Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryMarch 3, 2016

Tampa businesswoman Rebecca Smith announced on Thursday that she is now a candidate for the Hillsborough County area House District 60 seat. The seat is currently occupied by Dana Young, but she will vacate it this fall, as she attempts to advance to the state Senate District 18 seat recently created due to redistricting. “Over […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 12, 2016

Nancy Watkins, the South Tampa certified public accountant who has been campaign treasurer for hundreds of local and national Republicans for more than 25 years, won’t run for the Florida House District 60 seat being vacated this fall by Dana Young. Watkins, who has never run for public office, was said to be seriously considering […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 21, 2016

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House Majority Leader Dana Young has officially entered the race to win the newly created Senate District 18 seat. “This morning, I officially filed to run in the newly created Senate District 18, serving the citizens of Tampa and western Hillsborough County,” the Tampa Republican told FloridaPolitics.com. “While I am excited about this new opportunity to continue to […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 20, 2016

Former Tampa City Council candidate Jackie Toledo is throwing her hat into the ring for House District 60, to succeed Republican Dana Young as the state representative seeks a newly drawn Senate seat. Toledo, who narrowly lost the City Council District 6 seat in a runoff election against Guido Maniscalco in 2015, made the announcement […]

Mitch PerryDecember 30, 2015

As first said by Greek philosopher Heraclitus, in the universe change is the only constant. Nowhere was that more applicable than in Tampa Bay during the past 12 months. From the much-ballyhooed dismissal of MaryEllen Elia as Hillsborough County School Board District superintendent to redistricting and the rising (and falling) fortunes for hizzoner Bob Buckhorn, many of the leading […]

Mitch PerryNovember 3, 2015

It’s Election Day in St. Petersburg and in several other places in Florida, as well across the nation today. Let’s stay local for a moment. In St. Pete, there are three city council races on the ballot. The fourth was already won by Ed Montanari when a would-be opponent failed to qualify against him in […]

Mitch PerryApril 29, 2015

Longtime Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan says he’s considering a run for mayor of Tampa in 2019. “I’m encouraged every day to consider running for either mayor of Tampa or a constitutional seat,” Hagan said Tuesday. Having just been re-elected to his District 5 countywide commission seat last year, he admits he’s not in any […]

Mitch PerryApril 24, 2015

Although most people decry negative advertising in political campaigns, strategists say they work, which is why no matter how odious it is to the average voter, it’s not going away anytime soon. Whether that’s accurate or not, one veteran Florida Republican political strategist admitted at Friday’s Tampa Tiger Bay Club meeting that such advertising can suppress […]

Mitch PerryApril 24, 2015

Although most people dislike negative advertising in political campaigns, strategists say they work, which is why no matter how odious it is to the average voter, it’s not going away anytime soon. Whether that’s accurate or not, one veteran Florida Republican political strategist admitted at Friday’s Tampa Tiger Bay Club meeting that such advertising can suppress […]

Mitch PerryApril 1, 2015

At an elaborate ceremony he acknowledged seemed as much a church revival as a political event, Bob Buckhorn was sworn in to his second term as Tampa’s mayor Wednesday. Buckhorn took office again with most people understanding that if things go his way, he won’t be be mayor four years from now. Instead, he would be […]

Tag: Jackie Toledo

Rebecca Smith enters HD 60 race

Nancy Watkins opts not to run for Tampa HD 60 seat

Dana Young files to run in newly created state Senate seat in Hillsborough County

Jackie Toledo files for Dana Young’s HD 60 seat

Mitch Perry’s Top 10 stories of 2015 in Hillsborough politics

Mitch Perry Report for 11.3.15 – Election Day calls for election day reform

Ken Hagan looks at 2019 run for Tampa mayor

GOP consultant at Tampa Tiger Bay admits that negative advertising helps suppress the vote

GOP consultant at Tampa Tiger Bay admits negative advertising suppresses vote

In inaugural speech, Bob Buckhorn hints at bigger things for Tampa, himself