Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryApril 30, 2015

Two nights after Baltimore burned in anger at the death of Freddie Gray, the young black man who died in police custody there, mass demonstrations were held in cities like Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia; Denver; New York City; and Minneapolis on Wednesday night. No such protests occurred in the Tampa Bay area, but Baltimore was very […]

Mitch PerryApril 23, 2015

Tampa police Chief Jane Castor spoke to Tampa City Council Thursday morning for nearly an hour, discussing the issues concerning the disproportionate number of citations written against black city residents. An investigation by the Tampa Bay Times brought the situation to light in a story published this past weekend. The charges have prompted Castor and […]

Mitch PerryApril 16, 2015

They’ve already declared their support for a Cuban consulate to be housed in Tampa, and now they want any major agreement between the Cuban and U.S. governments to be signed here as well. By a 5-0 vote, the Tampa City Council on Thursday passed “The Tampa Accord,” a resolution proposed by Councilwoman Yolie Capin that […]

Mitch PerryApril 15, 2015

The “Fight for 15” movement for fast-food and retailer workers advocating for higher wages and better treatment has been ongoing for more than two years. On this Tax Day it culminated in a protests in more than 200 cities across the country, including events at city hall in St. Petersburg and in Tampa’s Copeland Park. Although the movement […]

Mitch PerryApril 1, 2015

It was over in less than a minute. The much anticipated vote for Tampa City Council chairman was decided quickly Wednesday afternoon, as the newly sworn-in council picked Frank Reddick to be their chairman for the next year. As expected, it was a close vote, with Reddick defeating current chair Charlie Miranda on a 4-3 vote. […]

Mitch PerryMarch 19, 2015

The Tampa City Council has an election every year to choose a new chair. The majority has chosen the status quo in recent years, continuing to choose longtime member Charlie Miranda as their leader, with nary a vote for the board’s other six members. That lack of leadership diversity has bothered a few members of […]

Mitch PerryMarch 19, 2015

Tampa City Council members Yolie Capin and Frank Reddick have endorsed Guido Maniscalco in his race for the District 6 Tampa City Council seat that will be decided Tuesday. They made that announcement Wednesday night in Ybor City. Maniscalco is battling Jackie Toledo in a fierce contest to complete the seven-member roster of the council. […]

Mitch PerryMarch 14, 2015

Five of the seven members of the current Tampa City Council have composed a statement expressing their disdain with the negative attacks that keep on coming in the District 6 City Council race between Guido Maniscalco and Jackie Toledo. “While none of us are strangers to the rough and tumble of the political process, we […]

Mitch PerryMarch 6, 2015

Spurred on by organized labor, a campaign to drive up the wages for fast-food workers spread locally and across the country last year. That campaign is now encompassing other low-income industries. Last week a group of adjunct professors held a protest on the USF campus in Tampa calling for higher wages, and now the movement is spreading to […]

Mitch PerryMarch 3, 2015

The most lackluster campaign that this reporter has covered in his 15 years living in Tampa comes to a conclusion tonight — at least for most of the candidates vying to win the five Tampa City Council seats up for election. There’s not much drama. Though there has been a lot of coverage of the […]

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Image via AP.

Tampa town hall meeting on race reveals raw emotions

Jane Castor strongly disputes biking-while-black story at Tampa City Council meeting

Tampa City Council votes for any major agreement between U.S. & Cuba to be signed in Tampa

Bob Buckhorn among speakers at Fight for 15 protest in Tampa

Tampa City Council picks Frank Reddick to be new chairman

Tampa Council argues diversity vs. status quo in who will lead

Yolie Capin, Frank Reddick endorse Guido Maniscalco in Tampa runoff

Majority of Tampa City Council members express concern over negativity of District 6 race

Health care workers heat up Fight for $15 campaign in Tampa

Mitch Perry Report for 3.3.15 — Democracy now in Tampa