Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 12, 2015

For several years, it’s been a given that Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn would try to take his brand of leadership to a new level in 2018 by seeking the Democratic nomination for governor. Facing just token opposition in his re-election bid, Buckhorn won with nearly 96 percent of the vote in March, setting himself up […]

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 […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 30, 2015

On Thursday, St. Petersburg’s City Council is scheduled to take up the city’s poorly designed school zones, but they might not be getting all the facts from the department of public works. After a WTSP/10 Investigates report had found the St. Petersburg Police Department wrote an astonishing number of school zone tickets at improperly signed school […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 22, 2015

Despite years of safety warnings from citizens and community leaders, St. Petersburg will finally begin to correct street signage to better caution drivers of approaching school crossings. The tipping point came after questions from WTSP/10 Investigates, featured in a new report first broadcast Tuesday night. Before the issue became public, however, St. Pete police may have issued thousands of incorrect […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 22, 2015

Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill is calling on Sheriff David Gee to investigate the contract awarded to Parsons Brinckerhoff for the public outreach effort for a proposed transportation sales tax. He’s also calling on PB to stop all work on the Go Hillsborough campaign, until Gee’s inquiry is complete. That second action sounds more dramatic than it […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 16, 2015

The Tampa political scene is still buzzing about WTSP’s Noah Pransky‘s comprehensive and damning report about the working relationship between Mayor Bob Buckhorn and consultant Beth Leytham. Undoubtedly, Pransky – already a George Polk award-winner – will collect a cabinet’s worth of trophies and accolades for his work. (I have a few problems with the […]

Mitch PerryAugust 24, 2015

St. Petersburg based GOP state Sen. Jeff Brandes has for several years aimed to extinguish intersection red-light cameras, so it should be no surprise he introduced SB 168 Monday. The bill would repeal the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act and eliminate red-light cameras in Florida. “Red-light cameras are another example of taxation by citation, and Florida […]

Phil AmmannMay 8, 2015

After calling for federal review of police practices in vehicle and bicycle code enforcement, both Tampa police and Mayor Bob Buckhorn insist there is no need to further expand an upcoming Justice Department investigation. That’s despite a WTSP-TV report showing the Tampa Police Department arrested more black people than any other law enforcement agency on […]

Phil AmmannMay 6, 2015

Tampa police arrest more black men and women than any other racial group, according to new numbers obtained by WTSP-TV. This statistical disparity comes ahead of an upcoming U.S. Justice Department review of the Tampa Police Department procedures on vehicle and bicycle code enforcement. While recent census estimates show 26 percent of Tampa’s population is […]

Tag: Noah Pransky

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

Bob Buckhorn still considering 2018 run for governor

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

St. Pete City Council to take up school zone controversy, but may not have all the facts

WTSP: Inadequate warnings, aggressive ticketing and doubled fines plague St. Pete school zones

Mitch Perry Report for 9.22.15 – Hillsborough County transportation tax now DOA?

About Beth Leytham, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn should’ve gone “Clear and Present Danger”

Jeff Brandes again files bill to douse red-light cameras in Florida

WTSP: TPD, Bob Buckhorn say no need for further review on race arrest rates

Tampa police arrest more blacks than any other race, new data shows