Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Matt FlorellFebruary 12, 2016

After a contentious Tuesday meeting, South Pasadena City Commissioners signaled the end of the last red-light-camera program in south Pinellas County. I am proud of my role in making that happen. About a week before voting 4 to 1 to end RLCs, the South Pasadena held a two-hour workshop, where city leaders hashed out many […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 12, 2016

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium saw a boost in attendance in the years since the 2011 release of “Dolphin Tale.” That spike in attendance contributed to a $2 billion economic boost to Pinellas County, according to an economic impact study released this week. The study found that 44,440 jobs were supported by the aquarium over the […]

Jim RosicaDecember 22, 2015

New polling shows Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump sweeping primaries in Florida and early-vote state New Hampshire, and tying with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in South Carolina. The pollster, though, warns the “race is still young” and “there is still much room for movement for virtually all of the candidates.” More to the point, other focus-group surveys suggest Trump “may have hit […]

Jim RosicaDecember 4, 2015

In a dual appellate-court smackdown Friday, Pinellas and Broward counties lost separate appeals against the Department of Juvenile Justice related to the state collectively overbilling counties as much as $140 million for juvenile detention costs. In a 2-1 decision, a three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal acknowledged that the money due to counties […]

Phil AmmannNovember 18, 2015

On Friday, State Sen. Jack Latvala will once again join the effort to provide local families free, fresh Florida produce to create healthy holiday meals. For the 13th year, the Clearwater Republican will host a series of holiday produce distributions throughout Northern Pinellas County. Joined this year by his son, state Rep. Chris Latvala, Latvala […]

Associated PressNovember 9, 2015

An analysis by The Tampa Bay Times showed that Tampa police wrote more tickets last year than sheriff’s offices in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties combined and more per capita than cops in Jacksonville, Miami, St. Petersburg and Orlando, the state’s four other largest cities. And no other law enforcement agency in the state arrests […]

Julie DelegalNovember 6, 2015

Some whites’ approach to the #BlackLivesMatter movement presumes a zero-sum game: If one group is “awarded” national attention on any issue, the reasoning goes, then other groups by contrast, necessarily must lose something. But #BlackLivesMatter doesn’t mean that only black lives matter. It means, rather, that we can no longer pretend that institutions in our […]

Julie DelegalNovember 5, 2015

Some whites’ approach to the #BlackLivesMatter movement presumes a zero-sum game: If one group is “awarded” national attention on any issue, the reasoning goes, then other groups by contrast, necessarily must lose something. But #BlackLivesMatter doesn’t mean that only black lives matter. It means, rather, that we can no longer pretend that institutions in our […]

Peter SchorschNovember 2, 2015

When Jack Latvala isn’t pulling in a six-figure monthly haul for his political committee, it would appears he’s hard at work pulling in a six-figure monthly haul for his re-election campaign. Latvala’s campaign has pulled in $172,752 in the first 19 days it was in operation, and only spent $6,090, leaving his campaign account with $166,662 cash […]

Peter SchorschOctober 25, 2015

After his testimony in front of the Senate panel on redistricting Friday, a lot of Alachua, Pasco, Sarasota and Volusia voters probably wish Clearwater Republican Jack Latvala was their senator, too. Latvala doesn’t sit on the Senate Reapportionment Committee and instead had to sign up to speak during the panel’s public comment time. During his […]

Tag: Pinellas County
Pollsters find that both of Florida's hot-button constitutional amendments in 2024 are falling short. Image via WFSU.

Matt Florell: My role in giving the red light to South Pasadena’s red-light-cameras

Clearwater Marine Aquarium pumps $2 billion into Pinellas economy, study finds

New polls show Donald Trump strong but “race still young”

Court won’t order DJJ to repay counties for juvenile detention overbilling

Jack Latvala to host 13th Holiday Food Giveaway with Farm Share this Friday

Report: Tampa Police write more tickets than other agencies

Julie Delegal: Being black matters, researcher says

Julie Delegal: Being black matters, researcher says

Jack Latvala raises more than $172K in first 19 days of re-election campaign

Must-watch: Jack Latvala blasts proposed Senate maps in committee testimony