Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryDecember 27, 2017

While most of the country considered 2017 an electoral “off-year,” that wasn’t the case in the Tampa Bay region, thanks to the St. Petersburg municipal elections. Here’s this reporter’s list of the top ten political news stories of the year: 10. — Bob Buckhorn decides not to run for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. For years, the […]

Mitch PerryNovember 7, 2017

In what some considered the most contentious and partisan City Council race in St. Petersburg for 2017, Downtown Neighborhood Association President Gina Driscoll has defeated businessman Justin Bean for the District 6 seat. With most of the 92 precincts reporting, Driscoll took 55 percent of the vote, versus 45 percent for Bean. St. Pete voters cast […]

Phil AmmannNovember 1, 2017

In early voting for Pinellas County and the St. Petersburg municipal elections, more than 104,000 people have now cast a ballot. As of Wednesday morning, Pinellas Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark posted new early vote and vote-by-mail numbers; of by-mail voting out of 265,039 mail ballots sent, about 39 percent – 103,936 – returned. Adding […]

Drew WilsonOctober 26, 2017

City Council District 6 candidate Gina Driscoll announced Wednesday that she had earned an endorsement from the West Central Florida Labor Council, a local outfit affiliated with national labor group AFL-CIO. “The West Central Florida Labor Council is proud to endorse Gina Driscoll for St. Petersburg City Council,” WCFLC Executive Director Cheryl Schroeder said in […]

Phil AmmannOctober 21, 2017

In early voting for Pinellas County and the St. Petersburg municipal elections, more than 75,200 people have already voted. On Friday, Pinellas Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark posted updated vote-by-mail numbers; so far, her office sent 264,468 mail ballots, with a little over 28 percent – 75,288 – returned. By party, 28,174 Democrats, 32,451 Republicans […]

Drew WilsonOctober 20, 2017

According to a new survey released Friday, the three St. Petersburg City Council races on the November ballot aren’t looking all that close. Most have already penciled City Councilwoman Darden Rice, the only incumbent Councilmember on the ballot, as the sure-fire winner in District 4 come Nov. 7. The St. Pete Polls survey supports that, […]

Mitch PerryOctober 20, 2017

If elected to St. Petersburg City Council, Justin Bean says bringing a grocery store to Midtown is a top priority. “It’s something that we need to focus on now,” the District 6 candidate told reporters in front of City Hall late Thursday afternoon. He had spent the entire day crisscrossing the city at five locations […]

Mitch PerryOctober 17, 2017

Add a firefighters union to the list of those endorsing Justin Bean in the St. Petersburg City Council District 6 race. On Friday, the 30-year-old businessman received the backing of the St. Petersburg Association of Firefighters Local 747. “We feel Justin Bean best understands the current and future needs of the Firefighters and Paramedics of St. […]

Drew WilsonOctober 16, 2017

Much has been made of the race between incumbent Rick Kriseman and Rick Baker for St. Petersburg mayor, but three St. Pete City Council seats will also be on the ballot when voters head to the polls Nov. 7. Here’s where the six candidates running for those three slots stand as of their most recent […]

Mitch PerryOctober 12, 2017

When Darden Rice proposed earlier this year that the city hire four full-time legislative aides to assist the eight-member St. Petersburg City Council conduct policy research and reform constituent services, she thought it would be relatively non-controversial. “I couldn’t imagine anyone making this a campaign issue,” said Rice, who serves as the board’s chair. “Frankly, it’s […]

Tag: Justin Bean
Image via Palatka Main Street.

Mitch Perry’s review of top Tampa Bay stories of 2017

Gina Driscoll defeats Justin Bean for St. Pete City Council District 6

Over 104K votes now cast ahead of Pinellas County, St. Pete elections

Gina Driscoll endorsed by West Central Florida Labor Council

More than 75K votes cast in Pinellas County, St. Pete elections

Latest survey shows clear leaders in St. Pete City Council races

Justin Bean surveys St. Petersburg in his quest to win a City Council seat

Justin Bean wins backing from firefighters union

Hot on the trail: Fundraising notes from the St. Pete municipal races

St. Pete Council candidates agree it’s a full time job, hesitates on pay raises