Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryFebruary 12, 2015

Jim Norman ended a two-decade career in politics in 2012, when he announced he would not run for re-election for the state Senate seat that he won in 2010. It came after Pasco legislator John Legg decided to challenge him in the GOP primary, and it became apparent that the GOP establishment was abandoning him. […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 11, 2015

Fueled by a well-attended fundraiser at Tampa insurance executive Guy King‘s palatial estate off of Bayshore Boulevard this past month, Jackie Toledo has become the first person running for city council this winter who has raised more than $100,000 ($102,832 to be precise). The District 6 hopeful dominates the fundraising race over her two opponents, […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 9, 2015

You might recall that in August of 2012, thousands of Republicans and journalists flooding Tampa for the Republican National Convention were greeted with a billboard that read,” “Welcome to Tampa! Where the mayor and all city council members are DEMOCRATS.” It was the Cigar City’s time to shine, and a point of pride for a state party […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 28, 2015

(UPDATE: New information regarding the source of the push poll call below). Supporters of Tampa City Council candidates Guido Maniscalco and Tommy Castellano say that they and other residents residing in City Council District 6 have been receiving phone calls in the past week purporting to be from an independent pollster, surveying them about all three […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 20, 2015

It wasn’t that long ago — 2010 perhaps? — when I still eagerly anticipated watching the State of the Union address from Washington. But no mas. In January of 2010, my first year writing for Creative Loafing, the editors thought it would be cool for me to “live-blog” the event. And it was sort of […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 19, 2015

Tommy Castellano has made a living in the air-conditioning business for the past 39 years, so it makes sense that he disdains the hot air that can be expended during a political campaign. And to him that includes the notion that based on her prodigious fundraising success, engineer Jackie Toledo is the front-runner in the […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 16, 2015

The field is set for this winter’s municipal elections in Tampa, and there will be no contests in two races. Lisa Montelione in District 7 and Frank Reddick 5 did not have anybody qualify against them by the noon deadline, and thus they have been re-elected for four more years. Here’s how it looks overall. […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 16, 2015

The field is set for this winter’s municipal elections in Tampa, and there will be no contests in two races. Lisa Montelione in District 7 and Frank Reddick 5 did not have anybody qualify against them by the noon deadline, and thus they have been re-elected for four more years. Here’s how it looks overall. […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 9, 2015

Though political ideology rarely surfaces in your typical Tampa City Council meeting, the fact of the matter is the current seven-member board is represented exclusively by Democrats at the moment. That may change in March, though, when the leading contender to succeed Charlie Miranda in the District 6 race is engineer Jackie Toledo, a registered […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 9, 2015

Though political ideology rarely surfaces in your typical Tampa City Council meeting, the fact of the matter is the current seven-member board is represented exclusively by Democrats at the moment. That may change in March, though, when the leading contender to succeed Charlie Miranda in the District 6 race is engineer Jackie Toledo, a registered […]

Tag: Jackie Toledo

Mitch Perry Report for 2.12.15 — Jim Norman seriously contemplates return to Hillsborough politics

Jackie Toledo continues to lead all Tampa City Council candidates in fundraising

FDP goes after GOP Tampa City Council candidates

Push poll roils Tampa City Council race

Mitch Perry Report for 1.20.15 — And now for the most disappointing night in American politics

Tommy Castellano says HE is the front-runner in the Tampa District 6 City Council contest

Frank Reddick & Lisa Montelione automatically win re-election in Tampa City Council races

Frank Reddick & Lisa Montelione automatically win re-election in Tampa City Council races

Jeff Brandes & Dana Young help fundraise for Tampa Council candidate Jackie Toledo

Jeff Brandes & Dana Young help fundraise for Tampa Council candidate Jackie Toledo