Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryMarch 5, 2018

While Democrats like Charlie Crist hope Washington can finally address “common sense” gun regulations in the wake of the Parkland massacre, he admits the odds aren’t great that will happen. That’s why he’s hoping President Donald Trump can intervene and push for some of the proposals he mentioned last week while meeting with legislators in the […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 18, 2018

Charlie Crist hopes things will be different this time around. Before a public appearance at Williams Park Saturday, the St. Petersburg Democrat said he was still unconvinced the Republican-led Congress will support gun control legislation, even after 17 people were massacred last week at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Several hundred people gathered in downtown St. […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 8, 2018

Wengay Newton received a rebuke Monday when several high-profile St. Petersburg Democrats announced their support of Vito Sheeley, the political operative challenging the incumbent in the overwhelmingly Democratic House District 70 this year. In a joint statement, Pinellas County School Board Chair Rene Flowers, Pinellas County Commission Chair Ken Welch, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and City Council Chair Lisa Wheeler-Bowman said they […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 4, 2018

Democrat Javier Centonzio has filed to run for the open House District 69 seat. “I was honored to serve my country in the military, and now I’m ready to serve my community as a member of the Florida House,” Centonzio, a St.Petersburg based attorney, said in a statement Thursday announcing his candidacy. “District 69 needs a […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 2, 2018

After they were sworn into office Tuesday morning, there were several allusions on the dais to the fact that with Brandi Gabbard‘s and Gina Driscoll‘s victories in their respective St. Petersburg City Council races last fall, the eight-member Council is now dominantly female. Gabbard easily defeated Barclay Harless in November for the northern St. Pete District 2 […]

Peter SchorschNovember 8, 2017

Tuesday’s slate of elections in St. Petersburg certainly provided a list of winners and losers, and I’m not just talking about candidates. Here’s a list of the real winners and losers emerging from the city’s general elections. Please let me know if I missed anyone. The Biggest Winners Kevin King and Ben Kirby — Kriseman‘s top City […]

Mitch PerryNovember 7, 2017

Unlike the August 29 primary, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman went into the general election as the favorite against former Mayor Rick Baker. But margins were slim. Much to the consternation of Baker (and his supporters), early returns of the evening — which included early vote/vote-by-mail — gave Kriseman an advantage of two percentage points, a margin […]

Mitch PerryApril 29, 2016

Good morning, y’all. Regular readers of this column may note that it’s being posted a little later this morning. Not to get into Too Much Information, but let’s just say I think when I read Arianna Huffington write that you must have 7/8 hours a sleep every night, well, one can certainly aspire to that. Rumor has […]

Tag: Rene Flowers
Image via AP.

Charlie Crist hopes Donald Trump will push for gun control regulations

At St. Pete vigil for Parkland shooting, calls for political action

High-profile St. Pete Democrats now backing Vito Sheeley in contentious HD 70 primary

St. Petersburg attorney Javier Centonzio latest Democrat to file in HD 69

Gina Driscoll, Brandi Gabbard become newest St. Pete City Council members

Winners and losers emerging from St. Petersburg’s municipal elections

Bedlam at Rick Kriseman election watch party; bitterness at Rick Baker’s

Mitch Perry Report for 4.29.16 – Trib frowns on Go Hillsborough vote