Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 20, 2018

The Florida Commission on Ethics decided Friday to give Hillsborough County Commission Ken Hagan the opportunity to amend a petition requesting that activist George Niemann pay his legal fees. The decision came after a commission attorney advocated that Hagan’s petition be dismissed. The county paid Hagan’s attorney, Mark Levine, $7,841 last year to defend the District 5 commissioner […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 8, 2018

Kathy Castor is endorsing longtime neighborhood and environmentalist activist Mariella Smith in her bid for Hillsborough County Commission District 5. “Mariella Smith is a champion for citizens, our neighborhoods, a healthy environment and a strong local economy,” the Hillsborough County congresswoman said in a statement Monday. “She has a deep understanding of how to move […]

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 15, 2017

In a move critics called “chilling,” the Hillsborough County Commission voted 4-3 on Wednesday to seek financial reimbursement from four activists who filed a failed ethics complaint against Commissioners Ken Hagan and Sandy Murman. Hagan filed a petition for fees and costs for his attorney, Mark Levine, following the Florida Commission on Ethics’ announcement last month that it found no […]

Mitch PerryNovember 15, 2017

Ken Hagan is offering no guarantees for a possible Tampa Bay Rays stadium move to Ybor City. For the first time since the Hillsborough County Commissioner divulged to the media last month that a site in Ybor City was identified where the Tampa Bay Rays could (maybe) relocate, Hagan addressed the issue with colleagues Wednesday. During […]

Mitch PerryNovember 10, 2017

In her just-concluded re-election bid to the St. Petersburg City Council District 2 seat, Darden Rice received the backing of the Suncoast Police Benevolent Association, an endorsement of which she’s very proud. She’s also the niece of former Pinellas County Sheriff Everett Rice. Rice mentioned those facts, among others, to an audience at Tampa’s Oxford Exchange […]

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. […]

Mitch PerryOctober 26, 2017

The Florida Commission on Ethics announced Wednesday it has found no probable cause that Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Hillsborough County Commissioners Ken Hagan and Sandy Murman violated the state’s Code of Ethics. The commission’s investigation surrounded activities related to the Go Hillsborough effort. Go Hillsborough was a years -in-the-making proposal that would have placed a […]

Mitch PerryOctober 25, 2017

After a nearly two-year search, Hillsborough County officials apparently settled on a location they would like Tampa Bay Rays to entertain a possible relocation. Maybe. As the Tampa Bay Times reports, Hillsborough Commissioner Ken Hagan identified a 14-acre site in the southern part of historic Ybor City, with the northern edge starting three blocks south of 7th […]

Tag: Ken Hagan
For lawmakers, getting to Tallahassee will be a little easier in 2025.

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

Ethics commission delays Ken Hagan’s legal fee case

Kathy Castor is Mariella Smith’s first major endorsement for county commission bid

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

Hillsborough approves filing reimbursement for complaint against Ken Hagan

Stee-rike! ‘No guarantee’ of money for Rays stadium in Tampa

Darden Rice, Yolie Capin talk regionalism during Cafe Con Tampa

Activist George Niemann files as write-in for Hillsborough Commission

Bob Buckhorn, Hillsborough commissioners cleared in ethics probe

Rick Kriseman still bullish on the Rays staying in St. Pete