Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryFebruary 13, 2018

Republican Victor Crist is the closest thing to an incumbent in the District 5 race this fall, as he has served on the Hillsborough County Commission for the past eight years in District 2. He’s now switching to District 5 to run countywide for the first time, and has taken in $76,905 so far. Among […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 25, 2018

Five Democrats have already filed for the Hillsborough County Commission District 5 seat, but there’s no doubt the Party establishment is putting all their chips behind community activist Mariella Smith. Congresswoman Kathy Castor, former Education Commissioner Betty Castor and current County Commissioner Pat Kemp were part of Smith’s kickoff event Tuesday night. An audience of around […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 11, 2018

In past election cycles, the Hillsborough County Democratic Party struggled to field legitimate candidates to challenge Republicans in local and statewide elections. This year, that’s not the case, with the county’s District 5 race a shining example. No fewer than five Democrats have filed to run in the (theoretically) open countywide seat, where the biggest […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 2, 2018

South Hillsborough County environmental activist Mariella Smith has officially filed to run as a Democrat in the Hillsborough Commission District 5 race. The announcement is no surprise, as the 63-year-old Ruskin resident announced in November that she was likely to file at the beginning of the year officially, in what will be her first bid […]

Mitch PerryNovember 8, 2017

George Niemann decided: If he can’t beat ’em, why not join ’em? The Dover activist, who has filed at least 10 ethics complaints against Tampa and Hillsborough County officials over the past decade, will be running as a write-in candidate in the countywide open County Commission District 5 seat being vacated next year by Ken Hagan. […]

Tag: Jae Passmore

Victor Crist leads all candidates in HCC District 5 fundraising

Mariella Smith says facing Victor Crist is like ‘David and Goliath’

Hillsborough Democrats host District 5 forum, first for 2018

‘Smart growth’ candidate Mariella Smith running for Hillsborough County Commission

Activist George Niemann files as write-in for Hillsborough Commission