Daniel Tilson, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Daniel TilsonSeptember 4, 2014

Let’s forget Democratic and Republican dogma for a bit. Or at least overlook it. Let’s ignore Left vs. Right labeling systems used by media pundits and campaign consultants to generate storylines and get grudge match juices flowing. Let’s put the blame game that dominates the political arena aside for a while. If nothing else, consider […]

Daniel TilsonSeptember 1, 2014

If most of Florida’s lower and middle-income working families were represented and protected by trade unions, Labor Day would be one hell of a big, statewide block party. Parades would wind along thoroughfares of cities large and small, honoring Organized Labor’s historic struggle for social justice and economic fairness, and celebrating its transformative success. Men, […]

Daniel TilsonAugust 27, 2014

Maybe it’s time Florida took a cue from Los Angeles and considered making election ballots double as lottery tickets. Statewide turnout in this week’s primary elections was 17.55 percent, lowest since 1998. In Southeast Florida’s three Democratic Party strongholds, it was worse. Miami-Dade’s turnout was 14.4 percent, Palm Beach County’s was 12 percent and Broward’s […]

Daniel TilsonAugust 25, 2014

Here in August 2014, 50 years after the historic “Mississippi Summer of 1964” helped propel America forward in search of Civil Rights progress, I’m literally brought to tears by what has happened in Ferguson, Mo. They’re tears of both grief and rage, just like they were 50 years ago. My first cousin Karen (now a […]

Daniel TilsonAugust 18, 2014

The excitement so many Florida families feel at the start of a new school year is increasingly tinged, if not outright singed, by burning controversy and conflict over how best to fund, manage and deliver public school education. Like plenty of parents, I keep concerns about our public schools under my hat, leaving our 8-year-old […]

Daniel TilsonAugust 12, 2014

There’s an important primary election coming up Aug. 26, and early voting has already started in many areas. John Paul Alvarez is a Democrat running for state representative in House District 100. He faces three opponents. Two are candidates. The third is the Florida political system. Although I’ve done some past paid communications work for […]

Daniel TilsonAugust 6, 2014

“Let’s Keep Florida Beautiful” is the name of Gov. Rick Scott’s new environmental plan unveiled this week on his website and in multiple public appearances. Team Scott took a “timing is everything” approach to the proposal, introducing it just as news was breaking that billionaire businessman and climate change activist Tom Steyer is targeting the […]

Daniel TilsonJuly 30, 2014

The 800-pound gorilla in the Tallahassee conference room with state economists this week is immensely powerful. It looms large in the minds of elected officials and policy wonks alike, waiting to pounce if necessary. It’s the beast of burden bearing the weight of Florida’s modern-day “wealth lobby.” And it’s always ready to throw that weight […]

Daniel TilsonJuly 28, 2014

Gov. Rick Scott’s 2014 re-election campaign manager and deputy manager issued a joint memo Sunday with the subject line: “100 Days Out, Gov. Scott Campaign is Poised to Win.” It was addressed to “Interested Parties,” so it quickly turned up in the Miami Herald. Of course, that was Team Scott’s plan to begin with, to […]

Daniel TilsonJuly 25, 2014

Florida’s prison system is a disaster, a disgrace. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. Real reform is possible, given the presence of ethical, public-spirited motivations and policies on the part of our elected officials. Unfortunately for prison inmates, their friends and families, local communities, and misinformed middle-class taxpayers, the policies of Gov. Rick […]

Daniel Tilson
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Daniel Tilson: Choosing the pragmatic over the political in Florida election 2014

Daniel Tilson: Reimagining Labor Day in Florida

Daniel Tilson: Who cares about Florida voter apathy anyway?

Daniel Tilson: Ferguson shows how far we’ve come — in wrong direction

Daniel Tilson: Florida’s public schools open under siege

Daniel Tilson: House District 100 election offers Democrats an opportunity

Daniel Tilson: Rick Scott’s 2014 environmental self-protection plan

Daniel Tilson: Florida needs its wealth taxes back

Daniel Tilson: Rick Scott re-election campaign’s revealing memo

Daniel Tilson: Time to rehabilitate Florida’s penal system