Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryApril 28, 2016

It came down to, as we all knew it would, to the enigmatic Victor Crist. After more than four hours of discussion and debate, the decision about whether to place the Go Hillsborough half-cent sales tax on the November ballot was deadlocked between the Board of County Commissioners 3-3, which is what we had known […]

Phil AmmannApril 26, 2016

Gwen Graham’s recent semi-surprise, twofer announcement has the Florida chattering classes (temporarily) taking their attention away from 2016 and toward a post-Rick Scott state Capitol. The year 2018 will mark 20 straight years in which Republicans have monopolized the Governor’s Mansion. Democrats are understandably terrified about that continued dominance, particularly when they consider the judicial […]

Guest AuthorApril 24, 2016

Gwen Graham‘s recent semi-surprise, twofer announcement has the Florida chattering classes (temporarily) taking their attention away from 2016 and toward the prospect of a post-Rick Scott state Capitol. 2018 will mark 20 straight years in which Republicans have monopolized the Governor’s mansion in Tallahassee. The existential terror Democrats face over a continuation of that dominance […]

Jim RosicaApril 21, 2016

Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham says she’s giving up on Congress and “seriously considering running for governor in 2018.” In an early Thursday email, the Tallahassee congresswoman wrote, “I have major news, and I want you to hear it first” (even though at least two news media outlets actually broke the story first). “The politicians, lobbyists and […]

Mitch PerryApril 13, 2016

Here’s a news flash: we’re all going to die. Ideally, it’d be after a long life, but we know that it always doesn’t work out like that. Whether through illness or accident, there’s always the potential for today to be our last day. But nothing brings death quicker than a gun. There are gun deaths […]

Mitch PerryApril 12, 2016

Bob Buckhorn proclaimed the theme of his annual State of the City Address as “We Built This,” a tribute to Tampa’s illustrious history – though it also echoed the theme employed one night by the Republican National Committee for the 2012 RNC in Tampa (also, it was quite similar to the Jefferson Starship’s “We Built This City”). As […]

Mitch PerryApril 12, 2016

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn is scheduled to give his State of the City this morning. Here are some things to look for in his speech. Transportation – In his 2014 speech, Buckhorn called for a funding referendum to support expanded bus service and light rail in Tampa, saying that the goal should be a referendum in the […]

Mitch PerryApril 11, 2016

Happy Monday, y’all. I hope you had a good weekend. I’m feeling good this morning after my Golden State Warriors took care of the San Antonio Spurs last night with dispatch, and are only a victory away this Wednesday from capturing the greatest regular season record in NBA history. The Masters also had some drama. […]

Mitch PerryApril 7, 2016

Gay Talese is one of the great American reporters of our time. Now 84, Talese was considered part of the New Journalism that took the country by storm in the 1960s. I’m going to write about his new book in a moment, but I confess that I’m a little late to the party regarding the […]

Mitch PerryApril 6, 2016

160405121748-paypal-north-carolina-780x439-1024x1024.jpg

Can North Carolina’s controversial religious freedom law that critics say discriminates against the LGBT community redound to Tampa’s advantage? That’s what Bob Buckhorn hopes for, after PayPal announced on Tuesday that it was their canceling plans for a new operation center that would have employed over 400 people in Charlotte, North Carolina, citing that new law. “The […]

Tag: Bob Buckhorn
Helene, early Sept. 27. Image via NOAA via AP.

Mitch Perry Report for 4.28.16 – Go Hillsborough goes down. Now what?

Ben Pollara: Baby got bench: Florida Democrats’ 2018 field

Ben Pollara: Baby got bench — Florida Democrat’s 2018 field

Gwen Graham announces possible run for Governor

Mitch Perry Report for 4.13.16 — Sean Payton’s lament

Bob Buckhorn celebrates Tampa’s renaissance in a fiery State of the City Address

5 things to look for in Bob Buckhorn’s State of Tampa address

Mitch Perry Report for 4.11.16 – Time for Obama to release those 28 pages in 9/11 report

Mitch Perry Report 4.7.16 — Gay Talese, meet Twitter

Bob Buckhorn pitches PayPal on relocating to Tampa from North Carolina