Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJune 22, 2016

Our latest form of participatory democracy takes place in Tampa tonight, where scores of people will comment on whether or not the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization should include the Tampa Bay Express project in what is known as their Transportation Improvement Plan. If past is prologue, the majority of speakers will be against the project, and the MPO […]

Mitch PerryApril 14, 2016

When the Florida Department of Transportation announced their plans to add toll lanes to I-275 in what is now known as the Tampa Bay Express project, Tampa Heights residents reacted in shock last year. FDOT officials said that as part of the ultimate construction of the project, there are properties in Seminole Heights and Tampa […]

Mitch PerryMarch 8, 2016

U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson announced on Tuesday that the Department of Justice will not investigate the circumstances involving the death of Andrew Joseph III, the 14-year-old black youth who was ejected from the Florida State Fair on Student Day in 2014 and died trying to cross Interstate 4. Assistant Attorney General Peter J. Kadzik responded back to […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 6, 2016

Since we don’t know who the presidential nominees are yet, it’s insanely premature to speculate on who might be the vice-presidential candidates, right? Of course not. Actually, the reason I’m even thinking of this today is that my original story idea for this column is being banked for a future story. But I thought about […]

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 PerryDecember 16, 2015

They’re not using general revenue tax dollars! That was the message that six of the seven members of the Hillsborough County Commission emphasized on Wednesday in voting to approve a deal that will send $29 million in taxpayer money to the Tampa Sports Authority to make improvements on an estimated $87 million plan for Raymond […]

Phil AmmannOctober 26, 2015

Hillsborough County Commissioners Sandy Murman and Ken Hagan possibly violated Florida Sunshine Laws when they failed to produce public records requested months ago. However, after a 10 News investigation, WTSP reporter Noah Pransky says one Commissioner is apologizing while the other blames county workers. The situation stems from an inquiry into the murky relationship between […]

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 […]

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 […]

Mitch PerryAugust 13, 2015

Good morning, happy 11th anniversary of Hurricane Charley. Charley, as those of us who were here remember, was the first of four hurricanes that descended upon Florida in August and September 2004. It was going to be the “new normal,” we all fretted. Major storms every summer. Since that time there were a couple that […]

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Image via AP.

Mitch Perry Report for 6.22.16 — TBX showdown tonight

Hillsborough state and local lawmakers celebrate bipartisanship in saving the Tampa Heights community center

Alan Grayson says DOJ won’t investigate death of Andrew Joseph III, but may look at HCSO practices

Mitch Perry Report for 1.6.15 – Are Nikki Haley and Julian Castro top picks for VP?

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

Hillsborough BOCC approves stadium improvement deal with Tampa Bay Bucs

After several requests, Hillsborough commissioners produce Beth Leytham emails they said didn’t exist

Hillsborough County Commissioners approve push to bring Cuban consulate to region

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

Mitch Perry Report for 8.13.15 — Jeb Bush deals with a Black Lives Matter activist