Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJune 10, 2015

The big news in the Tampa Bay area Wednesday morning is Mike Salinero‘s exclusive in The Tampa Tribune that Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill is prepared to recommend to county commissioners and Mayor Bob Buckhorn that a half-cent sales transit tax be put on the ballot in 2016, with 60 percent of the revenue going to […]

Mitch PerryJune 2, 2015

It’s an age-old tradition, and Bob Buckhorn and Rahm Emanuel are following suit. The respective mayors of Tampa and Chicago are betting on the results of the Stanley Cup, the National Hockey League championship. The series faces off Wednesday evening between the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning in Tampa’s Amalie Arena. Buckhorn is putting a […]

Tony DeSistoJune 1, 2015

Google is a giant. It is a giant success, giant company, and a giant in its industry. Did you know, though, that Gmail, one of the most popular email platforms on the Internet, was thought up, tested, and proposed during what is referred to as “dabble time”? Google encourages its employees to use 20 percent […]

Mitch PerryMay 28, 2015

While the political world watches and waits to see whether U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson will announce his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Senate, establishment favorite U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy continues to stockpile endorsements. Thursday the South Florida congressman announced eight Broward County Democrats getting behind his Senate campaign. They are: Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack […]

Mitch PerryMay 26, 2015

It looks like MaryEllen Elia is going to land on her feet after all. The recently ousted Hillsborough County School superintendent is about to be named New York’s next education commissioner, according to the Buffalo News. The website reports that the State Board of Regents in New York are preparing to appoint Elia, who hails from nearby Lewiston, […]

Mitch PerryMay 22, 2015

Members of two important Tampa Bay area agencies got huge news this week. Among the more than three dozen bills that Gov. Rick Scott signed into law on Thursday included a child welfare bill that lifts a cloud from over the Hillsborough County Children’s Board and the Pinellas County Juvenile Welfare Board. They faced a local referendum next […]

Mitch PerryMay 22, 2015

Happy Memorial Day Weekend to you all, which by the way, is the earliest we can ever have such a holiday, with this Monday only being May 25. Incidentally, Labor Day will take place as late as it can this year (Sept. 7), which will actually be a factor in delaying the NFL season by […]

Mitch PerryMay 11, 2015

For years, attempts to revive the historic Fort Homer Westerly Armory in West Tampa became a fruitless endeavor. That changed two years ago, when the Tampa Jewish Community Center and Federation realized the 100,000-square-foot space on North Howard Avenue just south of I-275 could fulfill its need to have a presence farther south in Tampa than its […]

Phil AmmannMay 8, 2015

After calling for federal review of police practices in vehicle and bicycle code enforcement, both Tampa police and Mayor Bob Buckhorn insist there is no need to further expand an upcoming Justice Department investigation. That’s despite a WTSP-TV report showing the Tampa Police Department arrested more black people than any other law enforcement agency on […]

Mitch PerryApril 30, 2015

A half-hour after Eric Ward was named the new Tampa police chief on Thursday, two city council members joined a coalition of activist groups who again called on the Tampa Police Department to temporarily stop their current bike citation policy. Council Chairman Frank Reddick and District 7 Councilwoman Lisa Montelione joined members of the ACLU, […]

Tag: Bob Buckhorn

Mitch Perry Report for 6.10.15 — Game-changing developments?

Bob Buckhorn, Rahm Emanuel bet on Stanley Cup

Tony DeSisto: Online tools fuel local government vitality

Patrick Murphy unveils latest list of Democratic endorsements

MaryEllen Elia about to become New York state’s new education chancellor

Rick Scott signs bill that could help Hillsborough County with transit tax

Mitch Perry Report for 5.22.15 — On Donald Trump, James Harden & what local taxpayers should pay for

Bryan Glazer gives $4 million for new Jewish center in West Tampa

WTSP: TPD, Bob Buckhorn say no need for further review on race arrest rates

2 Tampa City Council members say bike policy will guide votes on new police chief