Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Anne LindbergOctober 7, 2016

Most Pinellas candidates running in the six races for a place in the Florida House of Representatives sharply disagreed with their opponents when the topic of guns on college campuses came up during a Wednesday forum on the Seminole campus of St. Petersburg College. The House District 68 race was the only exception. In that […]

Anne LindbergSeptember 30, 2016

A one-issue forum about mental health and substance abuse Thursday evoked some of the most private information from candidates seeking election to the Florida House of Representatives. Jennifer Webb talked about arriving at an intervention for her “baby sister” too late to do anything other than watch her shoot herself. It was through that experience, Webb […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 10, 2016

With a decisive primary win behind him, Democrat Wengay Newton is now looking toward the general election for House District 70, starting with a celebration in downtown St. Petersburg. Newton’s campaign kickoff event will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at The LURE, 661 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg. Contributions are encouraged, and there […]

Mitch PerryAugust 30, 2016

Former St. Petersburg City Councilman Wengay Newton is now one step closer to serving in Tallahassee, after besting attorney CJ Czaia and businessman Dan Fiorini in Florida’s House District 70 race, which encompasses portions of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Sarasota and Manatee counties. Newton received 61 percent. Florin was second with 21 percent, and Czaia finished with 17 percent. Fiorini was the legislative […]

Mitch PerryAugust 18, 2016

There’s more news about the Affordable Care Act this week, and it ain’t that good. Aetna announced Tuesday it would be pulling out of Florida and 10 other states next year, giving those on the government plan less options for choice here in the Sunshine State. There have always been problems with the ACA, and […]

Mitch PerryAugust 17, 2016

Wengay Newton has received another endorsement in his quest to win the House District 70 Democratic primary later this month. It’s former St. Pete city councilman, state legislator, and Juvenile Justice Secretary Frank Peterman Jr. who is backing his campaign. Newton has received the lion’s share of endorsements in the four-county district (Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota), which […]

Mitch PerryAugust 11, 2016

Before we dig into the new poll on the Florida Senate race, can I reference the lead story in this morning’s Tampa Bay Times? Two men get into a road-rage argument on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Plant City. One guy pulls out a gun and shoots the other dead. He then “cooperates” with the Hillsborough […]

Mitch PerryAugust 10, 2016

St. Petersburg City Council Vice Chair Darden Rice is backing her former council and PSTA colleague Wengay Newton in the Florida House District 70 contest. “Wengay “Newt” Newton has been a longtime leader on many issues, including education, youth employment, and mass transit issues in our region. I have seen firsthand his impressive dedication and diligence on the […]

Mitch PerryAugust 3, 2016

New York Rep. Richard Hanna yesterday became the first Republican in Congress to say that not only could he not support Donald Trump for president (he said that months ago), but he now says he’ll be voting for Hillary Clinton in the fall. “While I disagree with her on many issues, I will vote for Mrs. Clinton,” Hanna wrote […]

Mitch PerryAugust 2, 2016

[Updated with response from Pinellas Realtors Organization.] CJ Czaia, a Manatee County-based personal injury attorney running for the Democratic nomination in House District 70, paid $1,000 last month to St. Petersburg community activist Theresa “Mama Tee” Lassiter for political consulting work. Lassiter is a well-known and somewhat controversial community activist in South St. Petersburg. “She had a one-time payment to […]

Tag: Wengay Newton
John Labriola lost his longtime Miami-Dade County job after refusing to take part in anti-discrimination training. Image via X.

Carrying guns on college campuses? Pinellas House candidates split on the issue

Pinellas candidates for state House get personal at forum

Wengay Newton eyes general election with HD 70 campaign kickoff Tuesday

Wengay Newton one step closer to Tallahassee, wins HD 70 primary

Mitch Perry Report for 8.18.16 — The Affordable Care Act is getting less affordable

Frank Peterman is backing Wengay Newton in HD 70 race

Mitch Perry Report for 8.11.16 — Marco Rubio isn’t dominating Patrick Murphy or Alan Grayson in latest Q Senate poll

Darden Rice endorses Wengay Newton in HD 70 race

Mitch Perry Report for 8.3.16 — How many GOP candidates still ‘not there yet’ on Trump?

CJ Czaia employs ‘Mama Tee’ Lassiter as political consultant in HD 70 race