Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryAugust 10, 2016

The gloves are starting to come off in the Pinellas County House District 68 race. Ben Diamond is attacking his opponent in the Democratic primary, Eric Lynn, for failing to refund more than $50,000 in contributions he collected for his run for Congress in Florida’s 13th District, which he aborted earlier this year. Lynn left […]

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 PerryJuly 14, 2016

Political maxim No. 459: “If you’re explaining, you’re losing.” Let’s go to Patrick Murphy and his campaign for Senate, shall we? The Murphy camp is furiously shooting down a report by Alex Leary in the Tampa Bay Times published last night that said his congressional office sought to delay news about relief for businesses affected by the toxic […]

Peter SchorschJuly 12, 2016

‘Tis the season. It’s that most wonderful time of the year when candidates running in this fall’s elections begin to make the rounds at candidate forums, hob nobs, straw polls and Tiger Bay debates. It’s at these events candidates can begin to distinguish themselves from their opponents with a quick retort — or a regrettable gaffe. […]

Staff ReportsJuly 7, 2016

Candidates for U.S. Congressional District 13, one of the most closely watched races of the 2016 campaign in Florida, will face off in a debate Sept. 19 in St. Petersburg. The general election debate, co-sponsored by the Tampa Bay Times, 10 News WTSP and St. Petersburg College, will be at the Palladium Theater three weeks after the Aug. […]

Mitch PerryJuly 1, 2016

America celebrates its 240th birthday Monday, and the 40th anniversary of the Bicentennial. I was a relatively young kid who doesn’t have a whole lot of recollection of that particular day (other than our family was on vacation someplace in Northern California), but I certainly do remember the yearlong hype into that summer. Two days […]

Mitch PerryJune 22, 2016

Our latest form of participatory democracy takes place in Tampa tonight, where scores of people will comment on whether or not the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization should include the Tampa Bay Express project in what is known as their Transportation Improvement Plan. If past is prologue, the majority of speakers will be against the project, and the MPO […]

Mitch PerryJune 14, 2016

After months of deliberation, Hillsborough County Republican Tom Lee has apparently decided to run for re-election to the newly created Senate District 20 seat later this fall. The Tampa Bay Times first reported the news. Lee is currently serving in Senate District 24, a seat he won back in 2012. It was a return to […]

Mitch PerryJune 7, 2016

Happy Tuesday, everybody. To paraphrase Bob Dylan, you won’t need a weatherman to tell you how many streets will be inoperative in Tampa today, after an onslaught of rain touched down in the area overnight. We’ll have to wait and see how bad the flooding is, but one has to wonder how long it’ll be […]

Mitch PerryJune 1, 2016

Americans for Prosperity-Florida is calling on lawmakers from both sides of Tampa Bay not to use public taxpayer dollars in the financing of any potential new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays. “As the Rays search for a potential new sandlot to call home, their focus should steer clear of calling on taxpayers to sacrifice […]

Tag: Tampa Bay Times

Ben Diamond blasts Eric Lynn for not returning campaign contributions for his previous run for office

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

Mitch Perry Report for 7.14.16 — Patrick Murphy on defense, again

5 reasons I’m looking forward to tonight’s “Popcorn & Politics” event

Tampa Bay Times sponsoring Charlie Crist vs. David Jolly debate

Mitch Perry Report for 7.1.16 — The wheels of justice move excruciatingly slow

Mitch Perry Report for 6.22.16 — TBX showdown tonight

Tom Lee to run for SD 20 seat

Mitch Perry Report for 6.7.16 — Hillary now officially the candidate? Yes, according to AP

AFP-Florida warns Tampa Bay lawmakers to not use taxpayers $ for potential Rays stadium