Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJanuary 2, 2018

After they were sworn into office Tuesday morning, there were several allusions on the dais to the fact that with Brandi Gabbard‘s and Gina Driscoll‘s victories in their respective St. Petersburg City Council races last fall, the eight-member Council is now dominantly female. Gabbard easily defeated Barclay Harless in November for the northern St. Pete District 2 […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 2, 2018

Calling St. Petersburg a city of “progress and progressivism,” Mayor Rick Kriseman spoke confidently about intentions for the next four years as he was sworn into office for his second inauguration. Speaking for just over ten minutes on a crisp afternoon in front of City Hall to an audience of more than 150 friends, family […]

Mitch PerryDecember 27, 2017

While most of the country considered 2017 an electoral “off-year,” that wasn’t the case in the Tampa Bay region, thanks to the St. Petersburg municipal elections. Here’s this reporter’s list of the top ten political news stories of the year: 10. — Bob Buckhorn decides not to run for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. For years, the […]

Mitch PerryDecember 7, 2017

Long before he was a member of the St. Petersburg City Council, Karl Nurse was an environmental activist. So it’s no surprise during his time in office he’s built a long and distinguished record on the environment. With just weeks left in his Council career, the local lawmaker was surprised Thursday when he was feted by members of […]

Mitch PerryNovember 7, 2017

Realtor Brandi Gabbard has won a seat on the St. Petersburg City Council, defeating banker Barclay Harless 61 percent to 39 percent. The contest featured two candidates with distinctive backgrounds and policy prescriptions who competed all year long to succeed Jim Kennedy. He served on the board for 10 years, making him the longest-serving current council […]

Mitch PerryNovember 7, 2017

In what some considered the most contentious and partisan City Council race in St. Petersburg for 2017, Downtown Neighborhood Association President Gina Driscoll has defeated businessman Justin Bean for the District 6 seat. With most of the 92 precincts reporting, Driscoll took 55 percent of the vote, versus 45 percent for Bean. St. Pete voters cast […]

Phil AmmannNovember 1, 2017

In early voting for Pinellas County and the St. Petersburg municipal elections, more than 104,000 people have now cast a ballot. As of Wednesday morning, Pinellas Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark posted new early vote and vote-by-mail numbers; of by-mail voting out of 265,039 mail ballots sent, about 39 percent – 103,936 – returned. Adding […]

Mitch PerryOctober 26, 2017

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman is “a little disappointed” by how this year’s mayoral election is becoming the most expensive in the city’s history, with final totals likely to rise above $3 million. “When you really think about it, what that $3 million could have done if we were spending that money on something else,” […]

Drew WilsonOctober 26, 2017

City Council District 6 candidate Gina Driscoll announced Wednesday that she had earned an endorsement from the West Central Florida Labor Council, a local outfit affiliated with national labor group AFL-CIO. “The West Central Florida Labor Council is proud to endorse Gina Driscoll for St. Petersburg City Council,” WCFLC Executive Director Cheryl Schroeder said in […]

Phil AmmannOctober 21, 2017

In early voting for Pinellas County and the St. Petersburg municipal elections, more than 75,200 people have already voted. On Friday, Pinellas Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark posted updated vote-by-mail numbers; so far, her office sent 264,468 mail ballots, with a little over 28 percent – 75,288 – returned. By party, 28,174 Democrats, 32,451 Republicans […]

Tag: Gina Driscoll

Gina Driscoll, Brandi Gabbard become newest St. Pete City Council members

Rick Kriseman vows to tackle infrastructure, transportation in second term

Mitch Perry’s review of top Tampa Bay stories of 2017

Karl Nurse surprised with Sierra Club honor during one of his final City Council meetings

Brandi Gabbard defeats Barclay Harless in St. Pete City Council District 2

Gina Driscoll defeats Justin Bean for St. Pete City Council District 6

Over 104K votes now cast ahead of Pinellas County, St. Pete elections

Rick Kriseman ‘disappointed’ by $3M price tag for St. Pete mayor’s race

Gina Driscoll endorsed by West Central Florida Labor Council

More than 75K votes cast in Pinellas County, St. Pete elections