The original purpose of the Capital Tiger Bay Club, founded in 1971, was to provide a non-partisan forum on current political issues and listen to the views of newsmakers and opinion leaders of the day. Monthly luncheons are scheduled at the convenience of the speaker.
Local leaders, state leaders, Governors, U.S. Senators and Congressional Members, and the occasional Presidental candidate have made the Capital Tiger Bay Club a critical step—or misstep—in their pursuit of political power and influence.
Founding board members invited Democrats, Republicans, liberals and conservatives who shared a passion for politics. The club has never endorsed political candidates nor advocated a particular ideology. It has always welcomed groundbreaking ideas, passionate ideologues, and insightful discussions; the more outrageous, the better.
Irreverent humor, sharp introductions, and the occasional roasting of members and guests are the mark of a good meeting. If laughter is good medicine, then the members of the Capital Tiger Bay Club can expect to lead long lives.
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The incumbent in Florida's State Senate District 3, Republican Corey Simon, and Democratic challenger Daryl Parks square off in one of their very few appearances together. The two candidates and their supporters have spent vast amounts of money on attack ads, but their debate before members of the Capital Tiger Bay Club was surprisingly affable for the most part.
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A candidate debate featuring Tallahassee City Commission Seat 2 contenders: incumbent Curtis Richardson and challenger Dorothy Inman-Johnson.
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The pros and cons of Amendment 3 to legalize adult recreational marijuana use in Florida sparks lively debate between Jessica Spencer, director of advocacy for the campaign against the measure, and Steve Vancore speaking for the pro-amendment group Smart and Safe Florida.
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The man who led Florida's and then the nation's response to disasters talks about the best practices for handling various catastrophes. Craig Fugate, now a private emergency response consultant, also talks about the famous "Waffle House" index he's widely been credited with creating.
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Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell, Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil, Second Judicial Circuit State Attorney Jack Campbell and Circuit Public Defender Jessica Yeary have a criminal justice conversation. Topics include gun violence, non-violent drug offenses, civil citations vs prosecution and many other issues.
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It's not often that the leadership of the Florida Legislature provides an extended road map on what's likely to happen during the upcoming lawmaking session. But that's exactly what Florida House Speaker Paul Renner did on December 5th before members of the Capital Tiger Bay Club in Tallahassee. He outlined his session priorities for 2024, including youth access to social media, energy production and his personal views on climate change.
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As part of their continuing community outreach, Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil, Second Judicial Circuit State Attorney Jack Campbell and Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell talk about improved law enforcement and community initiatives to head off youthful criminality. Recorded February 21, 2023.
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Susan McManus, who recently retired from a job as one of the nation's most quoted political scientists, shares her take on Florida and national politics with members of the Capital Tiger Bay Club. Recorded January 31, 2023.
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Any Florida legislative session that occurs in an election year typically has at least some activity that lawmakers hope will improve their prospects at the ballot box. But the 2022 session, that went into overtime in order to pass a budget, seemed to have more election-related content than most. Members of the Capitol Press Corps: Matt Dixon with Politico Florida; the News Service of Florida's Dara Kam; John Kennedy with Gannett/USA Today; Mary Ellen Klas with the Miami Herald; and Florida Politics' Christine Sexton share their thoughts with the Capital Tiger Bay Club.
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Just a few short years ago, Desmond Meade was homeless, drug-addicted and often in jail. The great turnaround in his life came in 2014 and a few years later, he was spearheading a Florida constitutional amendment to restore voting rights automatically to those felons who complete their sentences. He shares his story and his hopes for the future with members of the Capital Tiger Bay Club.