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Mitch PerryFebruary 13, 2018

Republican Victor Crist is the closest thing to an incumbent in the District 5 race this fall, as he has served on the Hillsborough County Commission for the past eight years in District 2. He’s now switching to District 5 to run countywide for the first time, and has taken in $76,905 so far. Among […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 29, 2018

Victor Crist is hitting back hard at comments from Democrat Mariella Smith and her campaign over his intention to extend his career on the Hillsborough County Commission by running for the District 5 countywide seat. Smith is one of five Democrats seeking an opportunity this year to take on the GOP incumbent this fall. The Smith […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 25, 2018

Five Democrats have already filed for the Hillsborough County Commission District 5 seat, but there’s no doubt the Party establishment is putting all their chips behind community activist Mariella Smith. Congresswoman Kathy Castor, former Education Commissioner Betty Castor and current County Commissioner Pat Kemp were part of Smith’s kickoff event Tuesday night. An audience of around […]

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 […]

Tag: Victor Crist
(L-R) Michael Hartline, Adam Hasner and John Volin. Images via Florida State University, Florida Atlantic University and University of Maine.

Victor Crist leads all candidates in HCC District 5 fundraising

Victor Crist calls Mariella Smith a ‘political wannabe’ with little to show for herself

Mariella Smith says facing Victor Crist is like ‘David and Goliath’

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