Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryAugust 8, 2017

Rick-Baker-announces-StPete-Mayor-by-SeanK-20170509_081232-3500x2408.jpg

With Rick Kriseman trailing Rick Baker in the latest poll of St. Petersburg’s mayoral race, the Florida Democratic Party is paying for a new ad linking the former mayor with President Donald Trump. Whether national politics will trickle down to the local level is something the Kriseman team is banking on, though it hasn’t been reflected yet in […]

Phil AmmannJuly 23, 2017

St. Petersburg mayoral candidate Jesse Nevel is organizing a “major public event” this week in response to racially charged statements made by fellow candidate Paul Congemi. During a recent mayoral debate, Congemi berated supporters of the International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement, telling them to “go back to Africa.” Nevel – the Uhuru-backed candidate – has […]

Peter SchorschJuly 19, 2017

St. Petersburg mayoral candidate Paul Congemi let loose a racially charged diatribe at a candidate forum Tuesday night. Congemi’s spiel came shortly after Uhuru-backed Jesse Nevel responded to a question about recreational development and youth opportunities by saying he was committed to “reparations” for St. Pete’s black community, which he said had suffered under the current […]

Mitch PerryJune 12, 2017

Max Goodman, the well-regarded communications pro who worked for U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan for nearly a decade before helping David Jolly’s campaign(s) in 2015 and 2016, is returning to work for Buchanan as Chief Communications Advisor. Goodman will be based out of Washington D.C. Goodman joined Jolly’s campaign for the U.S. Senate in the fall of 2015 as […]

Peter SchorschMay 28, 2017

Former Mayor Rick Baker continues building momentum in his quest to return for a third term as St. Petersburg Mayor. Coming off a successful campaign kickoff event last week, Baker, who served two terms from 2001-2010, is following with another high-profile reception Wednesday in Clearwater Beach. Co-chairs of the event – with the tagline “Proven Leadership” […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 17, 2017

The race for St. Petersburg mayor is heating up, with a new poll showing Rick Baker with a double-digit lead over Rick Kriseman. A new St. Pete Polls survey finds Baker with 46 percent of registered St. Petersburg voters saying they would pick him in a head-to-head matchup, while 33 percent are with Kriseman. Twenty percent of voters polled […]

Mitch PerryMay 15, 2017

Near the end of Rick Baker‘s 36-minute speech announcing a re-election challenge to Mayor Rick Kriseman, the former two-term mayor invoked his mantra of St. Petersburg being a “seamless city” — and that includes the LGBT community. “A lot has been said about me and the LGBT community by my opponent and by others,” he said on the […]

Peter SchorschMay 9, 2017

It’s been seven years since Rick Baker exited City Hall as its most powerful, successful mayor. Hardly a day has gone by that someone — perhaps this site more so than anywhere else — has wondered whether he’d have to, like Cincinnatus, come in from the fields to save the city he loves. Today, St. Petersburg […]

Mitch PerryMay 1, 2017

Rumors continue to circulate that former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker will soon announce his candidacy to challenge incumbent Rick Kriseman in November. If so, Baker may need to do it as soon as this week, as Kriseman continues to extend his financial advantage. The Kriseman campaign announced Monday that the campaign and an associated committee combined to […]

Peter SchorschApril 10, 2017

As coy as he has been with the local media and as busy as he is promoting the Rowdies referendum, Rick Baker is almost certain to run for St. Petersburg mayor this year. Last week, Baker was in Tallahassee for a series of not-exactly-clandestine meetings with top Republican donors like Brian Ballard and Nick Iarossi. […]

Tag: Rick Baker

Democratic ad attempts to link Rick Baker to Donald Trump

Jesse Nevel protesting Paul Congemi ‘go back to Africa’ rant at rally Tuesday

Mayoral candidate tells black residents to ‘go back to Africa’

Max Goodman headed back to work for Vern Buchanan

Pinellas GOP heavyweights raising money for Rick Baker on Wednesday in Clearwater Beach

Race on! Rick Baker takes double-digit lead over Rick Kriseman for St. Pete Mayor, poll shows

Rick Baker recognizes previous stances on LGBT community will be campaign issue; Will it make a difference?

Rick Kriseman needs to respond forcefully to Rick Baker’s Trumpian ‘St. Petersburg carnage’

Rick Kriseman campaign raises more than $100,000 in April for re-election

The case against Rick Baker running for St. Petersburg mayor