Ana Ceballos, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ana CeballosNovember 10, 2017

Arek Sarkissian, the chief of the one-man Tallahassee bureau for the Naples Daily News, announced Friday he will be joining POLITICO Florida early next month to cover medical marijuana and gambling. “The Team of POLITICO Florida is fearless in reporting Florida’s government,” Sarkissian told Florida Politics. “They exemplify the dogged reporting this state’s journalism is […]

Ana CeballosNovember 9, 2017

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The Senate has retained the Jackson Lewis law firm for its investigation into sexual harassment and groping allegations against Sen. Jack Latvala, a top Republican in the chamber. Tampa-based attorney Gail Holtzman will be the lead attorney in the investigation, and Senate President Joe Negron said individuals who want to come forward with complaints against […]

Ana CeballosNovember 9, 2017

If you ask Sen. Jack Latvala questions about the sexual harassment allegations against him, he’ll tell you no lies — at least according to a lie-detector test he took Wednesday. Latvala’s attorney, criminal defense attorney, Steve Andrews, told Florida Politics that the Clearwater Republican took and passed a polygraph performed by a former chief examiner for […]

Ana CeballosNovember 9, 2017

As Sen. Jack Latvala faces an investigation into sexual harassment allegations against him, not much is clear, including specifics about a complaint filed with the Senate Rules Committee. This much is known: Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, the chair of the committee, at first confirmed a complaint had been filed with her committee in a Capitol News Service interview […]

Ana CeballosNovember 9, 2017

A rules complaint was filed Wednesday against Sen. Jack Latvala, a Clearwater Republican who is under investigation by the Senate after six unnamed women accused him of sexually harassing and groping them. Because the complaint is initially confidential, the details about what it pertains are unclear. Republican Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, who chairs the Rules Committee […]

Ana CeballosNovember 8, 2017

Rep. Ross Spano wants the state to create a trust fund for human trafficking victims, which would be financed by half of the punitive damages traffickers are ordered to pay in court cases. Money from the trust fund would then go to pay for human trafficking prevention programs, medical and mental health examinations and treatments […]

Ana CeballosNovember 8, 2017

As lawmakers in both the House and the Senate push for a strict ban on minors getting married, some legislators in the House said Wednesday they would like to keep judicial discretion when older teenagers want to legally wed. “I do not support the part where someone who is pregnant can’t get married just because […]

Ana CeballosNovember 8, 2017

A years-long battle in the Legislature to pass a bill requiring high school students take a course teaching them how to manage money is back again. Sen. Dorothy Hukill‘s bill, though, had a small victory on Wednesday. SB 88 advanced the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on pre-K-12 Education, leaving one more committee stop before it can […]

Ana CeballosNovember 7, 2017

In what came as little surprise on a busy election night in Miami-Dade County, voters overwhelmingly picked two new mayors. In Miami Beach, with 21 of 24 precincts reporting, Dan Gelber got 82 percent of the 10,726 votes. Gelber, a 56-year-old criminal defense attorney who served in the Legislature from 2000-10, will replace Mayor Philip […]

Ana CeballosNovember 7, 2017

A proposal that would give firearm dealers the option to use credit cards when paying for potential buyers’ background checks advanced a Senate committee on Tuesday. Gun advocates praised the bill and said the move would “bring us into the modern age.” “This is something that can be done quickly, inexpensively and it just makes […]

Ana Ceballos

Personnel note: Arek Sarkissian to join POLITICO Florida

Senate hires Tampa attorney for Jack Latvala investigation

Jack Latvala says he passed polygraph over harassment claims

Senate privacy rules shield details on Rules Committee complaint

Complaint filed with Senate Rules Committee against Jack Latvala

Lawmakers clash over financing for trafficking victims

In child marriage debate, some want flexibility with older teens

Bill mandating financial-literacy class for students advances

Miami, Miami Beach voters elect new mayors

Bill that would bring gun dealers into ‘modern age’ advances