Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryApril 1, 2015

It was over in less than a minute. The much anticipated vote for Tampa City Council chairman was decided quickly Wednesday afternoon, as the newly sworn-in council picked Frank Reddick to be their chairman for the next year. As expected, it was a close vote, with Reddick defeating current chair Charlie Miranda on a 4-3 vote. […]

Mitch PerryMarch 24, 2015

The city of Tampa’s uneventful election season comes to a halt Tuesday night. By 8 p.m. we should have a winner in the only city council race that remains undecided — the District 6 battle between Guido Maniscalco and Jackie Toledo. I hate the overuse of the term “Seinfeld” to describe something as being about […]

Mitch PerryMarch 21, 2015

Although Charlie Miranda hasn’t endorsed anyone for next Tuesday’s Tampa City Council District 6 election, he received one Saturday from Jackie Toledo, who’s running against Guido Maniscalco. “Chairman Miranda has done a great job as our council’s chairman and there is no reason to take the gavel away. If elected to the city council, I […]

Mitch PerryMarch 20, 2015

It’s the first full weekend of the NCAA basketball tournament, the time when some writers wax absurd about “brackets” and “the insanity of March Madness.” And yes, there were a couple of thrilling upsets and buzzard-beaters Thursday to begin the first full day of the 68-team championship. As a basketball aficionado, however, I’ve been calling […]

Mitch PerryMarch 19, 2015

The Tampa City Council has an election every year to choose a new chair. The majority has chosen the status quo in recent years, continuing to choose longtime member Charlie Miranda as their leader, with nary a vote for the board’s other six members. That lack of leadership diversity has bothered a few members of […]

Mitch PerryMarch 19, 2015

Tampa City Council members Yolie Capin and Frank Reddick have endorsed Guido Maniscalco in his race for the District 6 Tampa City Council seat that will be decided Tuesday. They made that announcement Wednesday night in Ybor City. Maniscalco is battling Jackie Toledo in a fierce contest to complete the seven-member roster of the council. […]

Mitch PerryMarch 14, 2015

Five of the seven members of the current Tampa City Council have composed a statement expressing their disdain with the negative attacks that keep on coming in the District 6 City Council race between Guido Maniscalco and Jackie Toledo. “While none of us are strangers to the rough and tumble of the political process, we […]

Mitch PerryMarch 3, 2015

Admitting that it hasn’t exactly been a very exciting campaign, Bob Buckhorn said today’s municipal election in Tampa is still very important. “Everyone has an obligation to vote,” he said while coming out of a polling place at the Sandy Freedman Tennis Courts center on Davis Island this morning. “If you don’t vote, don’t complain.” […]

Mitch PerryMarch 3, 2015

The most lackluster campaign that this reporter has covered in his 15 years living in Tampa comes to a conclusion tonight — at least for most of the candidates vying to win the five Tampa City Council seats up for election. There’s not much drama. Though there has been a lot of coverage of the […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 26, 2015

The District 6 Tampa City Council race went into a whole new stratosphere on Thursday when Tommy Castellano issued a blistering statement against one of his opponents in the race, Jackie Toledo. Using words like “pomposity,” “arrogance,” and “an embarrassment,” Castellano ripped into Toledo and the campaign she’s been running, writing, “Mrs. Toledo is the equivalent of a […]

Tampa City Council picks Frank Reddick to be new chairman

Mitch Perry Report for 3.24.15 — Tampa’s election season ends tonight

Jackie Toledo vows support for Charlie Miranda to stay council chair

Mitch Perry Report for 3.20.15 — March sadness

Tampa Council argues diversity vs. status quo in who will lead

Yolie Capin, Frank Reddick endorse Guido Maniscalco in Tampa runoff

Majority of Tampa City Council members express concern over negativity of District 6 race

Bob Buckhorn says he wants to see Charlie Miranda elected in District 2 race

Mitch Perry Report for 3.3.15 — Democracy now in Tampa

Tommy Castellano calls Jackie Toledo and her campaign “an embarrassment”