Columns

On Thursday, Nov. 1, the Florida State University Police Department issued a warrant for the arrest of Shelby Shoup, an intern in Andrew Gillum's campaign. Later that day, the 19-year-old turned herself in and promptly was charged with battery. She was cuffed, booked, and spent the night in jail. She will be facing a hearing on Nov. 28. 

Healthcare is the political football of the midterm elections. But unlike the game of football, there are no rules. And the goal is to win -- not for the benefit of the team (the voters), but to gain status and power. Politicians are looking for a sound bite that catapults them into the spotlight. Spartacus was a dud. People like free stuff. Let’s try Medicare-for-All! Of course, the ads won’t mention that taxes will be doubled and private health insurance is essentially outlawed.

Next week marks the 50th anniversary of the election of President Richard Nixon. It is a chance for some perspective. While many seem convinced that the United States will never recover from the Donald Trump presidency, the truth is conservatism, the Republican Party and our nation survived Nixon -- and we will survive Trump.

It has been a common refrain heard from many on the left since the August gubernatorial primaries: It's wrong to call Andrew Gillum a “socialist.” In the strictest application of the term, no, he doesn't fit the description. After all, he is not in a position of power to enforce true socialism. 

Walton County -- historically a quiet, dependable, conservative-leaning Panhandle hamlet -- keeps poking up in statewide news because of a contentious issue called “customary use” of the beaches. It’s dragged on for two years with no end in sight, because many folks expect appeals of whatever path is chosen.

Just as citizens vote on a 1 percent sales tax to fund transit in Hillsborough County, the county’s transit authority reported that its bus ridership is down 10.3 percent for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

The Jeff Vinik-inspired Hillsborough County transit tax is in deep trouble. judging by the actions of his band of mercenaries.

Less than two weeks after it came out against a proposed Hillsborough County transit tax, the Tampa NAACP has been targeted with a hate letter that included death threats.

There's a time and a place for everything, or so I've heard. But I'm pretty sure a candlelight vigil for murdered hate-crime victims isn't the time or the place for Bob Buckhorn. How the intemperate mayor of Tampa got an invitation to be the featured speaker at Congregation Rodeph Sholom's vigil in memory of the 11 worshippers shot to death inside a Pittsburgh synagogue, I couldn't imagine ... until I watched the Monday night event live-streamed on Facebook.

The Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is urging a no vote on Amendment 3. A no vote stops big business interests from weakening our representative form of government for the purposes of tipping scales toward deep-pocketed corporations. 

It is unfortunate but hardly unexpected. The school needs and the transit-greed tax-hike campaigns joined forces to push both tax hikes over the finish line on Nov. 6.

The list of potential criminal activity continues to mount against Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum. He has yet to clear himself of a Costa Rican trip possibly purchased by a lobbyist, he's been accused of using government services for efforts connected to his campaign, an FBI undercover sting has him receiving favors, and he used campaign funds to pay for his personal legal fees connected to the campaign infraction. 

Four important groups that traditionally vote Democratic have deserted Janet Cruz in her quest to unseat state Sen. Dana Young in Greater Tampa’s SD18.

Political opportunism is so commonplace during elections that in some camps it becomes compulsory. Any event (no matter how tragic) has to be converted to a chance to wring any amount advantage (no matter how classless and distasteful the words and actions become). Sure threats were leveled and people have died, but there are votes to be gained!

Congressman Ron DeSantis was born in Jacksonville. He grew up in Dunedin and lived in a 1,500-square-foot ranch home.  His father was a Nielsen ratings box installer, and his mother was a nurse.