Ever since I acquired the rights to the perfect domain for my efforts — FloridaPolitics.com — I knew that one day, this website would have to be put out to pasture.
Well, after more than 51,000 posts, this is the final one.
Going forward, I am devoting my full energies to the Florida Politics brand, whether it be the website, email programs like “Sunburn” and “Last Call,” or our gorgeous, award-winning INFLUENCE Magazine. Keep Reading
Two days after the St. Petersburg City Council passed an ordinance limiting campaign contributions, which is expected to be legally challenged, Council Chair Darden Rice was still exulting. A former president of the League of Women Voters in St. Pete, Rice was an early champion of the just passed measure that … Keep Reading
Four of the top five teams in the country kicked off their games at noon Eastern on Saturday, which suggests that all were expected to roll. No. 2 Clemson, No. 4 Penn State and No. 5 Georgia all did just that. Then there was No. 3 Oklahoma. The Sooners and Iowa … Keep Reading
After hours of debate, the St. Petersburg City Council approved a campaign-finance reform measure Thursday, which could have national implications. The final vote was 6-2, with Council members Ed Montanari and Jim Kennedy dissenting. Once the final vote became clear, the crowd in city chambers erupted with cheers. … Keep Reading
If there was any doubt about the interest level in the ‘battle of the two Ricks,’ check the latest campaign finance reports for Rick Kriseman and Rick Baker, both of whom raised substantial money during the last two weeks of September. … Keep Reading
Forty bay area chefs will prepare a four-course wine dinner on January 12 to honor Tom Pritchard, a Tampa Bay area icon who is widely known for his contributions to local charitable and culinary communities. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Coliseum. It will feature a roast of Prtichard, a live charity auction and entertainment. Proceeds will benefit the Abilities Foundation’s disable veterans job placement program. Information and reservations: www.abilitiesfoundation.com
I was reviewing some of the paperwork that’s been filed at the City Clerk’s office and one tidbit stands out, not that it’s a big deal or that it should come as surprise, but on Deveron Gibbons’ paperwork he lists Nancy Watkins as his campaign treasurer. To me this is another sign of strength for his campaign because Watkins is the authority in Tampa Bay when it comes to campaign finance matters.
While the rest of the country may still be swept up in the excitement of last year’s presidential election, the residents of Treasure Island don’t seem so inspired. All three races that would have been decided in March were decided today at the end of candidate qualifying as incumbent Commissioner Phil Collins was re-elected without oppositon and Bob Minning was “elected” Mayor, while Carol Coward ran for Mr. Minning’s seat without opposition. As the staffer in the city clerk’s office…
The otherwise quaint town of Safety Harbor can occasionally find itself home to rather loud city elections. For example, I managed Andy Steingold’s first campaign, an upset bid against Commissioner Deb White. The race was a bruising example of the local politics that can sometimes turn neighbor against neighbor depending on the campaign sign in their front yard. Safety Harbor is also a good example of the lesson that today’s city commissioner is tomorrow’s fill-in-the-blank, i.e., Pinellas County Commissioner Neil…
Ladies and gentlemen, Chef Tom Colicchio is coming back to the kitchen. Starting two weeks from tomorrow, Colicchio will cook at Tom: Tuesday Dinner in the 32-seat private dining room space at Craft, offering a seasonally-driven, seven to eight course tasting menu for a limited number of guests every other Tuesday. (Set-price starting at $150.) Though Colicchio insists he’s never really left the kitchen—despite the vastness of the Craft empire and his Top Chef judging duties—the new venture will certainly…
Often overlooked by the Times and the rest of the local media, as well as voters judging by the low-turnouts, are Pinellas’ municipal elections held in spring of the “off-year.” These elections are important because of their obvious impact on the cities in which they are conducted, but they are also interesting to those in the political arena because today’s city commissioner is tomorrow’s state legislator. For example, state represenative Tom Anderson got his start as mayor and state representative…
There was a mention on the Times’ Bay Buzz blog that former Senator Jim Sebesta had picked up the candidacy paperwork to run for Mayor of St. Pete. I was just on the phone with the city clerk’s office and they state that he has not, repeat has not, picked up the candidacy paperwork. For the record, the residents that have done so are: Deveron Gibbons, Paul Congemy, Sharon Russ and Michael Santo.
