Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJanuary 8, 2018

Saying he’s proud to be the underdog in the race, Topher Morrison is running for Tampa mayor, becoming the second candidate to declare for the March 2019 elections. Morrison made the announcement Monday at the 1895 Kitchen-Bar-Market on Franklin Street (the oldest building in downtown Tampa), speaking at a podium literally backed by friends and other small-business people. […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 7, 2018

Tampa Bay is more than a body of water — so much more. To start, an admission: I really missed writing about Tampa Bay, particularly its politics. With all that is going on in the region surrounding my beloved St. Petersburg, it was tough to resist being drawn back into the fray. And in the […]

Mitch PerryDecember 27, 2017

While most of the country considered 2017 an electoral “off-year,” that wasn’t the case in the Tampa Bay region, thanks to the St. Petersburg municipal elections. Here’s this reporter’s list of the top ten political news stories of the year: 10. — Bob Buckhorn decides not to run for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. For years, the […]

Peter SchorschDecember 26, 2017

Tampa residents really like Bob Buckhorn. A new citywide poll is showing three-quarters of Tampa voters approve of the mayor’s job performance — and more than half will support a mayor like Buckhorn, one who will continue his policies. They also favor Tampa developing a citywide rail system to ease traffic congestion, paid for by taxpayers. […]

Mitch PerryDecember 15, 2017

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Like most of his colleagues, Mike Suarez will soon be heading into his final year on the Tampa City Council—he’s term-limited in 2019. But the 54-year-old West Tampa native and District 1 councilman is considered to be set on staying in city government once his term ends. How? By becoming the next mayor, succeeding a similarly term-limited […]

Mitch PerryDecember 6, 2017

If found guilty of murder, the accused Seminole Heights killer should receive the death penalty, so say Republican attorney general candidates Ashley Moody and Ross Spano. In a letter Wednesday to Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren, Spano, who also serves as the chair of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee in the Florida Legislature, says the facts in […]

Mitch PerryDecember 6, 2017

Nearly three months after Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn engaged in a verbal skirmish about who had the power to call for an emergency curfew in Tampa, County Commissioners would like local state legislators to weigh in. The issue goes back to the days leading up the arrival of Hurricane Irma […]

Mitch PerryDecember 5, 2017

Former Hillsborough County Commissioner and transit advocate Ed Turanchik is seriously considering entering running for Tampa mayor in 2019. “There’s been overwhelming broad-based encouragement from people that I should do it and that I needed to do it,” Turanchik told Florida Politics Tuesday afternoon. The Tampa Bay Times initially reported his of his renewed interest. The […]

Mitch PerryDecember 4, 2017

Philanthropist and former banker David Straz Jr. had a coming-out party (of sorts) Sunday, hosting a spaghetti lunch for more than 250 people in West Tampa. It was his first public appearance since forming an exploratory committee two months ago for a potential run for Tampa mayor in 2019. The 74-year-old Wisconsin native already had enjoyed a […]

Mitch PerryNovember 29, 2017

Updated Gov. Rick Scott came to Tampa early Wednesday to thank the officers involved in the arrest of 24-year-old Howell Emanuel Donaldson III, the man suspected of killing four people in Seminole Heights over the past six weeks. “To the families of Benjamin Mitchell, Monica Hoffa, Anthony Naiboa and Ronald Felton, my heart goes out to […]

Tag: Bob Buckhorn
Image via Grok.

Self-proclaimed underdog Topher Morrison announces bid for Tampa mayor

Not Just A Body Of Water — 1.7.18

Mitch Perry’s review of top Tampa Bay stories of 2017

New survey shows Tampa voters really like Bob Buckhorn, police

Mike Suarez talks Tampa—but not own political future

GOP AG candidates want death penalty for Seminole Heights killer case

Hillsborough Commissioners want Legislature to address who has curfew power

Ed Turanchik seriously considers Tampa mayoral run in 2019

David Straz makes first public appearance as potential Tampa mayoral candidate

Rick Scott visits Tampa Police following arrest of Seminole Heights killer