Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 19, 2018

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly noted that Darryl Shaw, one of Ed Turanchik’s campaign donors, had also contributed to Americans For Prosperity. In an interview Turanchik said Shaw had contributed to AFT (All For Transportation) not AFP (Americans For Prosperity.) The story has been updated to reflect his support from a transportation […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 18, 2018

The Tampa Bay Rays quest to move to Tampa is officially over … at least for now. The team submitted its “decision notice” to St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman Monday. “Please be advised that, as required … the Rays hereby notify the city the Rays will not attempt to negotiate the “new agreements” or prepare […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 18, 2018

A lawsuit that sought to overturn the 1 percent sales tax voters approved last month for transportation and transit improvements in Hillsborough County has been reassigned to a new judge following concerns the initially assigned judge could not provide a fair trial for defendants. Judge Laurel Lee, the wife of Florida Senator Tom Lee, recused herself […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 17, 2018

Judge Laurel Lee, wife of Florida State Sen. Tom Lee, has been asked to recuse herself in the lawsuit seeking to overturn the Hillsborough transportation sales tax voters approved last month. Sen. Lee has been a vocal critic of the sales tax, giving his wife an apparent conflict of interest in the case. A defendant […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 17, 2018

Monday is the deadline for defendants in the All For Transportation sales tax lawsuit to request that the presiding judge take herself off the case. The question remains: Does Hillsborough Circuit Judge Laurel Lee have too big a conflict of interest to oversee the case in an impartial and unbiased manner? The 1 percent transportation and transit sales […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 15, 2018

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority is looking for two residents to fill open positions on the Independent Oversight Committee being created to oversee spending of the one percent sales tax voters approved for transit and transportation improvements. The agency is moving forward with filling its positions on the committee despite a lawsuit challenging the […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 11, 2018

With the Ybor City stadium deal likely dead, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman is ready and willing to again talk about keeping the Tampa Bay Rays in his city. “The memorandum of understanding we struck with the Tampa Bay Rays worked as intended. The organization was given three years to explore future stadium sites throughout […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 11, 2018

The judge named to preside over a lawsuit against several local governments and constitutional offices that will receive revenue from the recently approved transportation sales tax will make the ultimate decision whether she takes the case. Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Laurel Lee was assigned to hear Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White’s lawsuit aiming to overturn the […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 5, 2018

Hillsborough County is moving forward with plans to appoint four members to the transportation sales tax oversight committee despite a lawsuit questioning the validity of the new charter amendment voters approved in November. The commission voted Wednesday to begin exploring options for appointees including advertising the positions broadly online and in the media and allowing […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 19, 2018

Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller Pat Frank has appointed former Hillsborough Chief Judge Manny Menendez to the All for Transportation Oversight Committee. Under the All For Transportation implementing language, Frank gets one appointee to the board. That appointee must be a practicing attorney. Hillsborough County voters approved a 1 percent sales tax increase on […]

Tag: Hillsborough County

Ed Turanchik’s campaign fueled by anti-transportation tax donor

Tampa Bay Rays make final decision on St. Pete contract deadline

Tom Lee’s wife recuses herself from transportation tax lawsuit amid questions about conflicts

Judge Laurel Lee, wife of Sen. Tom Lee, asked to recuse herself from transportation tax lawsuit

Tom Lee’s wife still has All For Transportation lawsuit amid more ties to his opposition

Hillsborough transit agency seeks transportation tax oversight volunteers

With Ybor stadium deal dead, St. Petersburg back in play for Rays

Transportation tax critic’s wife could decide not to recuse herself

Hillsborough County moves forward with transportation tax implementation despite lawsuit

Pat Frank picks Manny Menendez for transportation tax oversight committee