Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonJune 13, 2018

There’s something fishy going on at Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections office, says one Democratic consultant. As previously reported, Susan Valdes is eyeing a run for the Florida House, for the seat being vacated by Janet Cruz. In preparation for a bid for House District 62, Valdes resigned her seat on the Hillsborough County School Board just […]

Staff ReportsJune 10, 2018

Hillsborough County School Board member Susan Valdes is laying the groundwork to run for the House District 62 seat. Patrick Manteiga of La Gaceta is reporting that Valdes resigned her seat Friday, to take effect November 6, the day of the general election. “It’s our understanding that her school board seat will be open for qualifying with […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 9, 2018

April Griffin will not run for re-election to the Hillsborough County School Board, ending her tenure after more than a decade in office. If she were to run later this year, Griffin is confident she would win. But after 12 years on the board, she believes she has done her duty. In a statement Friday, Griffin […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 6, 2018

Longtime local educator Dr. Stacy Hahn is making another run for Hillsborough County School Board District 2, the seat currently held by Sally Harris. “As an educator, working professional and mother, I’ve seen firsthand how a quality education can change a life,” Hahn said in a statement. “I’m running for the School Board to use […]

Mitch PerryMay 16, 2017

A host of political and education issues came together Tuesday in West Tampa to trash the massive $419 million public education bill that GOP lawmakers unveiled and passed in the final days of the Legislative Session. “This is the mother of all education bills, ” said Rep. Sean Shaw. The Tampa Democrat was referring to House Bill 7069, […]

Mitch PerryDecember 6, 2016

After a rough start, Hillsborough County Democrats re-elected Ione Townsend as party chair Monday night. A raucous first 50 minutes of the group’s reorganization meeting culminated in five Tampa City Council members and two Hillsborough County school board members leaving the hall in disgust when they were not allowed to participate in the Democratic Executive […]

Joe HendersonAugust 28, 2016

I will be paying attention to a lot of things during Tuesday’s primary election. The weather, however, will not be high on the list. Even with storms in Tuesday’s forecast, it may not affect the turnout that much. As of Sunday, voters cast nearly 104,000 ballots in Hillsborough County for the primary election, either by […]

Joe HendersonAugust 4, 2016

Things really got nasty around the Hillsborough County School Board in early 2015. That’s when four of the seven members voted to fire Superintendent MaryEllen Elia. They didn’t like her brusque and dismissive style. They felt Elia believed the board worked for her, not vice versa. The move was, to understate matters, highly controversial. Oh, […]

Mitch PerryDecember 30, 2015

It’s been a long contentious year in Tampa Bay, from Pinellas County’s “Failure Factories” and Beth Leytham in Tampa City Hall to the evolving political landscape that has drawn Charlie Crist for another bid for elected office. Good or bad, 2015 offered a little something for everyone (to cheer or argue about). Now that the […]

Mitch PerryDecember 30, 2015

As first said by Greek philosopher Heraclitus, in the universe change is the only constant. Nowhere was that more applicable than in Tampa Bay during the past 12 months. From the much-ballyhooed dismissal of MaryEllen Elia as Hillsborough County School Board District superintendent to redistricting and the rising (and falling) fortunes for hizzoner Bob Buckhorn, many of the leading […]

Tag: Susan Valdes
Rodney Guttman, image via University of West Florida.

Hillsborough elections supervisor played favorites with Susan Valdes

Hillsborough School Board member Susan Valdes considers run for HD 62

April Griffin won’t seek another term on Hillsborough School Board

Stacy Hahn takes another crack at the Hillsborough School Board

In Tampa, public officials blast education bill, urge Rick Scott veto

Uproar at Hillsborough DEC meeting; City Council, School Board members leave in disgust

Joe Henderson: Some pre-primary thoughts for Hillsborough County

Joe Henderson: Supporters of MaryEllen Elia now get chance for revenge at ballot box

Mitch Perry’s 5 people to watch in Tampa Bay politics in 2016

Mitch Perry’s Top 10 stories of 2015 in Hillsborough politics