Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 11, 2019

The Tampa Bay Partnership doesn’t think the candidates selected to lead Hillsborough County’s transit agency are experienced enough to lead the agency through a period of rebuilding and expanding expected as its budget soars from just $80 million annually to $200 million. The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority’s Board of Directors short-listed four candidates for […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 9, 2019

Hillsborough County Commissioner Pat Kemp wants to use $10 million of the county’s sales tax contingency fund as a fiscal guarantee for the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority so that agency may purchase eight electric buses before the end of the year. The board directed county staff to work with HART to craft an interlocal […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 9, 2019

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority Board of Directors heard from internationally acclaimed transit planner Jarrett Walker as members begin to look forward to an agency with vastly more buying power than it has ever had before. Agency leaders met with Walker privately after the public meeting to talk about potentially hiring him as a consultant, […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 7, 2019

Tampa mayoral candidate Ed Turanchik unveiled his “Go Plan” for transit improvements within the city Monday. In all, Turanchik’s plan includes 44 miles of exclusive transit and bikeway corridors, 72 miles of new transit, 63 miles of water transit and 107 total miles of congestion-proof land and water transit. The proposed routes focus on dense […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 7, 2019

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority’s Board of Directors narrowed its list of potential CEOs to four during a meeting Monday. The short list includes one internal applicant and others from Jacksonville, Atlanta and Lexington, Kentucky. The board’s internal candidate is HART Chief Administrative Officer and Chief of Staff Kenyatta Lee. “As an internal candidate, […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 4, 2019

Hillsborough County and the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority both filed defenses to a lawsuit seeking to overturn the one-percent transportation tax voters approved in November. Both entities argue, among other defenses, that Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White does not have legal standing to file the suit. White is seeking to overturn the voter-approved county […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 4, 2019

In the fight to maintain Hillsborough County’s recently enacted one-percent transportation sales tax, the All For Transportation campaign won its first legal battle. A Hillsborough County Circuit judge ruled Friday the group could defend the tax in a lawsuit seeking to overturn it. Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White sued the county, the three cities within […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 21, 2018

Virgin Trains U.S.A., formerly Brightline, could serve Tampa sooner than expected. Bob O’Malley, Vice President of Government Affairs, told the Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation Thursday the company now thinks it could combine work on two legs of its project, speeding up the timeline to “far less than a decade.” The company had planned to expand […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 20, 2018

Attorneys seeking to overturn the voter-approved transportation tax in Hillsborough County are asking the judge to expedite the case, according to court filings. The motion calls for an expedited case management conference to settle the lawsuit brought forth by Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White. Its basis for a speedy judgment in the plaintiff’s favor is […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 20, 2018

The All For Transportation campaign filed a motion Wednesday to have a team of its own lawyers intervene in the defense of its transportation referendum increasing sales tax by 1 percent, which voters approved last month. That motion provides some insight into how defending entities might argue their case. The primary argument is simple: “Counties […]

Tag: transit
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 4/18/25-Candles and remembrances are left near the Unconquered statue a few hours after the Florida State University Gathering of Unity Vigil held Friday to honor victims of the recent mass shooting. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO

Tampa Bay Partnership doesn’t think HART’s CEO candidates are experienced enough

Hillsborough County’s choice: Spend $10 million on new buses or not?

Hillsborough agency considers bringing on transit guru as consultant

Ed Turanchik announces ‘Go Plan’ to boost Tampa transit

Hillsborough transit agency eyes new CEO to effectively manage new transit tax revenue

HART, Hillsborough County say Stacy White has no right to challenge transportation tax

Judge rules All For Transportation can defend itself against Stacy White lawsuit

Private high-speed rail could serve Tampa sooner than expected

Overturning Hillsborough transportation tax rests on argument denied by Florida Supreme Court

All For Transportation court filing hints at possible transportation tax defense