seat unopposed

Ed Montanari officially qualifies for St. Pete City Council race

Ed Montanari pulls down record-breaking fundraising numbers

New poll shows trouble ahead if St. Pete decision makers reject “Destination St. Pete Pier”

Mitch Perry Report for 1.26.15 – Rick Kriseman strides forward into 2015

Mitch Perry Report for 12.11.14 – Rick Kriseman makes the right call

Mitch Perry Report 12.9.14 – Finally, a breakthrough on the Rays stadium situation

Ben Kirby: Election night good for Democrats across America

Bob Sparks: Campaign for St. Pete Mayor is worth watching