Life and politics from the Sunshine State's best city

Tag archive

Beth Leytham - page 2

Hillsborough County Young Democrats say transportation plan should include more transit

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Nobody knows for certain if Hillsborough County residents will get to vote on a proposed half-cent sales tax for transportation this fall, but one interest group says the proposal needs a greater emphasis on mass transit before it goes to voters. “The Hillsborough County Young Democrats are calling on our County Commission to create a plan for a real mass transit future,” HCYD President Maya Brown (pictured above) said at a press conference on Tuesday in front of a streetcar…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Mitch Perry’s Top 10 stories in Hillsborough politics of 2015

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

As first said by Greek philosopher Heraclitus, in the universe change is the only constant. Nowhere was that more applicable than in Tampa Bay during the past 12 months. From the much-ballyhooed dismissal of MaryEllen Elia as Hillsborough County School Board District superintendent to redistricting and the rising (and falling) fortunes for hizzoner Bob Buckhorn, many of the leading political issues of the year centered on shaking up the status quo. With that, here are Hillsborough County’s top ten stories in 2015: 1) MaryEllen Elia…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

The 5 most disappointing Florida politicians of 2015

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

As much as we would like to think otherwise, in politics, not everyone can be a winner. To put it another way, as Judge Smails did in the eminently quotable Caddyshack: “The world needs ditch-diggers, too.” Few will disagree that 2015 was a particularly fertile political year, one that produced a bumper crop of political disappointments – that’s what we get when the Legislature meets almost unceasingly in special session because it cannot agree on much of anything. Of course, the key word in this analysis…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Hillsborough activist calls out how county will pay attorneys $300 an hour to defend Sandy Murman and Ken Hagan

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

It was on the consent agenda available online and in the county center for any citizen to observe, but if it weren’t for Dover activist George Niemann, it’s doubtful that Hillsborough County attorney Chip Fletcher would have to explain why the county is paying two private attorneys at a fee of $300 per hour, with an up-front cap of $20,000, or $40,000 in total, at today’s Board of County Commission meeting. Niemann has recently filed an ethics complaint against Commissioners…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Hillsborough County Commissioners to vote on Go Hillsborough plan in February

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

It’s not as early as was originally envisioned, but the Board of Hillsborough County Commissioners are poised to vote in February on whether to put a half-cent sales tax for transportation before voters in November 2016. “In the beginning of January we’ll talk about the projects in programs in detail, and then the last couple of meetings we’ll talk about funding options, and at the beginning of February, we’ll take action on a plan,” County Administrator Mike Merrill told SPB…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Ethics complaints filed against Bob Buckhorn, 2 county commissioners over Go Hillsborough effort

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Ethics complaints have been filed against Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Hillsborough County Commissioners Ken Hagan and Sandy Murman, alleging that they violated the state’s Sunshine laws in not releasing private emails related to the Go Hillsborough effort and public relations consultant Beth Leytham. “We want honest accountable, transparent government, but right now in Hillsborough County, we don’t have it, and this is evident of that,” said George Niemann, one of three Hillsborough County residents who filed complaints with the Florida…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Hillsborough commissioners aim to improve public records process, ethics training

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

In the wake of a heavier than usual number of public information record requests in the past several months, the Board of Hillsborough County Commissioners on Wednesday unanimously voted to strengthen their procedures in processing such requests. “We need to do a better job of documenting, tracking and responding to requests,” said Commissioner Ken Hagan (photo at left). He said it’s important to provide more timely requests. Both Hagan and Commissioner Sandy Murman were accused last week of failing to…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

1 2 3 4 5
Go to Top