Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryDecember 30, 2015

As first said by Greek philosopher Heraclitus, in the universe change is the only constant. Nowhere was that more applicable than in Tampa Bay during the past 12 months. From the much-ballyhooed dismissal of MaryEllen Elia as Hillsborough County School Board District superintendent to redistricting and the rising (and falling) fortunes for hizzoner Bob Buckhorn, many of the leading […]

Mitch PerryNovember 30, 2015

Lisa Montelione said it was “excruciatingly hard” to decide to give up her Tampa City Council seat next year, but that’s what will happen now that she’s decided to run for the Florida Legislature in 2016. She’ll take on fellow Democrat Mike Reedy in the House District 63 primary next August, with the winner to […]

Mitch PerryNovember 20, 2015

The Tampa City Council rejected a proposal from Mayor Bob Buckhorn‘s administration that would have made a serious dent in alleviating the city’s epic problems with stormwater runoff yesterday. The plan wasn’t cheap — $251 million, and it certainly left open a lot of questions about how fair it was for everyone to pay the […]

Mitch PerryNovember 3, 2015

It’s Election Day in St. Petersburg and in several other places in Florida, as well across the nation today. Let’s stay local for a moment. In St. Pete, there are three city council races on the ballot. The fourth was already won by Ed Montanari when a would-be opponent failed to qualify against him in […]

Mitch PerryOctober 14, 2015

Good morning from the Motel 6 on Apalachee Parkway in Tallahassee. OK, let’s get right into discussing Tuesday night’s Democratic rumble in Las Vegas. Experience matters. Although it’s been more than seven years since she last engaged in a presidential debate, Hillary Clinton did battle it out with Barack Obama, John Edwards, Joe Biden and […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 2, 2015

The nationwide campaign to raise fast-food workers’ wages to $15 an hour has incorporated child-care workers into the effort. The campaign is being led nationally and in Florida by the Service Employees International Union. “We have to share the story to create a groundwell,” said Monica Russo, president of SEIU Florida State Council, and executive […]

Mitch PerryAugust 6, 2015

Something to watch for in both debates in Cleveland tonight: How often the 17 GOP presidential candidates actually disagree with each other. Even though they’ll be debating each other, more often than not they’ll not be ganging up on any of their opponents, but two Democrats not in the room – Hillary Clinton and Barack […]

Mitch PerryAugust 5, 2015

Two years ago, officials at California State University-Fullerton produced a comprehensive report on police civilian oversight boards. Among their findings was that obstacles to creating a successful agency included politicians who have a “law and order” agenda not conducive to oversight. Plus, if such a board is created, the power that lawmakers have to limit their oversight is through […]

Mitch PerryMay 27, 2015

The consensus amongst political pundits in Florida is that state Republicans won’t be hurt by the budget impasse that led the Legislature to break three days early last month. Those observers, though, acknowledge it could make a difference on the margins, in those few swing legislative districts across the state. One is House District 63, occupied […]

Mitch PerryMay 8, 2015

Ever since Ed Homan was termed-out of his House District 60 seat in North Tampa in 2010, it’s bounced back and forth in terms of political affiliation over the three subsequent elections. Republican Shawn Harrison won in the big Republican years of 2010 and 2014, and Democrat Mark Danish took it in 2012, the same year […]

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Mitch Perry’s Top 10 stories of 2015 in Hillsborough politics

Lisa Montelione feels confident in HD 63 Democratic primary versus Mike Reedy

Mitch Perry Report for 11.20.15 – Buckhorn stormwater tax plan gets killed. Now what?

Mitch Perry Report for 11.3.15 – Election Day calls for election day reform

Mitch Perry Report for 10.14.15 – Hilliary Clinton says she’s a progressive who can win

SEIU Fight for $15 embraces child-care workers, wins support of Ed Narain, other local officials

Mitch Perry Report 8.6.15 – Anyone still standing with Rand?

Tampa residents to call for civilian review board to monitor police

Mike Reedy says Shawn Harrison showed no leadership in 2015 Legislative Session

Mike Reedy aims to put HD 63 back in Democratic column