Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton won New Hampshire's Democratic primary Tuesday night in a startling upset, defeating Sen. Barack Obama and resurrecting her bid for the White House. Sen. John McCain powered past his Republican rivals and back into contention for the GOP nomination. ...more

January 9, 2008

On the whole, Americans want their politicians to hew to the political center and govern with a healthy dose of pragmatism. Yet we live in the most bitterly partisan era in memory, when the dominant voices in both parties are more ideological and less willing to compromise, and the politics they practice too often is a mean-spirited, take-no-prisoners enterprise. ...more

December 31, 2007

Twenty-seven states have passed constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriages and next November, Florida could become the 28th. ...more

December 26, 2007

In 2007, the shift from small, cozy motels to mega resorts and condominiums continued, with backers saying economics dictated more and pricier rooms and opponents fearing concrete canyons walling off the beach. ...more

December 25, 2007

The city is considering increasing for the first time in 18 years the fees it charges on new construction to offset the ballooning cost of roads. ...more

December 22, 2007

The surprising defeat of a referendum this weekend to accelerate President Hugo Chavez's socialist-inspired revolution has given new energy to his long-suffering opposition. ...more

December 4, 2007

AVON PARK — With both major precincts counted, an unofficial count had Mayor Sharon Schuler almost 100 votes ahead of the next-highest candidate for mayor, while Avon Park Middle School teacher Al Hinson held a sizable lead in the council election Tuesday night. Schuler, with 329 votes, will likely remain mayor for another three years as she holds an insurmountable lead over former Gordon Marshall in the mayoral race. Marshall, with 223 votes, is a distant second, while Ed Dickerson had 159 votes and Gonzalo Lezama 47. Schuler said she wasn't expecting it. Truly. "Everyone has an opportunity to win," she said as she came to the supervisor of election's office to see the vote counting. "I'm very happy." Hinson, meanwhile, has 250 votes, holding a solid lead over Paul Miller's 202 backers, Michael Shirey's 177 and James Rahenkamp's 140. Hinson, reached by phone Tuesday evening, was cautiously optimistic that he would hold on to the lead. "I thought it would be close," he said. "I feel good... I guess the people went out and voted. Hopefully it's official but I am happy." ...more

November 6, 2007

AVON PARK — If the size of a candidate's bank account is a clue in who's going to win the election, then Mayor Sharon Schuler is way ahead in the mayoral race, while James Rahenkamp has a comfortable lead in the race for Doug Eason's open council seat. According to campaign treasurer's reports submitted Oct. 19 to the city, Schuler didn't need to use a dime of her own money to raise $1,335 in her campaign. Rahenkamp, meanwhile, plunked $200 of his own money and collected more than $820 from a handful of big-dollar donators in his council bid. On the expenses, Schuler spent $1,119, almost double the amount spent by Gonzalo Lezama, the next-biggest spender for the mayoral race. Rahenkamp has held on to most of his contributions, spending a mere $428.81 as of Oct. 12. Notably, Schuler was the only candidate to use campaign mailers. Even though Paul Miller bought business cards, none of the other six candidates spent money on any other form of advertising, using their funds only for filing fees and campaign signs. Several of the other candidates bankrolled their campaigns using mostly their own money. Mayoral contestants Ed Dickerson and Gordon Marshall relied only on their own wallets to raise $641.87 and $300, respectively. ...more

October 30, 2007

Houses for sale for $100,000. In Tampa. New construction. A small, not-for-profit group called the Westshore Community Development Corp. is spearheading an affordable housing project that backers hope will serve as a model for Tampa and the rest of Hillsborough County. ...more

October 28, 2007

At least one question slated for the March Dunedin municipal election promises to be hotly debated. On March 11, voters will decide whether the city should keep choosing elected officials from a single slate of contenders that would represent all city residents or divide the city into commission districts. ...more

October 27, 2007