Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryApril 29, 2015

Longtime Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan says he’s considering a run for mayor of Tampa in 2019. “I’m encouraged every day to consider running for either mayor of Tampa or a constitutional seat,” Hagan said Tuesday. Having just been re-elected to his District 5 countywide commission seat last year, he admits he’s not in any […]

Mitch PerryApril 23, 2015

Tampa police Chief Jane Castor spoke to Tampa City Council Thursday morning for nearly an hour, discussing the issues concerning the disproportionate number of citations written against black city residents. An investigation by the Tampa Bay Times brought the situation to light in a story published this past weekend. The charges have prompted Castor and […]

Mitch PerryApril 21, 2015

The uproar over a Tampa Bay Times report over the weekend that the Tampa Police Department has been targeting low-income black bicyclists over the past decade continues to reverberate, with Chief Jane Castor facing the strongest criticism in her nearly five year tenure, just weeks before she steps down after a distinguished 30-year career with the department. […]

Mitch PerryApril 1, 2015

It was over in less than a minute. The much anticipated vote for Tampa City Council chairman was decided quickly Wednesday afternoon, as the newly sworn-in council picked Frank Reddick to be their chairman for the next year. As expected, it was a close vote, with Reddick defeating current chair Charlie Miranda on a 4-3 vote. […]

Mitch PerryMarch 26, 2015

In the immediate aftermath of her stunning loss to Guido Maniscalco in the Tampa District 6 City Council runoff on Tuesday, Jackie Toledo said that the media coverage of her campaign was unfair and had “made a big difference” in the final results. That coverage included the unforced errors on her part that brought her […]

Mitch PerryMarch 24, 2015

Tuesday night’s election finale between Jackie Toledo and Guido Maniscalco took a stunning turn at about 7:20 p.m. After the first results from early and absentee balloting showed Toledo holding on to an 8 percentage point lead over Maniscalco, the ballots cast on Election Day itself showed Maniscalco making a major turnaround. By 8 p.m. […]

Mitch PerryMarch 24, 2015

The city of Tampa’s uneventful election season comes to a halt Tuesday night. By 8 p.m. we should have a winner in the only city council race that remains undecided — the District 6 battle between Guido Maniscalco and Jackie Toledo. I hate the overuse of the term “Seinfeld” to describe something as being about […]

Mitch PerryMarch 21, 2015

Although Charlie Miranda hasn’t endorsed anyone for next Tuesday’s Tampa City Council District 6 election, he received one Saturday from Jackie Toledo, who’s running against Guido Maniscalco. “Chairman Miranda has done a great job as our council’s chairman and there is no reason to take the gavel away. If elected to the city council, I […]

Mitch PerryMarch 20, 2015

It’s the first full weekend of the NCAA basketball tournament, the time when some writers wax absurd about “brackets” and “the insanity of March Madness.” And yes, there were a couple of thrilling upsets and buzzard-beaters Thursday to begin the first full day of the 68-team championship. As a basketball aficionado, however, I’ve been calling […]

Peter SchorschMarch 19, 2015

Anthony Pedicini is taking it on the chin right now. The Tampa-based political consultant is being dragged through the mud he otherwise expertly throws because he — let’s be honest here — is doing what almost every other successful political consultant in the state does. As Chris O’Donnell of The Tampa Tribune details, mailers touting […]

Tag: Guido Maniscalco
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Ken Hagan looks at 2019 run for Tampa mayor

Jane Castor strongly disputes biking-while-black story at Tampa City Council meeting

“Biking while black” in Tampa story not going away

Tampa City Council picks Frank Reddick to be new chairman

Rose Ferlita hopes Jackie Toledo learns from mistakes, runs again

Jackie Toledo says not only did she lose, but Tampa did as well

Mitch Perry Report for 3.24.15 — Tampa’s election season ends tonight

Jackie Toledo vows support for Charlie Miranda to stay council chair

Mitch Perry Report for 3.20.15 — March sadness

A defense of my friend, political consultant Anthony Pedicini