Drew Wilson, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonJune 18, 2018

Clearwater Republican Ed Hooper is hitting TV screens throughout Senate District 16 this week with a pair of 30-second ads. Depending on where in the Pinellas- and Pasco-based district viewers live, they’ll see a different version of the ad. The ad airing in North Pinellas on Spectrum features an introduction from Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri. […]

Drew WilsonJune 18, 2018

Florida retailers are endorsing Lakeland Republican Sen. Kelli Stargel’s re-election for Senate District 22. Florida Retail Federation President/CEO R. Scott Shalley said in an announcement Monday: “In her role as Senate Finance & Tax Chair this past year, Senator Stargel showed continued leadership in her support of Florida’s retailers by including in the tax package a […]

Drew WilsonJune 16, 2018

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Philip Levine has a couple of South Florida campaign appearances on his Saturday agenda. The former Miami Beach mayor will be the keynote speaker at a luncheon hosted by the League of United Latin American Citizens as part of the group’s 2018 Florida State Convention. The event is being held at the […]

Drew WilsonJune 15, 2018

Aakash-Patel-Hillsborough-County-Commission-candidate-District-1.jpg

Tampa Republican Aakash Patel snagged an endorsement from House Speaker Richard Corcoran in his bid for the countywide District 7 seat on the Hillsborough County Commission. “I’ve gotten to know Aakash through his work with the Early Learning Coalition and have seen him put conservative initiatives to work to bring early education to more children […]

Drew WilsonJune 15, 2018

Florida retailers are expecting dads to get a load of gifts this year as consumers are predicted to spend near a record high for Father’s Day. A new survey from the National Retail Federation predicts consumers will spend $15.3 billion on dads nationwide, the second highest total spend in the 15 years the retail trade […]

Drew WilsonJune 15, 2018

Ballard Partners inked lobbying deals with a pair of new principals this week as it continues to expand its operations in the District of Columbia. The firm headed up by Brian Ballard is now representing Deerfield Beach-based health technology company Sentry Data Systems and Egyptian car importer ARTOC Auto. Sentry Data Systems bills itself as […]

Drew WilsonJune 15, 2018

House Speaker Richard Corcoran won’t be on the ballot this year, but that hasn’t stopped his political committee from spending beaucoup bucks. Corcoran started Watchdog PAC in April 2017, and shortly after wrapping his first Legislative Session with the Speaker’s gavel, he started piling on cash — more than $6.9 million between May 2017 and […]

Drew WilsonJune 15, 2018

The Pinellas County Commission has selected Southern Strategy Group (SSG) to handle its lobbying needs in Tallahassee for the next two years. SSG was one of several firms to respond to the Pinellas Commission’s call for contract proposals and, as reported last week, their pitch made the shortlist alongside Dean Mead and GrayRobinson. Dean Mead had held […]

Drew WilsonJune 15, 2018

Hillsborough School Board member Susan Valdes, now running for House District 62, slammed Democratic primary opponent Mike Alvarez Thursday for running a negative campaign. At issue is Valdes’ resign-to-run letter. A new law signed by Gov. Rick Scott earlier this year requires elected officials to turn in a resignation letter for their current office 10 days […]

Drew WilsonJune 14, 2018

Representing more than 500 labor unions and 1 million Florida workers, the Florida AFL-CIO announced Thursday it’s backing House Minority Leader Janet Cruz in her bid to unseat incumbent Republican Dana Young in Senate District 18. “We need a fighter for workers in Tallahassee — to lower health care costs, raise wages, and make sure the […]

Drew Wilson
Silvia Castellanos has worked for more than a decade in government and government relations. Image via FIU.

Ed Hooper hits the airwaves in SD 16

Florida retailers endorse Kelli Stargel for re-election

Philip Levine announces two Saturday campaign stops

Richard Corcoran backs Aakash Patel for Hillsborough Commission

Retailers expect near-record spending for Father’s Day

Ballard Partners signs Sentry Data Systems and ARTOC Auto

Richard Corcoran’s political committee continues spending spree in May

Southern Strategy Group lands Pinellas Co. lobbying contract

Susan Valdes sidesteps special treatment allegations, refers questions to attorney

Florida AFL-CIO backs Janet Cruz for SD 18