Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryAugust 30, 2016

Former St. Petersburg City Councilman Wengay Newton is now one step closer to serving in Tallahassee, after besting attorney CJ Czaia and businessman Dan Fiorini in Florida’s House District 70 race, which encompasses portions of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Sarasota and Manatee counties. Newton received 61 percent. Florin was second with 21 percent, and Czaia finished with 17 percent. Fiorini was the legislative […]

Mitch PerryAugust 17, 2016

Wengay Newton has received another endorsement in his quest to win the House District 70 Democratic primary later this month. It’s former St. Pete city councilman, state legislator, and Juvenile Justice Secretary Frank Peterman Jr. who is backing his campaign. Newton has received the lion’s share of endorsements in the four-county district (Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota), which […]

Mitch PerryAugust 10, 2016

St. Petersburg City Council Vice Chair Darden Rice is backing her former council and PSTA colleague Wengay Newton in the Florida House District 70 contest. “Wengay “Newt” Newton has been a longtime leader on many issues, including education, youth employment, and mass transit issues in our region. I have seen firsthand his impressive dedication and diligence on the […]

Mitch PerryAugust 3, 2016

New York Rep. Richard Hanna yesterday became the first Republican in Congress to say that not only could he not support Donald Trump for president (he said that months ago), but he now says he’ll be voting for Hillary Clinton in the fall. “While I disagree with her on many issues, I will vote for Mrs. Clinton,” Hanna wrote […]

Mitch PerryAugust 2, 2016

[Updated with response from Pinellas Realtors Organization.] CJ Czaia, a Manatee County-based personal injury attorney running for the Democratic nomination in House District 70, paid $1,000 last month to St. Petersburg community activist Theresa “Mama Tee” Lassiter for political consulting work. Lassiter is a well-known and somewhat controversial community activist in South St. Petersburg. “She had a one-time payment to […]

Mitch PerryJune 27, 2016

Pastor Manuel Sykes announced recently he was a candidate in the House District 70 race that covers parts of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota counties, with the vast majority of the district’s voters living in Pinellas. It leans strongly Democratic in its makeup. However, Sykes did not qualify for the ballot at the end of the day on Friday, […]

Tag: CJ Czaia

Wengay Newton one step closer to Tallahassee, wins HD 70 primary

Frank Peterman is backing Wengay Newton in HD 70 race

Darden Rice endorses Wengay Newton in HD 70 race

Mitch Perry Report for 8.3.16 — How many GOP candidates still ‘not there yet’ on Trump?

CJ Czaia employs ‘Mama Tee’ Lassiter as political consultant in HD 70 race

HD 70 candidate Manuel Sykes fails to sign disclosure form — doesn’t make it on the ballot