Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryMay 24, 2017

Members of Tampa’s political, business, media and activist communities weighed in Wednesday on the surprising news that Tampa will host the Super Bowl in February 2021. The announcement was unexpected, particularly after the NFL snubbed a local bid last year to host the big game in either 2019, 2020 and 2021. But major rainstorms in Southern […]

Joe HendersonNovember 8, 2016

Republican Shawn Harrison held on in a rough-and-tumble race against challenger Lisa Montelione to represent House District 63. With all precincts reporting, Harrison had 51 percent of 71,483 votes cast. Montelione held a close early lead but Harrison overcame that and steadily pulled ahead as the night progressed. “Obviously, we’re very happy,” Harrison said in […]

Mitch PerryOctober 21, 2016

Forget about Marco Rubio in 2020, what about Rick Scott? Troy Kinsey from Bay News 9 reports that “some GOP operatives are floating him as a potential presidential contender in 2020, should Trump lose in November.” Kinsey then quotes all of one lone such operative in his story. But it does make for a good headline. Now, what about Marco Rubio? The […]

Peter SchorschOctober 3, 2016

Hello, October. This is the final full month of the 2016 campaign cycle. In five weeks, we will know so much more about the future of the country, the state and our communities. But, no matter what, life will go on. For those in “The Process” — Florida Politics’ term for the unending legislative campaign/legislative session […]

Jim RosicaOctober 1, 2016

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La Gaceta, Tampa’s trilingual weekly newspaper, has endorsed incumbent Shawn Harrison in the state House District 63 race. Harrison, a one-term Republican, faces Democrat Lisa Montelione in the November general election. The area, which includes New Tampa, has been a swing district. An editorial in the newspaper — publishing articles in English, Spanish and Italian — said that “normally, […]

Peter SchorschMay 4, 2016

The shock from the news that the Tampa Bay Times has purchased and folded the Tampa Tribune has yet to wear off. In fact, there are probably a few hundred (maybe thousands) subscribers to the Trib who don’t pay attention to social media (think of all those seniors at Sun City Center) and were likely […]

Mitch PerryApril 29, 2016

Good morning, y’all. Regular readers of this column may note that it’s being posted a little later this morning. Not to get into Too Much Information, but let’s just say I think when I read Arianna Huffington write that you must have 7/8 hours a sleep every night, well, one can certainly aspire to that. Rumor has […]

Peter SchorschApril 27, 2016

Just when you think Tampa Bay’s newspaper wars have settled down, along comes La Gaceta publisher Patrick Manteiga to stir things up. Writing in his “As We Heard It” column, Manteiga reports that “sales and circulation staff, writers, graphic artists and just about everyone else at the Tampa Tribune are looking for jobs.” That’s not […]

Mitch PerryOctober 6, 2015

It was billed as “The Great Debate” with two of the most prominent Tampa residents on the issue of Cuba, Al Fox and Ralph Fernandez, duking it out on whether the United States should end the 54-year-old economic embargo against the Castro-led government. Hundreds jammed into the historic Centro Asturiano building in Ybor City for a 90-minute forum hosted by the […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 23, 2015

The Hillsborough County School Board’s unceremonious dumping of Superintendent MaryEllen Elia reverberates three days after the fact. In today’s Times, Ernest Hooper bemoans the fact that Sally Harris, the swing vote that went against Elia on Tuesday night leading to her ouster, beat big-time establishment pick Michelle Shimberg in the District 2 race last November, and […]

Tag: La Gaceta
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For many, Tampa’s 2021 Super Bowl is unexpected ‘big win.’ Others remain skeptical.

Shawn Harrison holds on in rough-and-tumble HD 63 race

Mitch Perry Report for 10.21.16 — Rick Scott in 2020?

Here’s where stuff stands in Tampa Bay politics — the ‘it’s October’ edition

La Gaceta endorses Shawn Harrison for HD 63

Patrick Manteiga was right about demise of Tampa Trib; so was Noah Pransky

Mitch Perry Report for 4.29.16 – Trib frowns on Go Hillsborough vote

Patrick Manteiga serves up quite a rumor about the Tampa Tribune

Al Fox and Ralph Fernandez debate U.S. Cuba relations in Ybor City

Mitch Perry Report for 1.23.15 — Popular (if not elite) opinion on MaryEllen Elia’s ouster isn’t monolithic