Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 9, 2018

Hillsborough County voters approved a 1 percent sales tax to fund transportation and transit improvements throughout the county. But there’s a lot of work to be done before solutions start rolling in. County residents and visitors won’t see the increase on their shopping bills until January 1; plans for the estimated $280 million in annual […]

Drew WilsonNovember 3, 2018

Tampa attorney Todd Marks, a candidate for Hillsborough County Commission, said he was standing in solidarity with the county NAACP chapter in the wake of a death threat it received for its opposition to the transit sales tax slated for the general election ballot. The death threat came in via a letter, postmarked from St. […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 30, 2018

Screen-Shot-2018-10-29-at-5.28.47-PM.png

Hillsborough County Commission candidate Kimberly Overman wants to flip the political makeup of the board this election. She’s running to replace Republican Al Higginbotham. He’s not seeking re-election. “We have had a Republican led County Commission for well over ten years and if we continue that trend we will not survive in a competitive world,” Overman […]

Drew WilsonOctober 29, 2018

Tampa attorney Todd Marks, the Republican nominee for Hillsborough County Commission District 7, picked up an endorsement recently from the Greater Tampa Realtors. “On behalf of the 2018 Greater Tampa REALTORS Leadership Team and our 11,000 members, it is my pleasure to inform you that have been selected as the recommended candidate for election to the […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 23, 2018

Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist and candidate Todd Marks sent out a dual-funded campaign mailer this week claiming Crist’s challenger, Mariella Smith, and Marks’ opponent, Kimberly Overman, support an $18 billion tax hike. Except there’s no factual support for that claim. “It’s a complete lie,” Smith said of the claim. “I just don’t know how they sleep […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 22, 2018

Kimberly Overman, the Democrat running for the countywide Hillsborough County Commission District 7 seat, is getting financial backing from transit activists, according to the latest campaign finance reports covering October 6-12. Tampa residents Michelle Cookson and Mauricio Rosas both contributed small donations to Overman’s campaign. Hillsborough County Commission incumbent Pat Kemp also kicked in $100 […]

Peter SchorschOctober 20, 2018

Hillsborough County Commission candidate Todd Marks and Tampa state Rep. Jackie Toledo, both Republicans, are holding a fundraising reception Sunday during the first gubernatorial debate. The joint event is being hosted at the home of Amalie Oil Co. exec Harry Barkett and his wife, Carmen, starting at 7:00 p.m. The invitation for the fundraiser lists a […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 10, 2018

Two Hillsborough County Commission races look like they might be landslides based on campaign finance activity. Incumbents Ken Hagan and Stacy White are crushing their opponents in the money battle. Hagan has raised more than $500,000 in bid against Democrat Angela Birdsong for the District two seat covering north Hillsborough County currently held by Victor […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 9, 2018

Todd Marks is leading the campaign finance charge in the Hillsborough County District 7 race by more than double, according to the most recent campaign finance reports available. Marks has raised $244,000 as of the end of September. His closest competitor, Democrat Kimberly Overman, raised $112,000. A Green Party candidate, Kim “Klarc” O’Connor, has just […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 9, 2018

Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist continues to lead his Democratic opponent in fundraising efforts, but the gap between the candidates’ cash on hand is slight. Crist has about $95,000 left in the bank with about four weeks before the November 6 election while Mariella Smith has $76,000. A third candidate in the race, Joe Kotvas, […]

Tag: Hillsborough County Commission
Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Image via Visit Florida.

It’ll be awhile before voters see benefits of Hillsborough transportation tax

Todd Marks stands with Hillsborough NAACP after death threats

Kimberly Overman says Hillsborough can’t survive under GOP

Todd Marks earns Realtors nod in Hillsborough Commission bid

Victor Crist and Todd Marks claim their opponents support an $18B tax hike; they don’t

Campaign finance activity boosts Kimberly Overman as pro-transit candidate

Todd Marks, Jackie Toledo holding gubernatorial debate watch fundraiser

Ken Hagan, Stacy White crushing competition in Hillsborough Co. Commission campaign cash

Kimberly Overman trailing Todd Marks in Hillsborough District 7 campaign cash

Victor Crist still leading Mariella Smith in fundraising battle