Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJanuary 22, 2015

It’s been almost impossible to go to any public event in Tampa over the past year when you haven’t heard Bob Buckhorn, Sandy Murman or Tampa/Hillsborough Economic Development Corp. CEO Rick Homans crow about how bad ass Tampa/Hillsborough is doing these days on the economic front. Whether it’s the airport, the port, the EDC, the […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 19, 2015

Tommy Castellano has made a living in the air-conditioning business for the past 39 years, so it makes sense that he disdains the hot air that can be expended during a political campaign. And to him that includes the notion that based on her prodigious fundraising success, engineer Jackie Toledo is the front-runner in the […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 16, 2015

Bob Buckhorn won’t be refunding money to contributors after all. The Tampa mayor appeared to be on his way to winning re-election automatically today, as no other man or woman had filed to oppose him — until late yesterday afternoon. But that’s when a write-in candidate by the name of Jose Vasquez qualified for the race, though he […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 16, 2015

Less than an hour ago, Bob Buckhorn was all but re-elected to a second term as mayor of his beloved Tampa. All that stands in his way is a tomato can of a write-in candidate to whom Buckhorn should send a thank-you note for entering the race, thereby allowing him the opportunity to expend the nearly […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 16, 2015

Less than an hour ago, Bob Buckhorn was all but re-elected to a second term as mayor of his beloved Tampa. All that stands in his way is a tomato can of a write-in candidate to whom Buckhorn should send a thank-you note for entering the race, thereby allowing him the opportunity to expend the nearly […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 16, 2015

There are just a few hours remaining before the filing deadline to run for Tampa mayor and City Council in the March election. At noon today the field of candidates will be locked, and the full-on campaign begins, such as it is. The breaking news late yesterday is the fact that it appears that popular incumbent Mayor […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 15, 2015

You wanna lay odds that MaryEllen Elia holds on to her gig next Tuesday? A casual analysis regarding the fate of the 66-year-old Hillsborough County Superintendent shows that it could come down to the two newcomers to the board, Melissa Snively and Sally Harris. Neither of them are fully prepared to make such a momentous decision, they […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 14, 2015

Tampa area Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Castor met on Wednesday with Roberta Jacobson, the U.S Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. Next week Jacobson will be part of a U.S. contingent of diplomats that will travel to Havana for two days for talks on migration and normalization of relations with the communist island government. The Congresswoman’s press secretary […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 14, 2015

Nationally, Republicans are having all the fun these days. Jeb Bush transformed the 2016 race last month, coming out of the starting gate with intense alacrity, demonstrating to everybody that he’s serious about a presidential run for the GOP nomination. Last week Mitt Romney met with some former fundraisers to essentially announce that he was all in, and […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 13, 2015

During last year’s gubernatorial election in Florida, Bob Buckhorn was famously non-committal. The Tampa Democratic Mayor told observers that he would remain neutral in the contest between Republican Rick Scott and former Republican/turned Democrat Charlie Crist “because it’s in the best interests of my city to do that,” acknowledging that he had to work with Scott […]

Tag: Bob Buckhorn
Lawrence McClure. Image via Florida House.

Mitch Perry Report for 1.22.15 – Hillsborough loses some of its swagger

Tommy Castellano says HE is the front-runner in the Tampa District 6 City Council contest

Bob Buckhorn gets an opponent — sort of — to run against for re-election

On Bob Buckhorn’s remarkable achievement

On Bob Buckhorn's remarkable achievement

Deadline for Tampa City Council and mayoral candidates just hours away

Mitch Perry Report for 1.15.15 – The establishment comes out fighting for MaryEllen Elia

Bob Buckhorn neutral about establishing a Cuban consulate in Tampa

Mitch Perry Report for 1.14.15 — Who will be the Democratic presidential alternatives?

Bob Buckhorn says he voted for Charlie Crist in 2014 gubernatorial campaign