Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryDecember 30, 2015

As first said by Greek philosopher Heraclitus, in the universe change is the only constant. Nowhere was that more applicable than in Tampa Bay during the past 12 months. From the much-ballyhooed dismissal of MaryEllen Elia as Hillsborough County School Board District superintendent to redistricting and the rising (and falling) fortunes for hizzoner Bob Buckhorn, many of the leading […]

Mitch PerryNovember 11, 2015

The odds were stacked against him last night, and there were many who were writing him off before last night’s debate. And yet he had a breakthrough performance at the GOP’s 4th presidential debate in Milwaukee. Jeb Bush? No, Rand Paul. Paul’s been down so far this election cycle that the only stories you seem […]

Mitch PerryOctober 21, 2015

The Hillsborough County Commission on Wednesday became the latest local agency to support the push to have a Cuban consulate in Tampa. “We’ve been told from our sources in Washington D.C. that, if we truly want to be considered for the consulate, we must speak with one voice,” said Bob Rohrlack, President and CEO of […]

Peter SchorschOctober 9, 2015

Former Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman began his return to public office in September with solid fundraising. On Friday, Norman’s campaign announced raising $84,000 for his inaugural month. “When we started this campaign, we reached out immediately to close friends and family for support,” Norman said in a prepared statement. “I’m incredibly humbled by the […]

Mitch PerryOctober 8, 2015

Watching the Hillsborough County Commission Wednesday discuss the latest with the Go Hillsborough effort was a fascinating glimpse of where this experience may be heading. The headline was that county commissioners beat back a feeble attempt to stop Sheriff David Gee‘s office from investigating the charges on how consultant Parsons Brinckerhoff received its $1.35 million contract […]

Phil AmmannJune 4, 2015

Consumer attorney and former television personality Eric Seidel has announced healthy fundraising numbers in his campaign for Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Seidel, 52, a longtime consumer lawyer for Tampa Fox affiliate WTVT-Channel 13, raised more than $30,000 in his campaign’s first month, despite any organized fundraising efforts. He is the first Republican […]

Mitch PerryMay 22, 2015

Members of two important Tampa Bay area agencies got huge news this week. Among the more than three dozen bills that Gov. Rick Scott signed into law on Thursday included a child welfare bill that lifts a cloud from over the Hillsborough County Children’s Board and the Pinellas County Juvenile Welfare Board. They faced a local referendum next […]

Mitch PerryMay 22, 2015

Happy Memorial Day Weekend to you all, which by the way, is the earliest we can ever have such a holiday, with this Monday only being May 25. Incidentally, Labor Day will take place as late as it can this year (Sept. 7), which will actually be a factor in delaying the NFL season by […]

Mitch PerryMay 21, 2015

She didn’t even make the initial list of finalists, but now Janet Dougherty will soon become only the third executive director of the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission (EPC). The 53-year-old Hillsborough County native comes with 25 years of experience in local and state environmental policy and business management, and she wasn’t even on the short […]

Mitch PerryMay 21, 2015

It may not have actually been the definition of a filibuster, but Rand Paul worked his tail off Wednesday night on the Senate floor, calling attention to the dangers of the National Security Agency’s surveillance programs. He spoke for 10-and-a-half hours, beginning at 1:18 p.m. and lasting nearly until midnight, calling it a day at 11:49 […]

Tag: Kevin Beckner

Mitch Perry’s Top 10 stories of 2015 in Hillsborough politics

Mitch Perry Report for 11.11.15 – The return of Rand Paul to the GOP presidential race

Hillsborough County Commissioners approve push to bring Cuban consulate to region

Jim Norman dominates Hillsborough County race with impressive first month fundraising

Mitch Perry Report for 10.8.15 – Will Hillsborough commission have votes to put transportation tax on ballot?

Without formal fundraising, Eric Seidel nets $30K for Hillsborough Clerk’s race

Rick Scott signs bill that could help Hillsborough County with transit tax

Mitch Perry Report for 5.22.15 — On Donald Trump, James Harden & what local taxpayers should pay for

Hillsborough County Commission picks Janet Dougherty as next EPC chief

Mitch Perry Report for 5.21.15 — A comeback for Rand Paul?