Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Joe HendersonOctober 3, 2016

Ken Hagan has been elected five times to the Hillsborough County Commission. That ought to say something about the way voters feel he takes care of both his and the public’s business. Headlines tend to find him because he always seems to be involved in something important, but I wouldn’t say he seeks out publicity. […]

Mitch PerryAugust 3, 2016

Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandy Murman said Wednesday she doesn’t want the Public Transportation Commission to raise the penalties on ridesharing drivers from $700 to $900. “I think their fines are high enough,” she told her colleagues on the county commission at the end of their regular meeting. “If the fines are being raised to control a certain […]

Mitch PerryDecember 4, 2015

Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission (PTC) Chairman Victor Crist says that Jeff Brandes’ recent inquiry on whether the PTC should be allowed to hire lobbyists was simply a ploy “to try to stir the pot” in advance of next week’s Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation meeting. “This is a publicity stunt by Sen. Brandes to stir […]

Mitch PerryOctober 8, 2015

(UPDATED) Last month, Florida Senate Transportation Chairman Jeff Brandes and Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commissioner (PTC) Victor Crist discussed their opinions on how to regulate Transportation Network Companies like Uber and Lyft. They met at Shula’s Steakhouse in Tampa’s Westshore district, and both have said they enjoyed themselves and came to common cause on several […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 24, 2015

Attention Uber fans and critics: there’s no need for you to travel to Brandon on Friday to listen to cheer (or protest) a series of local legislative bills on regulating ridesharing companies in Florida. The Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation meeting slated at the Brandon campus of Hillsborough Community College, has been postponed until Dec. 8. “Due […]

Mitch PerryAugust 20, 2015

The news that the Go Hillsborough campaign has re-introduced the prospect of the Hillsborough transportation tax going from a half-cent to a full penny apparently alienated a few county commissioners who didn’t get a heads-up that County Administrator Mike Merrill was about to do that Monday. Now that they’ve got that out of their system, […]

Mitch PerryAugust 19, 2015

(Update: Jeff Brandes & Uber respond). This past week St. Petersburg-based state Sen. Jeff Brandes said that he intends to once again introduce legislation in next year’s Regular Session to reform the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission. Brandes, who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, was reacting to the news that the PTC, which regulates commercial vehicle […]

Ryan RayJuly 16, 2015

Little-known political novice Joseph Wilkinson was never much of a threat to the incumbency of Republican Rep. Jamie Grant of Tampa, but now he has completely removed himself from consideration by voters in HD 64 altogether. Wilkinson, also a Republican, had not reported raising any contributions. Grant, for his part, has raised $25 ahead of his 2016 reelection campaign. […]

Mitch PerryJune 9, 2015

Going back to a December 2013 meeting among the Hillsborough County state legislative delegation, Arthenia Joyner has always fought any moves to weaken the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission’s ability to regulate share-riding companies like Uber and Lyft. So it was no surprise on Tuesday when she again had the local agency’s back (as well as […]

Mitch PerryMay 29, 2015

Among the many casualties in the aborted legislative session last month was legislation regulating ride-sharing apps Uber and Lyft. On the eve of the Special Session, though, Uber’s Florida General Manager Matthew Gore and other Florida business leaders have asked House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner to include transportation network companies in […]

Tag: Public Transportation Commission
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Joe Henderson: Hillsborough rideshare decision could rest with ‘problem solver’ Ken Hagan

Sandy Murman doesn’t want Hillsborough PTC to raise penalties on ridesharing drivers

Tensions about Hillsborough PTC build as legislative delegation meeting approaches

Hillsborough Republican lawmakers mixed on PTC future

Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation meeting in Brandon canceled

Mitch Perry Report for 8.20.15 — The 1% solution for a Hillsborough County transportation tax

Hillsborough County to study costs if PTC is eliminated

Joseph Wilkinson, Jamie Grant’s sole opponent, drops out in HD 64

Arthenia Joyner again stops proposal that would ease life for Uber and Lyft in Florida

Uber requests that ride-sharing be part of Special Session in Tallahassee