Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorSeptember 27, 2018

Critics of state Rep. Janet Cruz are accusing the longtime lawmaker of not living in the urban Tampa district she represents. An anonymous tipster claiming not to oppose Cruz’s bid for state Senate raised the question in an email pointing to Cruz’s husband, Stephen Rifkin, who owns a waterfront mansion in a different House district — […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorSeptember 26, 2018

By a unanimous vote, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce is endorsing the All or Transportation campaign to improve both transit and transportation in Hillsborough County. “We have been working for some time to address the many transportation needs in Hillsborough County,” said Steve Bernstein, current Tampa Chamber chair. “Voters will have the opportunity to improve safety […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 13, 2018

It’s back, and it’s worse than ever. A coalition of local activists and big businessmen in Hillsborough County just got a $280 million sales tax hike placed on November’s ballot to fund transportation projects. If that sounds familiar, there’s a reason. Voters already made their feelings perfectly clear on sales tax hikes years ago. In […]

Joe HendersonAugust 29, 2018

Voters in several parts of Florida approved tax hikes for local school programs and teacher raises, which could be encouraging news to backers of a proposed half-cent sales tax increase in November for Hillsborough County public schools. By a 13-point margin, Lake County voters approved a property tax increase of .75 mills to help pay […]

Drew WilsonAugust 9, 2018

It seems like an eternity since Bob Buckhorn ended speculation that he would seek the Democratic nomination for Governor, but the popular two-term Tampa Mayor could very well end up spending the next four or eight years in Tallahassee. According to a new poll conducted by ClearView Research, Buckhorn is still wildly popular among Tampa […]

Jacob OglesJuly 22, 2018

Time is winding down on a petition drive to get a public transportation referendum on the ballot in Hillsborough County, but a significant infusion of dollars continues to fuel the effort. All for Transportation has through this Friday to submit about 49,000 valid petitions to place an initiative on the Nov. 6 ballot. “We’re getting […]

Guest AuthorJune 22, 2018

As an educator who has taught in both district-run and charter public schools, I am astounded when I read articles or hear claims from school board members around the state charter schools take away funding from the local public-school system. That is not the case. Charter schools provide options for families who can’t afford to […]

Kate BradshawJune 15, 2018

The last time anyone asked, Tampanians overwhelmingly said they approve of the job Bob Buckhorn has done as Mayor of Tampa. Back in November, some three-quarters of 350 Tampa residents surveyed said they approve of his performance, and most said the city is headed in the right direction — that was before Raybor was a thing. In […]

Peter SchorschJune 14, 2018

Terry Power, a Republican candidate for House District 64, owes nearly $88,000 in alimony, according to court records reviewed this week. A document in the case from Pinellas County shows a “payoff amount” of $87,904. It also lists a “balance due” of only $4,668. In a statement to Florida Politics, however, Power says he doesn’t legally […]

Kate BradshawJune 12, 2018

As the prosecutor in a place as diverse as Hillsborough County, State Attorney Andrew Warren has managed to strike a balance between encouraging dialogue on hot-button issues and doing his job. A Democrat who surprisingly beat popular Republican incumbent Mark Ober in 2016 on the promise of criminal justice reform, Warren pushes the envelope on criminal justice […]

Tag: Hillsborough County

Is this not my beautiful house? Questions linger on Janet Cruz residency

Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce backs transportation tax

Chris Hudson: Transit hounds are barking up the wrong tree

Voters around state say yes to local school tax increases

Poll shows Bob Buckhorn’s popularity makes compelling case for Lt. Gov. pick

All for Transportation enters final stretch with petition drive

Marsha Edwards: District, charter teachers all in this together

#2 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Bob Buckhorn

Terry Power owes alimony, records show; he says no

#21 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Andrew Warren