Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschMay 20, 2018

Hundreds of people – including U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Congressman Charlie Crist – held hands on Florida beaches Saturday in protest of proposed nearshore oil drilling. “Hands Across the Sand” was held in Pinellas County, one of nearly 120 events taking place on beaches nationwide. The annual protest first started during the Deepwater Horizon […]

Scott PowersMay 15, 2018

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King laid claim Tuesday to the the Democrats’ most far-ranging criminal justice reform platform by vowing to seek to end the death penalty, legalize marijuana, restore felons’ voter rights, and close Florida’s private prisons. The six-point plan, which also called for reducing incarceration rates and investing in schools to close what King […]

Scott PowersMay 15, 2018

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King is launching a speech tour Tuesday focusing on his ideas for criminal justice reform, including the legalization of marijuana. According to sources inside King’s campaign, he will unveil a six-point plan that includes “Reducing Mass Incarceration, Legalizing Marijuana, Restoration of Voting Rights, Ending Private Prisons, Ending the Death Penalty, and […]

Peter SchorschMay 14, 2018

Congresswoman Kathy Castor, a Tampa Democrat, says she “led efforts” by the bipartisan Tampa Bay Congressional Delegation to include funding for MacDill Air Force Base. The National Defense Authorization Act cleared the U.S. House Armed Services Committee last Thursday. “Castor also championed other investments for our military, their families and our community, including a boost […]

Peter SchorschMay 7, 2018

It’s time once again to rank Tampa Bay’s most powerful politicians. I am asking several of the leading political consultants, activists, bloggers, operatives and local lobbyists to provide a list of who they consider the 25 most powerful pols in the region. For the purposes of this experiment, the Tampa Bay region is defined as […]

Staff ReportsApril 26, 2018

One of the bidders in Tampa Bay’s efforts to ease traffic — the Cross-Bay Ferry — is heading to court to keep its finances out of the public eye, calling them “trade secrets.” In 2016, the City of St. Petersburg launched the Cross-Bay Ferry, a seasonal program that would shuttle passengers between St. Petersburg and […]

Peter SchorschApril 13, 2018

Has the ol’ Ronda Storms magic lost its spark? Too soon to tell. Three candidates have filed for central Hillsborough’s HD 59, which is opening up early due to Dover Republican Rep. Ross Spano’s Attorney General aspirations. Republican Joe Wicker leads with just shy of $30,000. He has $27,500 banked, including $4,000 in candidate loans. […]

Peter SchorschApril 9, 2018

It’s your move, House Democratic Leader Janet Cruz. She’s term-limited in the House this year, and is – for now – set to run for a seat on the Hillsborough County Commission. But there’s word she will drop her bid for county commission and run for state Senate District 18. That would mean, assuming she clears […]

Peter SchorschApril 6, 2018

I subscribe to a service called “Baylawsuits,” which provides tip sheets on the most newsworthy lawsuits coming out of the Pinellas and Hillsborough county courthouses. Last week, a tip came in that read “Police seized guns from two men last month.” Because of all the attention surrounding the gun-control debate after the massacre in Parkland, this […]

Peter SchorschApril 4, 2018

It raised more than a few eyebrows when former state Rep. Ray Pilon endorsed fellow Republican Jeff Brandes in Senate District 24. That’s because his daughter-in-law Carrie Pilon, a Democrat, entered the race this week. Now, however, we know what’s going on. Chad Pilon (Ray’s son) explained on Facebook: “Actually, not much of an option for […]

Tag: St. Petersburg

Not Just A Body Of Water — A briefing about Tampa Bay politics — 5.20.18

Chris King: Ban death penalty, legalize pot, restore rights, close private prisons

Chris King to launch tour on criminal justice reform, including plan to legalize marijuana

Not Just A Body Of Water — A briefing about Tampa Bay politics — 5.14.18

Not Just A Body Of Water — A briefing on Tampa Bay politics – 5.7.18

Cross Bay Ferry bidder fighting public records request

Not Just A Body Of Water — A newsletter about Tampa Bay politics — 4.13.18

Not Just A Body Of Water — A newsletter about Tampa Bay politics — 4.9.18

The close-to-home reason why I support the new gun laws passed by the Florida Legislature

Not Just A Body Of Water — A briefing on Tampa Bay politics — 4.4.18