Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryMay 22, 2015

Members of two important Tampa Bay area agencies got huge news this week. Among the more than three dozen bills that Gov. Rick Scott signed into law on Thursday included a child welfare bill that lifts a cloud from over the Hillsborough County Children’s Board and the Pinellas County Juvenile Welfare Board. They faced a local referendum next […]

Mitch PerryMarch 20, 2015

There were a lot of laughs when veteran local investigative TV reporter Mike Deeson took to the dais at the Tampa Tiger Bay Club meeting at Jackson Bistro on Harbor Island on Friday, but also a few bits of news. On former and probable future House District 64 Republican Jamie Grant, Deeson said that though […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 2, 2015

On his last day on the job as the executive directors of both the Hillsborough County MPO and the Planning Commission last week, Ray Chiaramonte learned that he would be immediately transitioning to a new gig – after being selected to become the next executive director of TBARTA, the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority. The still very vibrant […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 29, 2015

Pinellas County transit users are set to suffer some potentially crippling cuts to services as early as 2017 if something isn’t done to help the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority soon. The group has identified some minor tweaks here and there – like raising fares and increasing tax revenue – that could push cuts back until 2018, but […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 29, 2015

Pinellas County transit users are set to suffer some potentially crippling cuts to services as early as 2017 if something isn’t done to help the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority soon. The group has identified some minor tweaks here and there – like raising fares and increasing tax revenue – that could push cuts back until 2018, but […]

Mitch PerryDecember 31, 2014

Some of these are outright predictions, but most of these stories are events that we’ll be watching for in 2015. 1 – Florida State’s reign as national champions ends January 1, 8:30 p.m. eastern time. It was great while it lasted, but the Noles’ uncanny run of luck and two-year undefeated run comes crashing down on New […]

Mitch PerryDecember 29, 2014

Tis the season for year-end lists, so here’s this reporter’s take on the 10 biggest/most interesting developments over the past year in Tampa Bay/Florida politics. 1 – The Florida Democratic Party hits rock bottom. There are a number of reasons why Rick Scott beat Charlie Crist, and the Crist camp’s notion that the $12 million […]

Mitch PerryNovember 20, 2014

Some random thoughts and observations, hours before President Obama probably melts down the conservative Twitterverse with his Executive Action on immigration in his prime-time address later tonight…. Congrats to the Tampa Bay Times’ Michael Kruse, the gifted wordsmith who will be taking his talents to the Beltway and write for Politico, along with editor Bill […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 1, 2014

One of the unknown variables about the Greenlight Pinellas campaign is how support for the theoretical will translate in the real-world voting booth. Pinellas residents say they are fed up with a lack of transportation options. They say they are ready to embrace the kind of changes — expanded bus routes, light rail — outlined in the […]

Guest AuthorAugust 28, 2013

Earlier this month, Tesla Motors and PayPal co-founder Elon Musk introduced the Hyperloop to the world. Using solar power to fuel magnetic bursts, a large, train-like tube will propel passengers faster than the speed of sound on a cushion of air from point to point. Musk wants to build it in California. The Hyperloop would […]

Tag: Greenlight Pinellas

Rick Scott signs bill that could help Hillsborough County with transit tax

Mike Deeson raw at Tiger Bay

Ray Chiaramonte is high on CSX and the Tampa streetcar as he takes over at TBARTA

Tampa mayor’s push for special taxing district could be St. Pete transit win

Tampa mayor's push for special taxing district could be St. Pete transit win

Things to watch for in 2015

A look back at the year in news in Tampa Bay

Mitch Perry Report 11.20.14

The ballot could be a problem for Greenlight Pinellas

Ben Kirby: Florida must have a conversation about innovative transportation