Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 23, 2018

Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist and candidate Todd Marks sent out a dual-funded campaign mailer this week claiming Crist’s challenger, Mariella Smith, and Marks’ opponent, Kimberly Overman, support an $18 billion tax hike. Except there’s no factual support for that claim. “It’s a complete lie,” Smith said of the claim. “I just don’t know how they sleep […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 9, 2018

Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist continues to lead his Democratic opponent in fundraising efforts, but the gap between the candidates’ cash on hand is slight. Crist has about $95,000 left in the bank with about four weeks before the November 6 election while Mariella Smith has $76,000. A third candidate in the race, Joe Kotvas, […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 24, 2018

Incumbent Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White has continued piling on cash in his District 4 re-election bid, while fellow Commissioners Victor Crist and Ken Hagan are each far ahead as they look to swap seats on the seven-member panel. White, first elected in 2014, added a couple thousand dollars to his war chest during the […]

Drew WilsonMarch 13, 2018

February fundraising reports show the four sitting Hillsborough County Commissioners who’ll be on the ballot in 2018 are far ahead in fundraising for their respective races. Commissioner Ken Hagan’s campaign account is the most flush of all, with more $458,000 in the bank, including $3,750 raised last month. Hagan, a Republican, currently holds the countywide […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 29, 2018

Victor Crist is hitting back hard at comments from Democrat Mariella Smith and her campaign over his intention to extend his career on the Hillsborough County Commission by running for the District 5 countywide seat. Smith is one of five Democrats seeking an opportunity this year to take on the GOP incumbent this fall. The Smith […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 11, 2018

In past election cycles, the Hillsborough County Democratic Party struggled to field legitimate candidates to challenge Republicans in local and statewide elections. This year, that’s not the case, with the county’s District 5 race a shining example. No fewer than five Democrats have filed to run in the (theoretically) open countywide seat, where the biggest […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 8, 2018

Kathy Castor is endorsing longtime neighborhood and environmentalist activist Mariella Smith in her bid for Hillsborough County Commission District 5. “Mariella Smith is a champion for citizens, our neighborhoods, a healthy environment and a strong local economy,” the Hillsborough County congresswoman said in a statement Monday. “She has a deep understanding of how to move […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 2, 2018

South Hillsborough County environmental activist Mariella Smith has officially filed to run as a Democrat in the Hillsborough Commission District 5 race. The announcement is no surprise, as the 63-year-old Ruskin resident announced in November that she was likely to file at the beginning of the year officially, in what will be her first bid […]

Tag: Mariella Smith

Victor Crist and Todd Marks claim their opponents support an $18B tax hike; they don’t

Victor Crist still leading Mariella Smith in fundraising battle

Hillsborough Co. Commissioners up big in re-election fundraising

Hillsborough Commissioners hold big leads in re-election battles

Victor Crist calls Mariella Smith a ‘political wannabe’ with little to show for herself

Hillsborough Democrats host District 5 forum, first for 2018

Kathy Castor is Mariella Smith’s first major endorsement for county commission bid

‘Smart growth’ candidate Mariella Smith running for Hillsborough County Commission