Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonAugust 23, 2018

Tampa Downtown Partnership, a non-profit group that administers a special services district aimed at bettering Tampa’s downtown, is throwing its support behind the transportation tax referendum that will go before Hillsborough County voters in November. The referendum, known as “All for Transportation,” would add a penny-per-dollar sales tax in Hillsborough to fund transportation initiatives. In […]

Drew WilsonApril 6, 2018

Shaun Drinkard has been promoted to senior director of public programming and operations at Tampa Downtown Partnership, the group announced Friday. In his new role, Drinkard will lead district operations which includes the Downtown Guides and Clean Team program as well as all public programming within the Special Services District. “Shaun has been a critical […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 16, 2018

There are a lot of issues in the Tampa Bay area, but it’s almost universally accepted that lack of transportation options is the dominant one for 2018. A 41-mile Bus Rapid Transit plan running from Wesley Chapel to St. Petersburg was introduced to the public last month to decidedly mixed reviews. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay Republicans in Tallahassee […]

Mitch PerryApril 14, 2016

Why do Hillsborough County State Attorney employees even need “key cards”? That’s the question I have after reading the Anna Phillips/Windy March penned story in the Times this morning (and Elaine Silvestrini’s in the Trib). Their story revolves around an allegation made about Mark Ober’s work ethic by his Democratic party challenger, Andrew Warren. Records unearthed by his campaign […]

Mitch PerryMarch 29, 2016

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For decades, aspiring restaurateurs in Tampa and Hillsborough County have had to contend with regulations unlike those in any other part of Florida. State law requires that any restaurant that serves alcohol must be at least 2,500 square feet in size. However, in Hillsborough County, state law dictated that restaurants that sell booze must be at least 4,000 square feet. No longer. […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 19, 2015

Among the many links on this morning’s Drudge Report is a story by the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Marco Rubio essentially saying that Congress should pass a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security without conditions. There are just eight days remaining before funding for DHS will run out, with the House and Senate at […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 18, 2015

Last week, at a candidates forum in South Tampa, District 4 challenger Kent King assailed incumbent Harry Cohen’s performance on council over the past four years, saying he hasn’t represented South Tampa well at City Hall. But after King told moderator Christine Burdick at this morning’s Downtown Partnership candidates forum that the City Council is not the “lead […]

Tampa Downtown Partnership backs Hillsborough transit tax plan

Personnel note: Shaun Drinkard promoted at Tampa Downtown Partnership

Business leader pitches Tampa Bay light rail, but not on backs of local taxpayers

Mitch Perry Report for 4.14.16 – So who wants to go to Cleveland this summer?

New law brings Hillsborough County in line with rest of Florida regarding restaurant size to sell alcohol

Mitch Perry Report for 2.19.15 — Rubio, immigration and the political right

Transit talk dominates discussion at Tampa Downtown Partnership City Council forum