Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryFebruary 24, 2018

Chanting “we want change now,” hundreds of Blake High School students marched to Curtis Hixon Park Friday afternoon, calling for gun-control measures in the wake of the massacre in Parkland last week. The crowd was stacked with mostly students, joined by other Tampa Bay area activists determined to perhaps finally see gun regulations enacted following […]

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 PerryJanuary 25, 2018

Five Democrats have already filed for the Hillsborough County Commission District 5 seat, but there’s no doubt the Party establishment is putting all their chips behind community activist Mariella Smith. Congresswoman Kathy Castor, former Education Commissioner Betty Castor and current County Commissioner Pat Kemp were part of Smith’s kickoff event Tuesday night. An audience of around […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 11, 2018

In past election cycles, the Hillsborough County Democratic Party struggled to field legitimate candidates to challenge Republicans in local and statewide elections. This year, that’s not the case, with the county’s District 5 race a shining example. No fewer than five Democrats have filed to run in the (theoretically) open countywide seat, where the biggest […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 8, 2018

Kathy Castor is endorsing longtime neighborhood and environmentalist activist Mariella Smith in her bid for Hillsborough County Commission District 5. “Mariella Smith is a champion for citizens, our neighborhoods, a healthy environment and a strong local economy,” the Hillsborough County congresswoman said in a statement Monday. “She has a deep understanding of how to move […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 2, 2018

South Hillsborough County environmental activist Mariella Smith has officially filed to run as a Democrat in the Hillsborough Commission District 5 race. The announcement is no surprise, as the 63-year-old Ruskin resident announced in November that she was likely to file at the beginning of the year officially, in what will be her first bid […]

Mitch PerryNovember 8, 2017

George Niemann decided: If he can’t beat ’em, why not join ’em? The Dover activist, who has filed at least 10 ethics complaints against Tampa and Hillsborough County officials over the past decade, will be running as a write-in candidate in the countywide open County Commission District 5 seat being vacated next year by Ken Hagan. […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 4, 2017

Labor Day 2017 got off to an early start in Tampa, with more than 120 activists joined striking McDonald’s employees calling for a $15 living wage and a union for fast-food workers. The protest outside the McDonald’s near the I-4 entrance/exit in Ybor City was one of 300 scheduled around the nation for Monday. “A union […]

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Donald Trump. Image via AP.

Hundreds of high-school students protest gun violence in Tampa rally

Victor Crist leads all candidates in HCC District 5 fundraising

Mariella Smith says facing Victor Crist is like ‘David and Goliath’

Hillsborough Democrats host District 5 forum, first for 2018

Kathy Castor is Mariella Smith’s first major endorsement for county commission bid

‘Smart growth’ candidate Mariella Smith running for Hillsborough County Commission

Activist George Niemann files as write-in for Hillsborough Commission

Fast-food workers go on Labor Day strike in Tampa, across the U.S.