Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Joe HendersonMay 23, 2017

Transportation issues in the Tampa Bay area have been well-documented and they will get worse before they get better — assuming, of course, “better” ever comes. The Florida Department of Transportation wanted to attack the problem with a plan called Tampa Bay Express, or TBX. I’ll simplify: It called for building more roads, including 90 […]

Anne LindbergSeptember 26, 2016

State Sen. Jack Latvala on Monday wrote to the Florida Department of Transportation objecting to any plan to start charging tolls on current lanes of the Howard Frankland bridge. Latvala was reacting to recent news that state officials plan to take one of the four existing lanes in each direction on the bridge and charge […]

Lloyd DunkelbergerJuly 14, 2016

With the fatal crash of Tesla car on autopilot near Williston in May, Floridians already know the future of transportation is impacting the state’s highways. Exploration of that future will be one of the themes when the 2016 Floridians for Better Transportation Summit meets Tuesday and Wednesday at the Loews Don CeSar Hotel on St. […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 6, 2016

FloridaPolitics.com obtained a copy of internal talking points designed to help Jacksonville officials sell the Florida Department of Transportation on advocating a $24 million TIGER Grant for JAXPORT. This project, claims the talking points, “will make JAXPORT the largest wood pellet terminal in the U.S. and enhance U.S. exports by two million tons of manufactured wood pellets […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJuly 5, 2016

Tomas Martinelli is leaving his post at the Florida Department of Transportation and joining the team at Airbnb. Martinelli announced his move in an email Sunday. “As you may know, the people-powered platform and the culture that steers Airbnb makes this opportunity/project an exciting one,” he said. “Although, it wasn’t easy leaving the best agency in […]

Mitch PerryJune 28, 2016

The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday unanimously overturned former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s conviction on corruption charges. In case you’ve forgotten, McDonnell and his wife Maureen accepted more than $175,000 in nice gifts, such as $6,000 Rolex watches and $20,000 in designer clothing from a dude named Jonnie Williams, who was swarming around the couple in […]

Joe HendersonJune 23, 2016

An essential part of the libertarian ideal is a belief that for public services, consumers should pay as they go. The preference is user fees instead of taxes. As we well know, Gov. Rick Scott has strong libertarian leanings. Keep that in mind while considering the 12-4 vote by the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization to […]

Staff ReportsJune 22, 2016

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Florida Transportation Secretary Jim Boxold continues to beef up his staff, now adding Frank Collins, who has been deputy chief of staff to Gov. Rick Scott. Collins will take the new job of “senior policy advisor” to Boxold, whom Scott named secretary in December 2014. Most recently as deputy CoS, Collins had overseen agencies like Space Florida, Visit Florida, […]

Mitch PerryJune 16, 2016

Although Lisa Montelione announced last fall that she would challenge fellow Democrat Mike Reedy in the House District 63 primary election this August, she didn’t officially submit her resign-to-run letter announcing her departure from the Tampa City Council until last Friday. She wrote she was submitting her resignation with “a heavy heart,” and jokingly said Wednesday night that putting […]

Mitch PerryApril 14, 2016

When the Florida Department of Transportation announced their plans to add toll lanes to I-275 in what is now known as the Tampa Bay Express project, Tampa Heights residents reacted in shock last year. FDOT officials said that as part of the ultimate construction of the project, there are properties in Seminole Heights and Tampa […]

Tag: FDOT
Border Patrol personnel deploy tear gas during a demonstration over the dozens detained in an operation by federal immigration authorities a day earlier, in Paramount, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Joe Henderson: FDOT’s Tampa Bay transit plan has new name, but really needs new ideas

Jack Latvala to FDOT: Don’t turn lanes on Howard Frankland into toll roads

State leaders, experts to discuss future of mobility at Better Transportation Summit

JAXPORT makes play to dominate wood pellet export sector

Personnel note: Tomas Martinelli headed to Airbnb

Mitch Perry Report for 6.28.16 — SCOTUS ruling on McDonnell case must delight compromised politicos across the land

Joe Henderson: Rick Scott, libertarians love TBX; everyone else can suck exhaust

Personnel note: Frank Collins moves from EOG to FDOT

Lisa Montelione anticipates ‘increasing’ public service by running for state Legislature

Hillsborough state and local lawmakers celebrate bipartisanship in saving the Tampa Heights community center