Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Joe HendersonNovember 9, 2017

As a member of the Hillsborough County Commission, Jan Platt was best known for a single word: NO! Labels like that tend to stick, but this grand lady was much, much more than that. She fought to protect our waterways and environmentally sensitive land, and she loved to be out on the Bay with a […]

Phil AmmannOctober 11, 2017

Influential Republican lobbyist Ron Pierce is crossing party lines to support Janet Cruz in her bid for Hillsborough County Commission. Cruz, the term-limited Democratic House Leader, is seeking the District 1 seat now held by Republican Sandy Murman, also term-limited from running again. As president and CEO of Tampa-based RSA Consulting, Pierce began his career […]

Joe HendersonJune 29, 2017

The four Hillsborough County commissioners who voted to keep a Confederate monument on public grounds may have thought/hoped the issue was behind them. If so, they are mistaken. That much was clear from Tuesday’s rally in downtown Tampa by a coalition of leaders, clergy and people who are just plain fed up with the divide […]

Joe HendersonMay 22, 2017

I am not a fan of term limits. I understand the argument from those who say we need a law that limits the power of incumbency. They say the longer a politician stays in office, the more likely they are to accumulate so much recognition and money that it becomes almost impossible to beat them. […]

Joe HendersonApril 11, 2017

Florida Democrats have become such a non-factor in state politics that the real drama frequently becomes which faction of the Republican party will prevail on a given issue. Think about it. We have had knockdown, drag-outs between the GOP-controlled House and Senate. This year the main event has been the ongoing feud between Republican Gov. […]

Joe HendersonNovember 25, 2016

Pat Kemp officially joined the Hillsborough County Commission when she was sworn into office Wednesday. If she stays true to her nature – and there is no to believe she won’t – Kemp might just turn the Commission on its ear. I hope she does. Most politicians like to play it safe and tell voters […]

Joe HendersonNovember 18, 2016

All politicians start out by saying how they want to make a difference. Well, Kevin Beckner did. His now-former colleagues at the Hillsborough County Commission acknowledged that Wednesday during his final meeting as a member of the board. He is leaving because of term limits after serving eight years. Yes, Beckner was the first openly […]

Joe HendersonNovember 8, 2016

In a pair of results that could not be called surprising, Democrat Kathy Castor and Republican Dennis Ross won re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Castor took about 61 percent of the vote in her race, while Ross took 58 percent. Neither race was expected to be closely contended. Castor, a liberal Democrat who […]

Joe HendersonOctober 3, 2016

Ken Hagan has been elected five times to the Hillsborough County Commission. That ought to say something about the way voters feel he takes care of both his and the public’s business. Headlines tend to find him because he always seems to be involved in something important, but I wouldn’t say he seeks out publicity. […]

Tom JacksonAugust 3, 2016

They’d reached closing statements at a recent forum for Hillsborough County Commission District 6 Democratic hopefuls in Bealsville, near Plant City, and Pat Kemp, the Tampa lawyer and serial candidate, was feeling magnanimous. The town center was a thing of beauty, she said, praising the town hall, expanded library, a roundabout with a flag at […]

Tag: Hillsborough County Commission

Joe Henderson: Jan Platt leaves legacy of service, integrity

Prominent GOP lobbyist Ron Pierce backing Democrat Janet Cruz in Hillsborough race

Joe Henderson: Hillsborough Confederate monument controversy isn’t going away

Joe Henderson: We already term limits. They’re called ‘elections’

Joe Henderson: Democrats may finally get the message that they need, well, a message

Joe Henderson: Look for Pat Kemp to turn Hillsborough Commission on its ear

Joe Henderson: Kevin Beckner made a difference, which should never be forgotten

Kathy Castor, Dennis Ross returning to Congress

Joe Henderson: Hillsborough rideshare decision could rest with ‘problem solver’ Ken Hagan

Tom Jackson: Old-school Democrat hopes Hillsborough can make a deal