Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryMarch 7, 2018

Commissioner Les Miller‘s proposal to have Hillsborough County ban assault weapons died Wednesday after failing to pick up a second vote from the County Commission. The five-member board did come out to support a measure extending the waiting period to buy a firearm in the county from three days to five, as well as voting to advance new […]

Mitch PerryMarch 5, 2018

With local governments in Florida prohibited from regulating firearms, the Pinellas County Commission is making it clear where it stands on several specific gun-control issues that have emerged since the massacre at Parkland nearly three weeks ago. The board discussed a series of proposals at its February 27 meeting, and in a letter sent to […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 19, 2018

As a consequence of funding issues, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) made sweeping changes to its bus system last fall, cutting nearly 20 percent of all routes.The decision alienated some County Commissioners, unhappy with the level of service reductions in their districts. HART staff heard those objections loud and clear, saying they intended […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 5, 2018

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A proposed 41-mile, rapid transit line through Tampa hit a speed bump Monday when the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) board voted to keep the HART staff neutral and not involved in the public outreach effort. While that sounds innocuous enough, the fact of the matter was that there was heavy sentiment against the so-called “regional […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 1, 2018

Ken Hagan has built a formidable war chest as he attempts to parlay name recognition and extensive local government experience into staying on the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners for another term this year. Challenger Angela Birdsong, however, is not deterred. “He has amassed a lot of power and money and friends, but I think that things […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 17, 2018

Democrat Dianne Hart announced Wednesday that she will give it another go in House District 61, which is opening up this year due to Tampa Democratic Rep. Sean Shaw’s entry into the Attorney General race. “I know firsthand the struggles and the needs facing this District and spent a lifetime working to help our children […]

Mitch PerryDecember 6, 2017

Hillsborough County demographics are changing more and more every year, but two prestigious boards in the region are represented almost exclusively by white men (or white-led) organizations. Take the Tampa Bay Partnership. CEO Rick Homans and Dave Sobush, the agency’s director of policy and research, came before the Hillsborough County Commission Wednesday to present some […]

Mitch PerryDecember 6, 2017

Nearly three months after Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn engaged in a verbal skirmish about who had the power to call for an emergency curfew in Tampa, County Commissioners would like local state legislators to weigh in. The issue goes back to the days leading up the arrival of Hurricane Irma […]

Mitch PerryDecember 4, 2017

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) approved Monday the naming of Maryland-based Krauthamer and Associates to lead its search for a replacement for outgoing CEO Katharine Eagan. Eagan will leave the agency next month after serving as HART’s CEO since 2014. She’s moving on to serve as CEO of Pittsburgh’s transit agency, the Port Authority of […]

Mitch PerryNovember 8, 2017

UPDATED Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Agency (HARTA) CEO Katharine Eagan is leaving the agency to become the CEO of the Port Authority for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. She has agreed to a five-year contract at a salary of $230,000 a year and is scheduled to start in January. HART will select an interim CEO in December. “The […]

Tag: Les Miller

Hillsborough Commission rejects assault weapons ban

Pinellas commissioners want a ban on assault weapons

Hillsborough lawmakers pleased with changes to HART routes

Hillsborough transit authority speaks critically of proposed BRT line

Angela Birdsong not intimidated by Ken Hagan’s fundraising

Dianne Hart already emerging as frontrunner to replace Sean Shaw in HD 61

Hillsborough Commission Democrats question lack of diversity in 2 local organizations

Hillsborough Commissioners want Legislature to address who has curfew power

HART board rejects idea of consultant taking over agency

HART CEO Katharine Eagan to leave for transit position in Pittsburgh