Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 11, 2018

In a major upset, Pinellas County Democratic Party Chair Susan McGrath lost to former chef Barbara Scott during a party meeting Monday night. Scott won with nearly two-thirds 0f the vote. McGrath’s publicly facing campaign to hold onto her chairmanship seemed to be going well. She was rolling in endorsements from elected Democrats in Pinellas County […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 1, 2018

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Longtime St. Petersburg community activist Theresa “Momma Tee” Lassiter died Sunday night, according to Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch. Welch and his wife, Donna Welch, were planning a celebration of her life and community activism this Friday but canceled the event after her passing. Lassiter had been suffering from cancer for a while, Welch said, […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorSeptember 26, 2018

Pinellas County Commission Chair Ken Welch is endorsing Jeff Larsen for Pinellas County School Board in a new ad released Wednesday. Larsen ran against incumbent Terry Krassner for the countywide seat and Lisa Cane, a mother of four in the August Primary. Krassner lost, leaving Larsen to run against Cane in the General election. “Jeff Larsen […]

Kate BradshawJune 14, 2018

It’s no wonder Ken Welch is Pinellas County Commission chair (again) this year. First elected in 2000 and later re-elected four times, Welch is thoughtful and incredibly detail-oriented. It’s clear his deliberative style has contributed to the board’s collaborative, seemingly nonpartisan approach to hammering out policy. “Commissioner Welch is a Chairman’s chairman. A grounded statesman and an […]

Peter SchorschMarch 5, 2018

Pinellas County School Board Chair René Flowers picked up three endorsements Monday for her re-election campaign to the District 7 seat. Flowers picked up nods from Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch, St. Petersburg City Council Chair Lisa Wheeler-Bowman and Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church Pastor Dr. G. Gregg Murray. “Students from all over the county are in […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 2, 2018

Plans for a new veterans memorial near Clearwater were revealed Friday, but potential visitors will need an oxygen tank to get there. Called “Circle of Heroes,” the memorial aims to be the nation’s first underwater dive memorial and will be situated roughly 10 miles off the Pinellas County shore. The site will be about 40-feet […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 8, 2018

Wengay Newton received a rebuke Monday when several high-profile St. Petersburg Democrats announced their support of Vito Sheeley, the political operative challenging the incumbent in the overwhelmingly Democratic House District 70 this year. In a joint statement, Pinellas County School Board Chair Rene Flowers, Pinellas County Commission Chair Ken Welch, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and City Council Chair Lisa Wheeler-Bowman said they […]

Mitch PerryDecember 13, 2017

Pinellas County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday to commit the City of Dunedin and the Toronto Blue Jays to a 25-year contract, which would keep spring training in town. But the vote came with sharp criticism from some board members. The county will commit $41.7 million toward the $81 million renovation project, a revision […]

Mitch PerryOctober 30, 2017

The St. Petersburg municipal elections are officially nonpartisan in law — but certainly not in spirit when it comes to the mayoral and District 6 City Council races this year. That’s not a real issue in the District 2 race, where both Barclay Harless and Brandi Gabbard are Democrats battling each other to represent the Gateway/Gandy […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 25, 2017

It was supposed to be a simple community meeting. However, Charlie Crist wound up addressing a controversial personnel decision inside his office, which added a bit of drama to the proceedings. Appearing at a community forum in St. Petersburg’s Midtown area Saturday morning, Crist’s visit was advertised as a discussion about the Affordable Care Act, […]

Tag: Ken Welch

Former chef Barbara Scott takes out Susan McGrath as top Pinellas Democrat

Community activist ‘Momma Tee’ Lassiter dies at 62

Ken Welch endorses Jeff Larsen for Pinellas School Board

#11 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Ken Welch

René Flowers adds endorsements for Pinellas School Board re-election

First underwater veterans memorial coming to Pinellas County waters

High-profile St. Pete Democrats now backing Vito Sheeley in contentious HD 70 primary

Pinellas moves forward with commitment to keep Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin

Darden Rice, Ken Welch give to both sides in St. Pete District 2 race

At neighborhood meeting, Charlie Crist dismisses question about personnel shake-up