Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 22, 2015

At Large Jacksonville Councilman Tommy Hazouri experienced numerous budget processes as mayor, as state legislator, and as Duval County School Board member. However, Monday night’s budget was his first as Jacksonville City Council member. During the floor amendments portion of the program, he scored a coup after a reconsideration. A shift of $330,779 from drainage […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 22, 2015

Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill is calling on Sheriff David Gee to investigate the contract awarded to Parsons Brinckerhoff for the public outreach effort for a proposed transportation sales tax. He’s also calling on PB to stop all work on the Go Hillsborough campaign, until Gee’s inquiry is complete. That second action sounds more dramatic than it […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 21, 2015

Fourteen-year-old Andrew Joseph III was killed Feb. 7, 2014, as he tried to cross Interstate 4 in Tampa on foot just west of U.S. 301. He had been kicked out of the Florida State Fair for alleged disorderly conduct. He was among the more than 100 young people ejected that night after a stampede of teenagers had […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 18, 2015

As was the case with Fox News last month, CNN received record ratings for airing their prime time Republican presidential debate this week, with 23 million tuning in. Thanks to Donald Trump the debates have become Must See TV. Too bad the Democrats don’t have one of those. Or how about even holding a debate? […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 16, 2015

The Tampa political scene is still buzzing about WTSP’s Noah Pransky‘s comprehensive and damning report about the working relationship between Mayor Bob Buckhorn and consultant Beth Leytham. Undoubtedly, Pransky – already a George Polk award-winner – will collect a cabinet’s worth of trophies and accolades for his work. (I have a few problems with the […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 16, 2015

Sam Rashid is still a member of the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority as of 7 a.m. Wednesday, despite that by doing so, he is directly snubbing Gov. Rick Scott, the man who appointed him to the agency last year and is now calling on him to resign from the board. “Governor Scott expects him to resign and […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 14, 2015

Earlier this year, a national organization rated the Tampa Bay area as 11th in the nation for traffic congestion. Obviously, the region has problems with traffic, which is perhaps why St. Petersburg state Senator Jeff Brandes called it a “game-changer” today in describing what could be a $17 million contract that the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) was awarded by […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 9, 2015

Rumor du jour is that there will be another candidate getting into the wide open countywide Hillsborough County District 6 seat, but it’s not a Republican taking on Jim Norman. The rumor that percolated over the Labor Day weekend is John Dicks, the 62-year-old former Plant City Mayor and Commissioner, is contemplating entering the Democratic […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 4, 2015

It was famed actor, celebrity and humanitarian George Clooney who once said that he doesn’t tweet. “Just because, I like to have a drink at night. I could easily say something stupid, and I also don’t think you need to be that available.” But there are lots of folks who just can’t help expressing themselves via the tools of […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 1, 2015

Like so many other Democrats who are coming out in support of the P+5 nuclear deal with Iraq, Delaware Senator Chris Coons said yesterday that while “it was a very hard choice,” he was going to back Barack Obama in the most important foreign policy accord of his presidency. “I will support this agreement because it […]

Tag: Bob Buckhorn
U.S. Vice President JD Vance meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Easter Sunday. Image via the Associated Press.

Tommy Hazouri talks budget, HRO, agenda going forward

Mitch Perry Report for 9.22.15 – Hillsborough County transportation tax now DOA?

Teen’s death after 2014 Florida State Fair incident draws Alan Grayson’s attention

Mitch Perry Report for 9.18.15 – Hillary Clinton says she’s up for more debates

About Beth Leytham, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn should’ve gone “Clear and Present Danger”

Mitch Perry Report for 9.16.15 – Sam Rashid ignores Rick Scott’s call to step down

Tampa Expressway Authority awarded first phase of funding for connected vehicle pilot program

Mitch Perry Report for 9.9.15 – Another Democrat to enter Hillsborough County District 6 race?

Mitch Perry Report for 9.4.15 – Sam Rashid is not backing down

Mitch Perry Report for 9.2.15 – Obama getting closer to win on Iran deal