Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschApril 25, 2017

Tampa Electric Co. is adding five prominent Florida business and community leaders to its board of directors, including developer and Tampa Bay Lighting owner Jeff Vinik, former House Speaker Will Weatherford and former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio. In an announcement Tuesday, TECO parent company Emera Inc., the Nova Scotia-based energy conglomerate, said the new members are as part of […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 1, 2017

Tampa Bay’s Legislative Delegation, with state lawmakers representing the area’s eight counties, spent two hours Wednesday in Clearwater discussing how to begin addressing the region’s myriad transportation issues. According to a new white paper prepared by the D.C.-based Enos Center for Transportation for the Tampa Bay Partnership, a regional structure for transportation planning, operations and decision-making is […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 21, 2016

The New Yorker magazine has a story this week on what a President Donald J. Trump would do if elected in November. Writer Evan Osnos reports that Trump’s advisers are weighing several options for the “First Day Project” – where he would spend hours on inauguration day next January signing papers that “erases the Obama Presidency,” […]

Mitch PerryJuly 15, 2016

Bad news for folks who were psyched that Tim Tebow was announced on Thursday to be a featured speaker at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Like Ben Roethlisberger and Tom Brady before him, Tebow became the latest (former) pro quarterback who has disavowed any intentions that he would be speaking at Donald Trump‘s party next […]

Mitch PerryMay 26, 2016

Americans For Prosperity Florida is praising the Sarasota County Commission for rejecting a financial incentive to help lure an out-of-town private company to relocate their business in the county. “We’re thrilled to see Sarasota County reject the calls from special interests to take taxpayer dollars and give (them) away to a private company,” said state director, Chris Hudson. “These […]

Mitch PerryApril 12, 2016

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn is scheduled to give his State of the City this morning. Here are some things to look for in his speech. Transportation – In his 2014 speech, Buckhorn called for a funding referendum to support expanded bus service and light rail in Tampa, saying that the goal should be a referendum in the […]

Mitch PerryMarch 7, 2016

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The collective brain trusts of much of the Tampa political establishment is feeling a little bit better Monday morning, after state lawmakers included the requested funding for USF medical school in downtown Tampa. The House and Senate announced was a decision to spend more than $700 million on construction projects in Florida’s public schools, universities, […]

Mitch PerryDecember 9, 2015

There is a story in Wednesday morning’s New York Times quoting a variety of police chiefs across the country bemoaning how the prevalence of video cameras are changing the way they do their jobs, and makes it harder for them – even when those cameras come from their own agencies. Since the fall of 2014 when […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 30, 2015

2015 was supposed to be the year that the Florida Legislature authorized funding to replenish its depleted film tax incentives package, allowing the Sunshine State to compete with Louisiana, Georgia and other Southeastern states in getting its fair share of movie and television production work. It didn’t happen. Despite the reshaping of the incentives and […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 28, 2015

Happy Monday/General Assembly Day at the UN, everyone. Lots of things happened over the weekend, but let’s transition into the work week by applauding the University of Florida Gators for their miraculous comeback victory over Tennessee, 28-27, early Saturday night in Gainesville. The victory puts UF in the Associated Press Top 25 for the first […]

Tag: Jeff Vinik
This exhibit celebrates late-blooming artistry, proving it’s never too late for bold creativity.

Jeff Vinik, Will Weatherford, Pam Iorio named to TECO board of directors

Tampa Bay Legislative Delegation attempts to find answers for regional transportation fix

Mitch Perry Report for 9.21.16 – Can Ban Ki-Moon get enough buy-in to deny a President Trump the opportunity to renounce the Paris agreement?

Mitch Perry Report for 7.15.16 — No Tebowing in Cleveland

AFP applauds Sarasota for rejecting incentives to lure national roofing company to relocate

5 things to look for in Bob Buckhorn’s State of Tampa address

Tampa political establishment pleased by inclusion of money for USF medical school

Mitch Perry Report for 12.9.15 – Welcome to the new world of policing

Mitch Perry Report for 9.30.15 – Ybor and Florida lose out to Georgia in Hollywood production

Mitch Perry Report for 9.28.15 – USF’s wandering eye