Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannJune 16, 2017

Republican state Rep. Shawn Harrison is holding a campaign kickoff party later this month to launch his re-election bid in House District 63. The event, hosted by House Majority 2016 and featuring special guest Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, is Thursday, June 29, beginning 5 p.m. at the historic Tampa Theater, 711 N. Franklin St. Included […]

Mitch PerryJune 5, 2017

In 2016, Democrats targeted a handful of Florida House districts they believed they could flip from red to blue. One of them was Hillsborough County’s House District 63, where the Florida Democratic Party put some money behind Lisa Montelione in her bid to oust Republican incumbent Shawn Harrison. After a close race, Harrison ultimately prevailed, 51 to 49 […]

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 […]

Mitch PerryMarch 9, 2017

Bob Buckhorn’s decision not to run for Governor is eliciting plenty of reaction in Tampa. Many people say they are not surprised Buckhorn has chosen not to pursue a path to the top political job in Florida. “Am I the only one who felt he wasn’t heading in that direction?” asked City Councilwoman Yolie Capin. “I truly believe that he made […]

Mitch PerryDecember 20, 2016

At a town-hall meeting in Tampa’s Ybor City, newly-elected Senate District 19 Democrat Darryl Rouson said he feels that, finally, a serious attempt at criminal justice reform is going to take place in the Florida Legislature in 2017. “It’s my intention to change the Black Caucus this year so that all 28 members … really stand up […]

Mitch PerryDecember 7, 2016

“Image is everything” that great philosopher, Andre Agassi, once said in a series of television ads for Canon in the early 1990’s. Though a bit of an exaggeration, there’s no question that the image of the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee has taken a significant body blow following its reorganization meeting on Monday night. To recap: Party Chair Ione Townsend concluded that the party’s by-laws […]

Mitch PerryNovember 9, 2016

A change in government in Washington has been preceded by a changing of the guard at one of the Tampa Bay area’s most troubled government agencies, the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission. On the same day the PTC finally approved rules legalizing ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft to operate in the county, the agency lost […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 7, 2016

David Singer, the South Tampa-based land use attorney now running as a Democrat in the Florida House District 60 race, has received a nice boost to his campaign by getting the endorsement of all seven members of the Tampa City Council. Singer is running against Republican Jackie Toledo in the race on Nov. 8. Toledo, a professional […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 2, 2016

They did it last night. After nearly four hours of discussion, the Tampa City Council voted 4-2 to support the biggest infusion of taxpayer dollars ever to attempt to improve the city’s stormwater infrastructure, which for decades has been a major problem in the city. Mike Suarez, Lisa Montelione, Harry Cohen and swing vote Guido Maniscalco opted to support Mayor Bob Buckhorn‘s proposal, […]

Mitch PerryJuly 5, 2016

The Democratic Party platform’s most recent draft was published Friday, and is ready for your reading enjoyment, before it’s reviewed and ultimately approved this coming weekend in Orlando. With Bernie Sanders‘ only leverage these days to exert as much of his influence as possible on this hallowed document, it is instructive to learn the Bernster […]

Tag: Frank Reddick
Las Vegas Strip transforms into a Grand Prix.

Shawn Harrison kicks off HD 63 re-election bid at Tampa Theater June 29

Bob Buckhorn crosses party lines to help Shawn Harrison’s bid for re-election

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

The political class react to Bob Buckhorn’s decision not to run for Governor

At town hall in Ybor City, Darryl Rouson says climate is good for “true” criminal justice reform

Mitch Perry Report for 12.7.16 – The Hillsborough County DEC melts down

Kyle Cockream to step down from Hillsborough County PTC at the end of the year

Entire Tampa City Council comes out in support of David Singer in House District 60 race

Mitch Perry Report for 9.2.16 — Tampa City Council approves $251 million to improve stormwater system

Mitch Perry Report for 7.5.16 — Bernie Sanders says the DNC’s platform still needs work