Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryDecember 6, 2016

After a rough start, Hillsborough County Democrats re-elected Ione Townsend as party chair Monday night. A raucous first 50 minutes of the group’s reorganization meeting culminated in five Tampa City Council members and two Hillsborough County school board members leaving the hall in disgust when they were not allowed to participate in the Democratic Executive […]

Mitch PerryDecember 1, 2016

Florida lawmakers have been filing bills this week for the 2017 Legislative Session, and one of the most provocative ones so far is an immigration-related issue from Sarasota Republican Sen. Greg Steube. As initially reported by the Tampa Bay Times Claire McNeill, Steube would repeal the Jack Latvala-sponsored bill that waives out-of-state fees for undocumented Florida high school students. “It is certainly […]

Mitch PerryNovember 4, 2016

It was the Thursday night before the 2000 general election when Fox News’s Carl Cameron reported George W. Bush had been arrested in 1976 in Maine on a DWI case. It was definitely an “October surprise,” and it definitely seemed to stop Bush’s momentum in that contest — a contest in which he ultimately lost the […]

Mitch PerryNovember 3, 2016

Tampa City Council members Mike Suarez and Charlie Miranda took time out Wednesday to praise how Tampa has always been a beacon for immigrants, and how Donald Trump’s incendiary rhetoric on Latinos threatens what Ronald Reagan once called “that city on a hill.” “Donald Trump does not understand what it’s like to be an American,” Suarez said, speaking at the Blind Tiger Cafe […]

Mitch PerryOctober 21, 2016

Forget about Marco Rubio in 2020, what about Rick Scott? Troy Kinsey from Bay News 9 reports that “some GOP operatives are floating him as a potential presidential contender in 2020, should Trump lose in November.” Kinsey then quotes all of one lone such operative in his story. But it does make for a good headline. Now, what about Marco Rubio? The […]

Mitch PerryOctober 18, 2016

One of the most unexpected moments of Monday night’s Senate debate between Marco Rubio and Patrick Murphy was when Rubio said Murphy posted a photo on Facebook four years ago showing him groping a woman. “That’s inappropriate behavior!” he charged at Murphy, who appeared startled by the reference. On Tuesday, Murphy dismissed the allegation. “When Donald Trump goes low, Marco Rubio goes […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 14, 2016

David Singer says that when he began his run for the Hillsborough County based House District 60 race in April, his goal was not to get into an ideological discussion about left vs. right, but “right vs. wrong.” And now that the primary election season is over, he says he intends to use the next eight […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 7, 2016

David Singer, the South Tampa-based land use attorney now running as a Democrat in the Florida House District 60 race, has received a nice boost to his campaign by getting the endorsement of all seven members of the Tampa City Council. Singer is running against Republican Jackie Toledo in the race on Nov. 8. Toledo, a professional […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 2, 2016

They did it last night. After nearly four hours of discussion, the Tampa City Council voted 4-2 to support the biggest infusion of taxpayer dollars ever to attempt to improve the city’s stormwater infrastructure, which for decades has been a major problem in the city. Mike Suarez, Lisa Montelione, Harry Cohen and swing vote Guido Maniscalco opted to support Mayor Bob Buckhorn‘s proposal, […]

Mitch PerryJune 24, 2016

As the deadline for state legislative candidates expired at noon on Friday, there were four Democrats on the Aug. 30 ballot in the Senate District 19 race that encompasses both Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties. Three all relatively well known — Ed Narain and Darryl Rouson currently serve in the Florida House, and Betty Reed previously held Narain’s HD 61 seat. Add […]

Tag: Mike Suarez

Uproar at Hillsborough DEC meeting; City Council, School Board members leave in disgust

Mitch Perry Report for 12.1.16 — What does Rick Scott and rest of Legislature do with bill repealing in-state tuition rates for the undocumented?

Mitch Perry Report for 11.4.16 — What will be this year’s decisive October surprise?

In Ybor City, Charlie Miranda and Mike Suarez denounce Trumpism

Mitch Perry Report for 10.21.16 — Rick Scott in 2020?

Patrick Murphy says Marco Rubio goes low in bringing up photo with former girlfriend

HD 60 Democrat David Singer says his campaign is about right vs. wrong, not left vs right

Entire Tampa City Council comes out in support of David Singer in House District 60 race

Mitch Perry Report for 9.2.16 — Tampa City Council approves $251 million to improve stormwater system

Civil justice attorney Augie Ribeiro says he can make a difference if elected in SD 19