Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 20, 2018

Community activist Stephen Lytle out-raised his opponents for a second month in a row, Hillsborough campaign finance reports for October show. Lytle raised more than $6,000 in October. He raised more than $28,000 in September. “It’s no surprise that the success of a campaign is built upon the ability to fundraise,” Lytle said. “As a first-time […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 12, 2018

Bill Carlson posted another five-figure finance report for August, putting him far in the lead in the three-way race to succeed exiting City Councilman Harry Cohen, who is running in the crowded race for Tampa Mayor. Carlson started his campaign for the District 4 seat with a bang in June, bringing in more than $31,000 […]

Mitch PerryMarch 2, 2018

Updated In 2016, Luis Viera defeated Jim Davison by just 65 votes to win Tampa City Council District 7. Could there be a rematch in 2019? “I haven’t decided,” Davison said Friday morning, the day after Viera officially filed for re-election. In fall 2016, the two men engaged in an intense battle for the North […]

Mitch PerryDecember 18, 2017

Tampa’s City Council is poised to vote Thursday on the first reading of an ordinance seeking to reduce human trafficking by cracking down on massage parlors. The proposal was introduced earlier this month by the city’s legal department. It came following months of concerned citizens coming before the Council, asking them to crack down on […]

Mitch PerryNovember 13, 2017

Civic activist and businessman Joe Citro announced Monday that he has filed to run for the Tampa City Council District 1 citywide seat to be vacated by Mike Suarez in March 2019. Citro makes his living as a hairdresser but is ubiquitous at civic events in Tampa. Over the past 15 years, he’s served on the […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 29, 2017

Donald Trump’s executive order suspending the entry of all refugees into the United States for 120 days inspired a crowd of several hundred (maybe a thousand?) to gather in Centennial Park in Tampa’s Ybor City on Sunday afternoon. The people were united in sharing their extreme disapproval of Trump’s decision, creating the second day of national protests against […]

Mitch PerryDecember 2, 2016

Viewed from a certain angle, the Democratic Party resembles a smoking pile of rubble in the wake of last month’s general election. Not only will Donald Trump become president in less than two months, but the Senate and House (and soon the Supreme Court) are in Republican control. Instead of giving up, however, there appears to be […]

Mitch PerryOctober 18, 2016

One of the most unexpected moments of Monday night’s Senate debate between Marco Rubio and Patrick Murphy was when Rubio said Murphy posted a photo on Facebook four years ago showing him groping a woman. “That’s inappropriate behavior!” he charged at Murphy, who appeared startled by the reference. On Tuesday, Murphy dismissed the allegation. “When Donald Trump goes low, Marco Rubio goes […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 29, 2016

An official with Uber said Thursday the San Francisco-based ridesharing company has come to an agreement regarding background checks and other new rules proposed by outgoing Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission Chair Victor Crist to have them finally operate legally in the county. Whether they will be approved by the rest of the PTC remains uncertain […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 14, 2016

The Hillsborough Public Transportation Commission Wednesday voted 5-2 on proposed new rules that still include requiring Level II background checks for Uber and Lyft drivers — a mandate representatives from those companies have said would compel them to leave the market. Though theoretically the new rules would allow new ridesharing companies to enter the market, the proprietor […]

Tag: Guido Maniscalco

Stephen Lytle out-raises competition in October fundraising

Bill Carlson cracks $50K raised for Tampa City Council bid

Luis Viera files for re-election on Tampa City Council; Jim Davison could challenge

Not everyone’s happy with proposed crackdown on Tampa massage parlors

Joe Citro files to run for Tampa City Council

Citizens come together in Ybor City to protest Donald Trump’s executive order on refugees

By-law change adds controversy to Monday night’s Hillsborough DEC election

Patrick Murphy says Marco Rubio goes low in bringing up photo with former girlfriend

Uber agrees to proposed new rules — but will Hillsborough’s PTC follow suit?

Hillsborough PTC approves new rules — Future uncertain for Uber and Lyft

Florida politics had 11 questions before federal qualifying week. Here are the answers.