Peter Schorsch, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschJanuary 23, 2017

For the fourth year in a row, lawmakers will try to tear down the wall that separates tequila from tangelos. Senate President pro tem Anitere Flores has a bill (SB 106) to repeal the Prohibition-era state law requiring businesses, such as grocery chains and big-box retailers, to have separate stores to sell liquor. State Rep. Bryan Avila, a Hialeah Republican, filed a […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 23, 2017

No one expects GOP state Senator to go quietly into the night once his time in the Legislature comes to an end in 2018. And a fundraiser planned for February 2 and hosted by several prominent Tampa Bay Republicans will help make sure he has the resources to do whatever he wants to do next. Ambassador Mel […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 23, 2017

Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster, Mitch Perry and Jim Rosica. WHY YOU READ US In case you missed it Friday night, FloridaPolitics.com broke news about two major departures from the Rick Scott administration: JIM BOXOLD TO STEP DOWN AS DOT HEAD FOR LOBBYING […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 22, 2017

Andrew Gillum has the personal story. Gwen Graham has the pedigree. John Morgan has the bravado. Phillip Levine has the money. All four of the rumored contenders for the Democratic nomination for Florida governor have at least one defining characteristic that will shape the narratives of any campaigns they launch. But it’s Bob Buckhorn who has the strongest selling point: a record of […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 21, 2017

Don’t fret: You can still apply for a seat on the Constitution Revision Commission, at least to Senate President Joe Negron. That said, there’s more than 70 people ahead of you, and Negron has only nine picks. Still, there’s no “hard and fast deadline” to send in an application to the Senate, spokeswoman Katie Betta […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 21, 2017

In the second of two surprise departures from the Gov. Rick Scott administration, the secretary of the state’s Department of Transportation is expected to step down to pursue a career in the private sector. Jim Boxold, who was appointed in December 2014 to succeed Ananth Prasad, is leaving to join the governmental affairs firm Capital City Consulting, […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 20, 2017

Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster, Mitch Perry and Jim Rosica. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO THINK… … there’s never been a starker contrast between two presidents as there is Barack Obama and Donald Trump, remember that John Adams was so contemptuous of Thomas […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 20, 2017

The world has changed; Northeast Florida is no exception. Barely 10 months after last year’s GOP presidential primary, where virtually every important Republican in Northeast Florida tested the limits of their political capital in doomed support for Marco Rubio over Donald Trump, it is as if #NeverTrump never existed in Florida’s First Coast. Truth be […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 19, 2017

I hate to overstate the findings of any report, but my first thought while reading the latest audit of the Agency for State Technology was: “Jeez, is this joint as potentially ‘leaky’ as I think it is?” The report by Florida Auditor General Sherrill F. Norman’s office, which I got a copy of on Thursday, […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 19, 2017

David Wilkins, who led the state’s perennially troubled child welfare agency, is now helping new CEO Ken Lawson right the ship at VISIT FLORIDA. An internal email sent Wednesday and shared with FloridaPolitics.com says Wilkins, secretary of the Department of Children and Families under Gov. Rick Scott in 2011-13, is “assisting VISIT FLORIDA in the review […]

Peter Schorsch

Why I have second thoughts about tearing down the wall between the whiskey and the Wheaties

Mel Sembler, other Tampa Bay Republicans hosting major fundraiser for Jack Latvala committee

Sunburn for 01.23.17 – Jim Boxold, Jon Steverson out; Trump’s first 60 hours; Women’s march! Missile fired off Florida coast? Jack Latvala raising $$$

If he wants to run for governor, Bob Buckhorn’s opening is now

Takeaways from Tallahassee for 1.21.17 – Taking your constitutional

Jim Boxold to step down as DOT head for lobbying job

Sunburn for 01.20.17 – Inauguration Day

Jacksonville Bold for 1.20.17 — Inauguration Day

Audit slams security, other lapses at state tech agency

David Wilkins consulting at struggling VISIT FLORIDA