Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Joe HendersonOctober 28, 2016

Since Bob Henriquez took over as Hillsborough County’s property appraiser four years ago, he has taken several steps to modernize the office. There are nine fewer employees than the office had before Henriquez arrived, and the department’s budget is lower. Most important, though — Henriquez hasn’t had a batch of negative headlines. That’s no small matter. […]

Joe HendersonOctober 27, 2016

Earlier this week, NBC political chief Chuck Todd was chatting with Republican strategist Jeff Roe, picking out three places around the country where election geeks should focus special attention. Hillsborough County topped the list. Are we surprised? Todd noted that Roe considered it “the bellwether county in the country” and added, “you could make that […]

Joe HendersonOctober 6, 2016

Although Hurricane Matthew is not projected to strike Hillsborough County, public school classes are canceled for Friday so multiple buildings can be used to shelter evacuees from other areas. Designated evacuation centers include Brandon, Strawberry Crest, and Riverview high schools; along with Summerfield Crossing Elementary in Riverview; Pizzo Elementary near the University of South Florida, […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 26, 2016

Bob Buesing is going on the air with his first TV ad in the Senate District 18 race. “Table” is biographical spot introducing Buesing, his wife, Karen and three of six “Bonus Kids” to the people of Hillsborough County. Then 30-second ad is available on YouTube. The ad focuses on Buesings’ belief that every child […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterSeptember 21, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott has ordered the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to investigate sewage discharges in St. Petersburg. The Governor’s Office made the announcement Wednesday, just one day after Scott called on the state Department of Health to begin additional testing at the discharge site. While city is responsible for testing in the immediate area, […]

Steve SchaleSeptember 20, 2016

MEMO TO: Reporters Covering Florida, Other Observers and the Nation of Twitter FROM: Steve, #FloridaMan and Disgruntled Jags Fan. RE: BREAKING, 2016 version: Florida is gonna be close For much of the window between 2000 and 2012, the conversation about Florida, driven at times by Nate Silver himself was “is it really a swing state?” This year, the new […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 16, 2016

As the backbone of a strong free-market economy, competition helps drive economic growth — incentivizing innovation, creating jobs, and ensuring the quality of goods and services is continuously improving. It’s innovation and competition that’s led to the creation of Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) which are lowering costs for consumers, moving more people with fewer cars […]

Joe HendersonAugust 28, 2016

I will be paying attention to a lot of things during Tuesday’s primary election. The weather, however, will not be high on the list. Even with storms in Tuesday’s forecast, it may not affect the turnout that much. As of Sunday, voters cast nearly 104,000 ballots in Hillsborough County for the primary election, either by […]

Phil AmmannJuly 19, 2016

Hillsborough County commissioners are poised this week to consider $25,000 in incentives for a local film company to shoot a film in the Tampa Bay area. Noah Pransky of WTSP reports the subsidies will be the latest attempt by lawmakers to support the county’s struggling film industry. But in contrast to “The Infiltrator,” a big-name […]

Mitch PerryJuly 15, 2016

Florida’s primary election takes place Tuesday, Aug. 30, but early voting will begin days, or in some cases weeks, earlier, depending on where you live in the Sunshine State. Here are the dates and some starting times for Florida’s largest counties. In Miami-Dade, Duval, Hillsborough and Palm Beach counties, early voting takes place for the maximum 14 days, Monday, Aug. […]

Tag: Hillsborough County

Joe Henderson: Bob Henriquez, Todd Jones spar over issues in Hillsborough property appraiser race

Joe Henderson: Buckle up, Hillsborough, you’re the big political prize

Hillsborough schools cancel classes to be shelters for Matthew evacuees

Bob Buesing introduces ‘bonus kids’ in 1st SD 18 TV ad

Rick Scott orders DEP investigation in St. Petersburg sewage discharges

Steve Schale: Florida is gonna Florida, 2016 version

Kevin Hernandez: Uber, Lyft drive economic growth; regulators say, ‘Thanks, but no thanks’

Joe Henderson: Some pre-primary thoughts for Hillsborough County

Hillsborough film company looking for tax incentives on new production

Early voting for Florida’s Aug. 30 primary depends on where you live