Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschApril 30, 2018

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Sources close to Tampa Councilman Mike Suarez say he’s set to enter the race for Tampa mayor as soon as Tuesday. Suarez, a third-generation Tampanian, faces term limits in his citywide District 1 Council seat and has long been thought to be eyeing a run for mayor. He was elected to the City Council in […]

Phil AmmannApril 10, 2018

Ed Turanchik launched his bid for Tampa Mayor in style. The Tampa attorney/developer/transit activist raised more than $155,000 through the end of March, as well as drawing more than 500 people to a campaign kickoff event held last week. “I am thrilled and humbled by the support our campaign has received,” Turanchik said Tuesday. “We […]

Mitch PerryMarch 6, 2018

Ed Turanchik is making an early statement in his quest to succeed Bob Buckhorn as Tampa mayor in 2019. The attorney/developer/transit activist announced Tuesday he already raised more than $100,000 since declaring his candidacy February 2. “I’m so humbled by the strong show of support from our city just one month into our campaign,” said Turanchik. […]

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 5, 2018

Reflecting on his 2010-2011 bid for Tampa mayor, Ed Turanchik said that in that campaign Bob Buckhorn schooled him on messaging — and he learned his lesson. Perhaps that explains Turanchik’s emphasis on branding his candidacy as a “vision” to lead Tampa in 2019 and beyond — reflected both on his campaign website and in encounters Friday with […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 1, 2018

On Thursday, Tampa City Councilmembers kept hope alive for transit activists who want Bayshore Blvd. shut down occasionally on Sundays for bicyclists, walker, runners, rollerbladers and others to use without fear of getting hit by a vehicle. Members of “Walk Bike Tampa” appeared before the Council to advocate for a plan to redirect vehicular traffic […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 11, 2018

The Tampa City Council voted 6-0 on Thursday to approve an ordinance aimed at curbing human trafficking by cracking down on illicit massage parlors. The measure is a revision to an 1980s-era bathhouse ordinance, adapted to close the loopholes that allow such massage parlors in Tampa to operate. It comes after months of advocacy by the […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 3, 2018

It’s now 2018, which means it’s only 14 more months before Tampa voters will decide on a new mayor and a host of new City Council members. Getting a head start in the process is civic activist/hairdresser Joe Citro, who will be the first candidate running in the 2019 Tampa municipal elections to hold a fundraiser […]

Mitch PerryDecember 15, 2017

Like most of his colleagues, Mike Suarez will soon be heading into his final year on the Tampa City Council—he’s term-limited in 2019. But the 54-year-old West Tampa native and District 1 councilman is considered to be set on staying in city government once his term ends. How? By becoming the next mayor, succeeding a similarly term-limited […]

Mitch PerryDecember 5, 2017

Former Hillsborough County Commissioner and transit advocate Ed Turanchik is seriously considering entering running for Tampa mayor in 2019. “There’s been overwhelming broad-based encouragement from people that I should do it and that I needed to do it,” Turanchik told Florida Politics Tuesday afternoon. The Tampa Bay Times initially reported his of his renewed interest. The […]

Tag: Mike Suarez
Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Image via Visit Florida.

Mike Suarez to join race to be next Tampa mayor

Ed Turanchik kicks off campaign for Tampa Mayor with $155K, big crowds

Ed Turanchik raises more than $100K during first month on Tampa mayor campaign trail

Hillsborough transit authority speaks critically of proposed BRT line

Ed Turanchik tees up next Tampa mayoral bid

Tampa City Council revives plan to close Bayshore Blvd on occasional Sundays

Tampa City Council approves crackdown on massage parlors

Joe Citro sets first fundraiser in Tampa 2019 municipal races

Mike Suarez talks Tampa—but not own political future

Ed Turanchik seriously considers Tampa mayoral run in 2019