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 […]

Scott PowersJune 20, 2018

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham is launching her second television commercial today — once again only in Tampa Bay and Orlando — and pushing hard for Medicaid expansion in Florida. Her latest 30-second spot, “Absolute,” begins like a dramatic movie trailer with pounding music and flashing images of Tallahassee and someone being rushed on a […]

Kate BradshawJune 15, 2018

As any observer of Florida politics will tell you, this 34-year-old Palm Harbor Republican is on the move. First elected to House District 65 over Democratic incumbent Carl Zimmerman in 2014, Chris Sprowls had little difficulty getting re-elected in 2016 against Democrat Bernie Fensterwald. At this point, 2018 appears to be shaping up the same way. Sprowls currently serves as […]

Kate BradshawJune 15, 2018

The last time anyone asked, Tampanians overwhelmingly said they approve of the job Bob Buckhorn has done as Mayor of Tampa. Back in November, some three-quarters of 350 Tampa residents surveyed said they approve of his performance, and most said the city is headed in the right direction — that was before Raybor was a thing. In […]

Kate BradshawJune 15, 2018

Given that he’s the incoming Senate President, there’s no way Bill Galvano wouldn’t have landed at or near the top of the list. The Bradenton Republican representing Senate District 21, will lead his chamber over the 2019 and 2020 legislative sessions by determining legislative priorities and setting the tone of the conversations it has with the House […]

Kate BradshawJune 15, 2018

As the 2017 mayoral race ramped up last year, re-election was never a sure thing for incumbent St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. It was far from it at times. Yet despite a significant challenge from former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, who was often ahead in the polls, he and his allies pulled it off. Whether it […]

Kate BradshawJune 15, 2018

An egg farmer by trade, Wilton Simpson currently serves as Senate Majority Leader. The Trilby Republican’s prestige doesn’t end there, though. Simpson, 51, is slated to become Senate President in 2020, on the heels of incoming Senate President Bill Galvano. (Both presidencies, of course, hinge on GOP dominance in that chamber following the 2018 and 2020 elections.) Voted […]

Kate BradshawJune 15, 2018

Whether it’s a string of good decisions — or that she has had an impossibly charmed life in politics thus far — Congresswoman Kathy Castor doesn’t really seem capable of having a bad year. Yet the Tampa Democrat has certainly been an underdog more than once; first, as a Hillsborough County Commissioner in the Ronda Storms era, […]

Peter SchorschJune 14, 2018

Terry Power, a Republican candidate for House District 64, owes nearly $88,000 in alimony, according to court records reviewed this week. A document in the case from Pinellas County shows a “payoff amount” of $87,904. It also lists a “balance due” of only $4,668. In a statement to Florida Politics, however, Power says he doesn’t legally […]

Tag: Tampa Bay

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

Gwen Graham’s new TV spot focuses on Medicaid expansion

#1 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Chris Sprowls

#2 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Bob Buckhorn

#3 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Bill Galvano

#4 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Rick Kriseman

#5 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Wilton Simpson

#6 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Kathy Castor

Terry Power owes alimony, records show; he says no