Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJanuary 4, 2016

According to an analysis conducted by the Miami Herald last year, most driver’s license suspensions in Florida occur because of a failure to pay fees for traffic violations, not because of unsafe driving practices. The failure to pay fees accounted for 77 percent of all license suspensions in Florida between 2012 and 2015, according to an analysis […]

Mitch PerryDecember 30, 2015

It’s been a long contentious year in Tampa Bay, from Pinellas County’s “Failure Factories” and Beth Leytham in Tampa City Hall to the evolving political landscape that has drawn Charlie Crist for another bid for elected office. Good or bad, 2015 offered a little something for everyone (to cheer or argue about). Now that the […]

Mitch PerryDecember 12, 2015

Joe Negron, the Stuart-based state Senator who recently survived a marathon battle with Jack Latvala to become Senate President in 2017, has signed on as a co-sponsor Jeff Brandes civil asset forfeiture bill (SB 1044) in the Legislature’s upper chamber. The legislation would stipulate assets or property may only be seized under the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act after a criminal defendant […]

Mitch PerryDecember 8, 2015

The Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation spent hours (and hours) on Tuesday discussing proposed legislation that would bring ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft into compliance with the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission, but whether they actually moved the issue forward at the end of the day is dubious. The setting for the local group of state lawmakers […]

Guest AuthorDecember 7, 2015

I’ve been a member of the Florida Democratic Party since I first registered to vote at 18. I’ve never voted for, nor given money to, a Republican running for a partisan office. “Hyperpartisan” is an apt description of my political state of mind. But the other day, I contributed $1,000 – the maximum I could […]

Guest AuthorDecember 7, 2015

I’ve been a member of the Florida Democratic Party since I first registered to vote at 18. I’ve never voted for, nor given money to, a Republican running for a partisan office. “Hyperpartisan” is an apt description of my political state of mind. But the other day, I contributed $1,000 – the maximum I could […]

Mitch PerryDecember 7, 2015

There’s a lot of angst in the country and political world about how we are dealing with domestic terrorism, five days after San Bernardino. Well, that’s what the media tells us. I’m not so sure. There were a lot of big football games over the weekend with sellout crowds. Restaurants and bars seemed to pretty […]

Phil AmmannDecember 4, 2015

As Florida lawmakers consider allowing computer coding as a high school foreign language requirements, one technology firm enthusiastically applauds the move toward giving students a leg up in the modern workplace. Strategic Digital Services (SDS), Florida’s leading digital firm specializing in data for political campaigns and causes, praised the passage Thursday of SB 468 through […]

Mitch PerryDecember 4, 2015

Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission (PTC) Chairman Victor Crist says that Jeff Brandes’ recent inquiry on whether the PTC should be allowed to hire lobbyists was simply a ploy “to try to stir the pot” in advance of next week’s Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation meeting. “This is a publicity stunt by Sen. Brandes to stir […]

Mitch PerryDecember 4, 2015

First off, I want to wish the best for Brendan McLaughlin, who will be departing as a news anchor at ABC affiliate WFTS in a couple of weeks after 21 years in the market. Like yours truly, Brendan hails from the San Francisco Bay Area (Marin County, actually, I believe). Folks, there ain’t that many […]

Tag: Jeff Brandes

Event aiming to reinstate suspended drivers licenses set in Hillsborough

Mitch Perry’s 5 people to watch in Tampa Bay politics in 2016

Joe Negron signs on to Jeff Brandes civil asset forfeiture reform bill

Hillsborough Legislative Delegation OKs measure to regulate Uber and Lyft, but future unclear

Ben Pollara: Why I support Jeff Brandes for Florida Senate

Ben Pollara: Why I support Jeff Brandes for Florida Senate

Mitch Perry Report for 12.7.15 – Obama speaks on threat of Islamic State, GOP reacts

Digital firm praises approval of computer coding as foreign language bill

Tensions about Hillsborough PTC build as legislative delegation meeting approaches

Mitch Perry Report for 12.4.15 – on Jeb, Ted and Kobe