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

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 WilsonJune 14, 2018

Incumbent Democrat Daphne Campbell has received another stack of local endorsements in her campaign for a second term in Miami-Dade based Senate District 38. Announcing their support for Campbell are Golden Beach Mayor Glenn Singer, Biscayne Park Mayor Tracy Truppman, El Portal Mayor Claudia Cubillos, Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam, North Bay Village Vice Mayor Adreana Jackson, […]

Drew WilsonJune 14, 2018

There’s a new chapter in the saga of Susan Valdes’ resignation from the Hillsborough School Board. Valdes, now a candidate for House District 62, faced a June 8 deadline to get her resignation letter to the Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections office to meet the requirements of the new resign-to-run law signed by Gov. Rick Scott […]

Drew WilsonJune 14, 2018

The committee backing a 2018 ballot initiative that would automatically restore voting rights to Florida’s nonviolent ex-cons brought in more than $400,000 in contributions last month. Floridians for a Fair Democracy received numerous small-dollar contributions from Floridians, though nearly all the $409,220 raised last month came through just three checks. At the top of the […]

Drew WilsonJune 13, 2018

Susan Valdes’ resignation from the Hillsborough School Board may not have been above-board, something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by one of her Democratic primary opponents in House District 62. As previously reported, Valdes’ resignation from the District 1 School Board seat came in late and was initially rejected by the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections […]

Drew Wilson
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

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

Daphne Campbell adds seven local endorsements for SD 38 re-election bid

Emails show Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections bent rules for Susan Valdes

Committee backing felon rights restoration raised $400K in May

Mike Alvarez weighs in on Susan Valdes resignation controversy