Lithia dentist Marc Johnson, a newcomer to politics, is challenging state Rep. Rachel Burgin in the Republican primary for her east Hillsborough County state House seat, saying voters in the district never had a legitimate say on their representative. ...more

December 9, 2009

A local businessman is hosting a "tea party" Saturday to urge like-minded people to focus on getting America back to its Judeo-Christian roots. ...more

July 2, 2009

Lawmakers are plunging back into the contentious debate over whether the state should compel ultrasounds for women seeking abortions. ...more

March 19, 2009

A House committee wants to require women in Florida to get an ultrasound before they can get an abortion. ...more

March 18, 2009

He hasn't formed any alliances. He hasn't been a party to any dirty dealing, yet. He hasn't made a fool of himself. So Spencer Duhm, the youngest "Survivor" contestant ever, is still in the running for the $1 million prize on CBS' "Survivor: Tocantins: The Brazilian Highlands." The Lakeland native and University of Florida student survived another round, as seen Thursday night. ...more

March 6, 2009

So, Hillsborough County led the state in voter complaints. Was there ever a doubt that this election would be one more opportunity for Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson to add to his inglorious legacy? ...more

November 12, 2008

Voters weren't that eager for change when it came to casting ballots for state legislators. Incumbents appeared to have swept the board based on early, unofficial returns. ...more

November 4, 2008

Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman's proposal to rename the Moral Courage Award after the late Ralph Hughes is now reality. Norman's had, as we know, worse ideas, but this one is bad. Unless political agenda is somehow synonymous with moral courage. ...more

September 24, 2008

Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman's proposal to rename the Moral Courage Award after the late Ralph Hughes is now reality. Norman's had, as we know, worse ideas, but this one is bad. Unless political agenda is somehow synonymous with moral courage. If there had to be any kind of name change, then it would have been more appropriate to have called it the Gadfly Award, which often applies, or maybe the Self-Interest Award, which also has applied in the past. Or simply an Attaboy Award for those who merely do their job, but do it well enough. ...more

September 22, 2008

Regarding "Traviesa's Aide Tapped For Race" (Metro, Aug. 16): Local Republican Party leaders made a poor choice selecting the too young, inexperienced, undereducated, carpetbagging Rachel Burgin as their candidate for Florida House District 56. There is no logical case that can be made why a one-term legislative aide for another carpetbagger bests the likes of Sandy Murman, Mark Proctor and the others who really live in and care about District 56 for more than one term. ...more

August 22, 2008