Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 10, 2019

Tampa’s mayoral candidates heated up the stage in what turned out to be a feisty televised debate hosted by Bay News 9 Wednesday night. In stark contrast to previous campaign forums, there were moments where candidates were not afraid to throw shade at their opponents and dredge up past blemishes on professional resumes. All seven […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 21, 2018

UPDATE: Following news of David Straz’s refusal to participate in a debate closed off to some candidates, Bay News 9 has decided to allow all Tampa mayoral candidates to participate in the televised debate next month regardless of how much money they’ve raised. “We have decided to open the Spectrum Bay News 9 Tampa Mayoral […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 13, 2018

Tampa mayoral candidate Ed Turanchik released a new agenda Thursday aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion in communities of color, particularly in East and West Tampa. “We are calling it our ‘New Day’ agenda, because Tampa’s diverse communities have been left behind, and need a fresh start,” Turanchik said. He created the agenda based on […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 12, 2018

Tampa mayoral candidates bundled up Tuesday night to answer questions about pedestrian and cyclist safety at a forum at the newly opened Sparkman Wharf in downtown Tampa. The forum, presented by the group Walk Bike Tampa, tackled an important topic, but its narrow focus led to a lot of redundant answers and not a lot came out to […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 10, 2018

Ed Turanchik is the only actively campaigning Tampa Mayoral candidate who did not condemn Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White’s decision to file a lawsuit against the county and other governments and agencies within the county over the All For Transportation referendum raising sales tax 1 percent to fund transit and transportation improvements. Voters approved that referendum […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 3, 2018

Tampa mayoral candidate Mike Suarez wants to use revenue generated from the 1 percent sales tax increase voters approved last month to fund transportation and transit improvements to draw down federal funding and finance future projects. The All For Transportation sales surtax will generate about $280 million a year in Hillsborough County with about $34 […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 3, 2018

Tampa mayoral candidate Ed Turanchik wasn’t a fan of the All For Transportation referendum voters approved to fund transportation and transit improvements in Hillsborough County, but he thinks he’s the best candidate to facilitate new revenue spending. In an interview with Florida Politics, Turanchik rejected more conventional transit plans in favor of a local-first strategy […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 30, 2018

Newly elected Hillsborough County Commissioner Mariella Smith is endorsing Ed Turanchik for Mayor of Tampa. “Ed Turanchik is a very rare combination of visionary, pragmatist and fiscal conservative,” Smith said during a campaign fundraiser for Turanchik at Jackson’s Bistro Thursday night. Turanchik is running in a crowded field to replace Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn who […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 16, 2018

The group Walk Bike Tampa is hosting a mayoral forum tackling one of the city and region’s top ticket issues — transportation safety. The Dec. 11 forum will focus on candidates’ ideas on pedestrian and cyclist safety. That includes plans to create walkable spaces and improve neighborhood sidewalks. Tampa Bay Times reporter and columnist Ernest […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 13, 2018

With the 2018 midterm elections (mostly) over, candidates for Tampa Mayor will likely start amping up their campaigns for what is likely to be a competitive and possibly tight race to replace outgoing Mayor Bob Buckhorn. So far the field includes a wealthy philanthropist, two Tampa City Council members, a former police chief, a former […]

Transportation, not-so-subtle digs, baseball dominate Tampa mayoral forum

David Straz won’t participate in Bay News 9 debate—unless all candidates are included

Ed Turanchik launches ‘New Day’ initiative to increase diversity and inclusion in Tampa

5 takeaways from the Walk Bike Tampa mayoral forum

Tampa mayoral candidates blast Stacy White over transportation tax lawsuit … except one

Mike Suarez’s Tampa: More streetcars, better sidewalks and tiny apartments

Smart transit and education top Tampa mayoral candidate Ed Turanchik’s campaign

Mariella Smith backs Ed Turanchik for Tampa Mayor

Next Tampa mayoral forum will tackle pedestrian, cyclist safety

Tampa’s mayoral race will be the next election pivot