Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryDecember 14, 2015

The Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) issued a statement on Monday giving their full support to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, who has been under a firestorm of criticism in recent days for comments he was quoted as saying last week regarding the open carry legislation being debated in the Florida Legislature. Gualtieri and the FSA […]

Mitch PerryNovember 18, 2015

The House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee in the Florida Legislature on Wednesday barely passed a controversial bill that would allow people with a concealed weapons and firearms license to carry a gun openly. House Bill 163 is being sponsored in the House by Fort Walton Beach Republican Matt Gaetz. It passed with Pinellas County Republicans Chris […]

Mitch PerryApril 15, 2015

Although David Jolly has now publicly stated that he won’t make an official decision about leaving his congressional seat to run for the U.S. Senate until the Fourth of July holiday, you can bet he and his advisers are weighing the pros and cons of such a decision right now. One of his calculations simply has to […]

Mitch PerryApril 13, 2015

Greetings this Monday morning from the Parkway Inn Motel in Miami Springs, right off of Miami International Airport. And when I mean “right off,” I mean I thought a 747 was going to land on my roof last night. Yes, I’m here today for Marco Rubio‘s big announcement Monday evening, where he’s expected to announce […]

Staff ReportsApril 9, 2015

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco thinks selling spirits alongside beer and wine is not an issue of minors having increased access to alcohol, but one of properly training clerks and other employees. On Thursday, Nocco joined other law enforcement officials, businesses, and organizations who have spoken out in the effort to repeal Florida’s Prohibition-era laws […]

Mitch PerryMarch 31, 2015

With his role as the legislative chair of the Florida Sheriffs Association, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri is in Tallahassee a lot these days, arguing for or against bills regarding law enforcement. His agency gets a lot of respect from lawmakers, but the FSA doesn’t always get its way. That happened late Monday afternoon, when St. Petersburg […]

Mitch PerryMarch 31, 2015

With his role as the legislative chair of the Florida Sheriffs Association, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri is in Tallahassee a lot these days, arguing for or against bills regarding law enforcement. His agency gets a lot of respect from lawmakers, but the FSA doesn’t always get its way. That happened late Monday afternoon, when St. Petersburg […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 10, 2015

Last month St. Petersburg-based state Senator Jeff Brandes thrilled advocates for medical marijuana in Florida with a legislative proposal that he introduced for consideration for the 2015 session. It came just months after Floridians voted by nearly 58 percent margin for a medical marijuana constitutional amendment, a substantial mandate, but short of the 60 percent […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 4, 2015

WUSF Radio reported Tuesday that Sami Al-Arian is being deported to Turkey, possibly as early as today. If accurate, this development ends a 20-year legal and political odyssey for the former University of South Florida professor, who was accused and pleaded guilty to one count of providing material support for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in 2006. […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 3, 2015

What a difference a week makes. Last week Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri made headlines when he issued tentative support for state Sen. Jeff Brandes legislation that would legalize medical marijuana in Florida. That was noteworthy, as the sheriff had been a leading critic of Amendment 2, the constitutional amendment to legalize medical pot that received nearly […]

Tag: Bob Gualtieri
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri’s out-of-context quotes lead to misinterpretation, harsh responses

Open carry weapons bill advances in House

How CD 13 race might shake out if David Jolly runs for U.S. Senate

Mitch Perry Report for 4.13.15 — Could Jeff Atwater’s decision affect next year’s CD13 race?

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco joins call to re-examine alcohol separation laws

Mitch Perry Report for 3.31.15 — Jeff Brandes’ civil forfeiture bill advances

Mitch Perry Report for 3.31.15 — Jeff Brandes' civil forfeiture bill advances

Florida House members introduce non-smokeable medical marijuana bill

Mitch Perry Report for 2.4.15 – The Sami Al-Arian odyssey in America ends today

Florida Sheriffs Association opposes Jeff Brandes medical pot bill