Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryFebruary 13, 2018

Republican Victor Crist is the closest thing to an incumbent in the District 5 race this fall, as he has served on the Hillsborough County Commission for the past eight years in District 2. He’s now switching to District 5 to run countywide for the first time, and has taken in $76,905 so far. Among […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 5, 2018

Reflecting on his 2010-2011 bid for Tampa mayor, Ed Turanchik said that in that campaign Bob Buckhorn schooled him on messaging — and he learned his lesson. Perhaps that explains Turanchik’s emphasis on branding his candidacy as a “vision” to lead Tampa in 2019 and beyond — reflected both on his campaign website and in encounters Friday with […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 29, 2018

Victor Crist is hitting back hard at comments from Democrat Mariella Smith and her campaign over his intention to extend his career on the Hillsborough County Commission by running for the District 5 countywide seat. Smith is one of five Democrats seeking an opportunity this year to take on the GOP incumbent this fall. The Smith […]

Mitch PerryDecember 15, 2017

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Like most of his colleagues, Mike Suarez will soon be heading into his final year on the Tampa City Council—he’s term-limited in 2019. But the 54-year-old West Tampa native and District 1 councilman is considered to be set on staying in city government once his term ends. How? By becoming the next mayor, succeeding a similarly term-limited […]

Mitch PerryDecember 5, 2017

Former Hillsborough County Commissioner and transit advocate Ed Turanchik is seriously considering entering running for Tampa mayor in 2019. “There’s been overwhelming broad-based encouragement from people that I should do it and that I needed to do it,” Turanchik told Florida Politics Tuesday afternoon. The Tampa Bay Times initially reported his of his renewed interest. The […]

Mitch PerryNovember 10, 2017

In her just-concluded re-election bid to the St. Petersburg City Council District 2 seat, Darden Rice received the backing of the Suncoast Police Benevolent Association, an endorsement of which she’s very proud. She’s also the niece of former Pinellas County Sheriff Everett Rice. Rice mentioned those facts, among others, to an audience at Tampa’s Oxford Exchange […]

Mitch PerryMay 24, 2017

Members of Tampa’s political, business, media and activist communities weighed in Wednesday on the surprising news that Tampa will host the Super Bowl in February 2021. The announcement was unexpected, particularly after the NFL snubbed a local bid last year to host the big game in either 2019, 2020 and 2021. But major rainstorms in Southern […]

Joe HendersonSeptember 21, 2016

One Saturday afternoon several months ago, I needed to drive from Brandon to St. Petersburg. As always, I took Interstate 4 to I-275 in downtown Tampa and headed toward the lovely ‘Burg. Most days, that trek would take me about 40-45 minutes, assuming the weather was good, and there wasn’t a wreck at Malfunction Junction […]

Mitch PerryAugust 12, 2016

If Florida Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam has a central governing philosophy, it might be the importance of having a long-term memory about the Sunshine State. “Having a longer memory I think helps us maintain the types of protections for our citizens that they expect and that they deserve,” he said while speaking at an hour long town-hall meeting at […]

Mitch PerryApril 30, 2015

When he began running countywide as the Democratic challenger to Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair in 2007, Kevin Beckner started out very early. He had to. Very few people in the political community knew him during his debut run for office. Hillsborough County is a huge area to campaign in, plus he was an openly gay […]

Tag: Ed Turanchik
Image via AP.

Victor Crist leads all candidates in HCC District 5 fundraising

Ed Turanchik tees up next Tampa mayoral bid

Victor Crist calls Mariella Smith a ‘political wannabe’ with little to show for herself

Mike Suarez talks Tampa—but not own political future

Ed Turanchik seriously considers Tampa mayoral run in 2019

Darden Rice, Yolie Capin talk regionalism during Cafe Con Tampa

For many, Tampa’s 2021 Super Bowl is unexpected ‘big win.’ Others remain skeptical.

Joe Henderson: Cross-Bay ferry – an idea whose time has finally come

Adam Putnam espouses the importance of water to Florida while speaking at ‘Cafe Con Tampa’

Kevin Beckner starts fundraising early for clerk of courts post