Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterNovember 8, 2016

Presidential races get all the attention, but it’s the folks down ballot that make the real decisions. In the Sunshine State, there’s no shortage of high intensity — and sometimes high drama — battles for office. And we aren’t talking about the races for state House and Senate. There have been allegations of election fraud in a […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 7, 2016

David Singer, the South Tampa-based land use attorney now running as a Democrat in the Florida House District 60 race, has received a nice boost to his campaign by getting the endorsement of all seven members of the Tampa City Council. Singer is running against Republican Jackie Toledo in the race on Nov. 8. Toledo, a professional […]

Joe HendersonJune 21, 2016

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You can never take a moment off in politics, so when Lisa Montelione saw an opportunity Tuesday morning, she got busy. A frisky black bear had climbed up a tree about two blocks from her home in north Tampa. While authorities worked to safely remove the animal, Montelione was thinking ahead. “I told them they […]

Mitch PerryJune 16, 2016

Although Lisa Montelione announced last fall that she would challenge fellow Democrat Mike Reedy in the House District 63 primary election this August, she didn’t officially submit her resign-to-run letter announcing her departure from the Tampa City Council until last Friday. She wrote she was submitting her resignation with “a heavy heart,” and jokingly said Wednesday night that putting […]

Mitch PerryMay 5, 2016

Outgoing state legislator Arthenia Joyner has been a pioneer throughout her professional career in law and politics, and with just months to go before she ends her legislative career in Tallahassee, she was given a commemoration Thursday by the Tampa City Council honoring her work. The 73-year-old lifelong Democrat currently represents Tampa’s Senate District 19, where she […]

Mitch PerryMarch 17, 2016

The Tampa City Council on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution calling on elected officials in Congress to oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the controversial free trade agreement between the U.S. and 11 Pacific Rim nations. It’s intended to reduce trade barriers between the 12 countries by lowering tariffs on goods, coordinating regulations and much more. The proposal […]

Mitch PerryNovember 13, 2015

Happy Friday to you all, and what a weekend it will be as virtually the entire Republican presidential field (including Jim Gilmore!) makes its way to Orlando for the next two days for the Republican Party of Florida’s Sunshine Summit. We’re off to the event shortly ourselves, so let’s be succinct: Will we hear more […]

Mitch PerryNovember 10, 2015

Tampa City Councilwoman Lisa Montelione, who was just re-elected without opposition to a second four-year term in her District 7 seat this past winter, said Tuesday she’s running for the Democratic nomination for the House District 63 race, a seat now held by Republican incumbent Shawn Harrison. “The issues facing our city and the entire […]

Mitch PerryOctober 2, 2015

No doubt some Florida Republicans must have scoffed about how “clueless” Donald Trump was when they heard his remarks regarding the relationship between Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio in New Hampshire on Wednesday night. “They hate so much. They hate more than anybody in this room hates their neighbor,” Trump said, adding “It’s political bulls_”. Now […]

Mitch PerryAugust 5, 2015

Two years ago, officials at California State University-Fullerton produced a comprehensive report on police civilian oversight boards. Among their findings was that obstacles to creating a successful agency included politicians who have a “law and order” agenda not conducive to oversight. Plus, if such a board is created, the power that lawmakers have to limit their oversight is through […]

Tag: Tampa City Council

More than just the presidency: 10 down ballot races in Florida to watch on Election Day

Entire Tampa City Council comes out in support of David Singer in House District 60 race

Joe Henderson: When political opportunity knocks, Lisa Montelione gets busy

Lisa Montelione anticipates ‘increasing’ public service by running for state Legislature

Tampa City Council honors Arthenia Joyner as her legislative career winds down

Tampa City Council passes resolution opposing Trans Pacific Partnership

Mitch Perry Report for 11.13.15 – All aboard the Sunshine Summit

Tampa City Councilwoman Lisa Montelione files to run in state HD 63 race

Mitch Perry Report for 10.2.15 – On Jeb and Marco

Tampa residents to call for civilian review board to monitor police