Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryAugust 25, 2016

During a radio debate Thursday, House District 68 Democrat Ben Diamond challenged what exactly his opponent, Eric Lynn has done in the community, while Lynn turned around to question Diamond’s independence when it comes to the insurance industry. Those two exchanges came toward the conclusion of a 38-minute debate on Tampa radio station WMNF 88.5 this afternoon, when the […]

Mitch PerryJune 29, 2016

Perhaps the first thing to know about the three candidates vying to become the next state representative of House District 68 in Pinellas County is that none of them awoke on New Year’s Day this year with the dream of winning this seat. Republican JB Bensmihen spent most of 2015 preparing to run against Democrat Lois Frankel in Florida’s 22nd […]

Anne LindbergJune 6, 2016

A committee for the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority has recommended that RSA Consulting Group become the next state lobbyist for the county’s bus system. But the proposed deal comes with a string attached: Lobbyist Alan Suskey must be part of the contract. For the two — RSA and Suskey — the PSTA will pay up to $7,500 a month […]

Mitch PerryDecember 7, 2015

(UPDATED) Last week President Obama signed into law the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act or FAST Act, a $305 billion transportation bill that will provide the state of Florida with $890 million more than it would have gotten under current funding formulas — and about $12 billion overall. “What will be most relevant for us in this bill is it will […]

Mitch PerryOctober 29, 2015

There’s lots to unpack from Wednesday night’s two-hour GOP presidential debate, but the most important thing to remember is that there still are three full months before any voter decides on anything. Unlike 2011-2012 when GOP primary voters through the polls bounced from Michele Bachmann to Rick Perry to Herman Cain to Newt Gingrich to […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJune 17, 2015

A $1 million ask by the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority will not be funded in the state’s 2015 budget. The Legislature agreed on an $80 billion budget late Monday night, but it did not include proposed funding for a Bus Rapid Transit study for a Central Avenue route connecting downtown St. Petersburg and the beaches. […]

Mitch PerryMay 20, 2015

Tampa public relations firm Tucker/Hall was paid more than $400,000 by the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) in 2013 and 2014 to create a public education campaign for the Greenlight Pinellas transit referendum. It was soundly defeated at the polls in November. One of the leading players for Tucker/Hall at the time was Tony Collins, the agency’s […]

Mitch PerryApril 20, 2015

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Before the 2015 Legislative Session commenced last month, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) Board Chairman Mike Suarez wrote to Pasco County area legislator Richard Corcoran, chairman of the Tampa Bay area legislative delegation, with a list of priorities that the transit agency hoped the state could fund this year. But with just two weeks to […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorMarch 26, 2015

The Florida Senate has not placed a $1.25 million appropriation for Bus Rapid Transit in St. Pete in its budget. The funding would have paid for a BRT pilot program with express bus service running from downtown St. Pete to St. Pete Beach along First Avenues North and South. According to Clearwater Senator Jack Latvala […]

Mitch PerryMarch 20, 2015

There were a lot of laughs when veteran local investigative TV reporter Mike Deeson took to the dais at the Tampa Tiger Bay Club meeting at Jackson Bistro on Harbor Island on Friday, but also a few bits of news. On former and probable future House District 64 Republican Jamie Grant, Deeson said that though […]

Tag: PSTA
Image via AP.

Ben Diamond and Eric Lynn confront each during WMNF radio debate

House District 68 candidates show little difference on the issues in Tiger Bay forum

RSA Consulting, Alan Suskey likely to be next PSTA lobbyists

FAST Act means more money for Florida transit agencies’ buses

Mitch Perry Report for 10.29.15 – Marco Rubio scores in debate, but will it boost his polling?

State won’t fund PSTA’s $1 million BRT study

PSTA using consultant Tony Collins, an original architect of Greenlight Pinellas plan

HART still hopes for funding from Tallahassee

Could Senate budget be a referendum on PSTA CEO Brad Miller?

Mike Deeson raw at Tiger Bay