Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschJuly 5, 2018

The rockets offered no red glare. The bombs did not burst in the air. After a wide band of afternoon thunderstorms drenched Tampa Bay on Wednesday, fireworks displays in St. Petersburg and Gulfport did not go off as planned, while the show in Tampa was cut short. The City of St. Petersburg pulled the plug […]

Peter SchorschJune 29, 2018

The actions of two Bay-area men last week saved drivers from a potential financial headache. WTSP investigative journalist Noah Pransky uncovered a system maintenance issue with Florida’s tolling system, or SunPass. The estimated time to complete the toll maintenance project took longer than expected, and Pransky pointed out that Floridians could not see older transactions […]

Staff ReportsJune 5, 2018

The wait is almost over. We’re finalizing our sixth annual ranking of Tampa Bay’s most powerful politicians. It will be published next Monday. As has been the case in years prior, the results are rooted in the opinions of leading political consultants, activists, bloggers, operatives and local lobbyists around the Bay area who reached out […]

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. […]

Tag: St. Petersburg

There’s an easy fix for St. Pete, Tampa fireworks problems

Not Just A Body Of Water for 6.29.18 — A newsletter about Tampa Bay politics

Not Just A Body Of Water — A briefing about Tampa Bay politics — 6.5.18

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