Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJanuary 11, 2018

In past election cycles, the Hillsborough County Democratic Party struggled to field legitimate candidates to challenge Republicans in local and statewide elections. This year, that’s not the case, with the county’s District 5 race a shining example. No fewer than five Democrats have filed to run in the (theoretically) open countywide seat, where the biggest […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 8, 2018

Kathy Castor is endorsing longtime neighborhood and environmentalist activist Mariella Smith in her bid for Hillsborough County Commission District 5. “Mariella Smith is a champion for citizens, our neighborhoods, a healthy environment and a strong local economy,” the Hillsborough County congresswoman said in a statement Monday. “She has a deep understanding of how to move […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 2, 2018

South Hillsborough County environmental activist Mariella Smith has officially filed to run as a Democrat in the Hillsborough Commission District 5 race. The announcement is no surprise, as the 63-year-old Ruskin resident announced in November that she was likely to file at the beginning of the year officially, in what will be her first bid […]

Mitch PerryDecember 6, 2017

Nearly three months after Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn engaged in a verbal skirmish about who had the power to call for an emergency curfew in Tampa, County Commissioners would like local state legislators to weigh in. The issue goes back to the days leading up the arrival of Hurricane Irma […]

Mitch PerryNovember 8, 2017

George Niemann decided: If he can’t beat ’em, why not join ’em? The Dover activist, who has filed at least 10 ethics complaints against Tampa and Hillsborough County officials over the past decade, will be running as a write-in candidate in the countywide open County Commission District 5 seat being vacated next year by Ken Hagan. […]

Mitch PerryNovember 1, 2017

Just a few months after the Hillsborough County Commission spent a tumultuous summer debating on the removal of a Confederate monument, the board will next take on another thorny issue — race relations. The BOCC unanimously approved a proposal by Commissioner Les Miller Wednesday to hold a symposium on race and Hillsborough’s economic impact on minorities. […]

Mitch PerryOctober 18, 2017

Andrew Davis, a 35-year-old Gibsonton resident who resigned from his position as public relations officer with the Hillsborough County Young Democrats on Tuesday night, says he is exploring a challenge to Stacy White for the District 4 seat onthe Hillsborough County Commission. “We often talk about our desire to help our county and improve such issues […]

Mitch PerryOctober 6, 2017

Republican consultant Anthony Pedicini is the latest target of a negative mailer in the vitriolic House District 58 primary.

Mitch PerryAugust 17, 2017

Led by two huge contributions, the private sector has raised well in excess of the $140,000 required by the Hillsborough County Commission to move a controversial Confederate monument in Tampa. Bob Gries, the founder and managing partner of Gries Investment Funds in Tampa was watching CNN Wednesday night when he learned the Board of County Commissioners […]

Mitch PerryJune 22, 2017

“Confederate monument in Tampa will stay put” was the headline by a published on CNN’s website on Wednesday, shortly after the Hillsborough County Commission voted 4-3 to keep a statue of a Confederate soldier in front of the annex of the county courthouse located in downtown Tampa. “Officials in Tampa decide not to move Civil […]

Tag: Victor Crist

Hillsborough Democrats host District 5 forum, first for 2018

Kathy Castor is Mariella Smith’s first major endorsement for county commission bid

‘Smart growth’ candidate Mariella Smith running for Hillsborough County Commission

Hillsborough Commissioners want Legislature to address who has curfew power

Activist George Niemann files as write-in for Hillsborough Commission

Hillsborough board agrees to symposium on race relations

Hillsborough Young Democrat considers challenging Stacy White

GOP consultant Anthony Pedicini subject of direct mail attack in bitter HD 58 race

Hillsborough Confederate monument to move after donations reach threshold in 24 hours

Bob Buckhorn: It was Hillsborough, not Tampa, which voted to keep Confederate monument