Bernie McCabe Archives - SaintPetersBlog

Fifth annual list of Tampa Bay’s 25 Most Powerful Politicians

Published on May 19, 2017 in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by Peter Schorsch

Now in its fifth year, SaintPetersBlog/FloridaPolitics.com is offering its annual list of the Most Powerful Politicians in Tampa Bay. In compiling the 2017 list, FloridaPolitics.com queried several of the region’s leading political consultants, activists, bloggers, operatives and local lobbyists to name who they consider the 25 most powerful pols in the area. No suggested names were provided. For this exercise, the Tampa Bay region is defined as Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco, but can also include Hernando, Polk or Sarasota, particularly…

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#20 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Bernie McCabe

Published on May 16, 2017 in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by Peter Schorsch

Bernie McCabe, the 69-year-old Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney, had originally said that 2016 would be his swansong in office, but opted for one more four-year term last year, where he was unopposed in his reelection bid. When Aramis Ayala, his Central Florida counterpart, stunningly announced earlier this year that she would no longer pursue the death penalty in the capital cases that stood before her, McCabe emphatically said he did not agree with her decision. “I think if you’re going to…

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At swearing in, Bob Dillinger says it’s his last term as Pinellas/Pasco public defender

Published on January 3, 2017 in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by Anne Lindberg

The event was set up as a festive ceremony to swear in six of Pinellas County’s constitutional officers. But amid the laughter, hugs and cheers, there were some serious moments. One came just after Pinellas-Pasco public defender Bob Dillinger was sworn in by Anthony Rondolino, chief judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit. In a voice choked with emotion, Dillinger announced that this would be his “last term as public defender for the Sixth Judicial Circuit.” Dillinger did not offer reasons…

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Pinellas sets swearing-in for constitutional officers

Published on December 23, 2016 in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by Anne Lindberg

Swearing-in of Pinellas County’s incoming constitutional officers will be Jan. 3. The ceremony, which will be open to the public, will be at 5:30 p.m. in the historic Pinellas County Courthouse located at 324 S Fort Harrison Ave. in Clearwater. A reception in the courthouse lobby will follow the reception. Two of the constitutional officers are being sworn in for the first time. They are Mike Twitty, who will succeed outgoing property appraiser Pam Dubov. Dubov is leaving to enter…

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Pinellas county clerk sues inmate over filings, harassment

Published on December 16, 2016 in Local Courts by Jade Isaacs

Pinellas County Circuit Court Clerk Ken Burke and County Attorney James Bennett are putting an end to the harassment by a Florida prison inmate. The two are seeking relief over affidavits filed by Vincent Williams, who is currently serving 20 years for attempted murder. Burke and Bennett filed a joint complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief Nov. 18. In late November, Williams filed three affidavits with the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court. The first requested Burke to be…

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Mitch Perry Report for 10.18.16 — Amy Schumer not the 1st liberal comic to alienate her fans in Tampa

Published on October 18, 2016 in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by Mitch Perry

Amy Schumer isn’t the only major comic whose liberal schtick ended up alienating some Tampa residents who coughed up big money for a night’s entertainment. In 2003 Bill Maher gave an eviscerating takedown of George W. Bush at the Straz Theatre (still known then simply as the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center). It was just months after the “successful” invasion of Iraq. It was well before things went truly south for the U.S. and western forces there, and in our popular…

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Local faith leaders demand Tampa Bay-area prosecutors stop seeking death penalty

Published on October 17, 2016 in The Bay and the 'Burg by Mitch Perry

A week after a national study singled out Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties as outliers in advocating for death penalty cases, a coalition of religious figures spoke out in Tampa Monday to demand that the state attorneys in those two jurisdictions, Pinellas’ Bernie McCabe and Hillsborough’s Mark Ober, cease calling for any further capital cases. “The moment is here. It’s our opportunity as faith leaders and as people of good will across the state of Florida, particularly Tampa Bay, to say it’s…

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