For Immediate Release: Chapter Eight, Part 1

Essays and Lessons From 30 Years in Politics and Government

Hi, and welcome to the Sun Shine Republic. I’m really glad you’re here.

This is “For Immediate Release,” my essays and stories of politics, government, and a little bit of life in between. They span 30 years, from Little Rock, Arkansas to Washington, D.C. to St. Petersburg, Florida. I’ll be sending it out to paid subscribers here on Substack over the coming days and weeks. I hope you’ll consider a paid subscription and check it out. If you are a paid subscriber, thank you very much. I couldn’t do this without you.

As always, thanks for reading.

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2010
St. Petersburg, Florida

I am met at the door with a handshake and a broad smile. He then turns, beckoning me into the lovely west St. Petersburg house. 

Representative Rick Kriseman has an confident demeanor, self-assured — like most politicians I’ve met — but more casual, as though he is just moments away from kicking off his shoes, sliding on flip-flops and popping open a Landshark. In moments, he becomes more animated, almost jumping, excited to show me his LEED-certified house. I stop briefly to admire a photograph of his family.

Walking towards the granite kitchen counter, he catches me looking at the photo and says, “You guys just had a baby not long ago, right?”