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

Drew WilsonFebruary 28, 2018

In a Wednesday email Democratic House District 93 candidate Emma Collum called Republican rival Chip LaMarca “cowardly and AWOL” for his failure to vote for gun resolutions before the Broward County Commission. “Commissioner LaMarca’s ridiculous claims of technology failure at two critical moments during the commission meeting are shameless. I refuse to blame Boost Mobile […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 28, 2018

Mike Haridopolos received an estimated $260,000 in lobbying compensation over the last three months of 2017 according to newly filed reports. Haridopolos’ solo firm lobbied before the Legislature on behalf of 23 clients in Q4 and was retained by 27 principals for executive branch lobbying during the same stretch. Haridopolos was a Republican member of […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 28, 2018

Flagler Strategies brought in about $95,000 over the last three months of 2017 giving it an estimated haul of $395,000 for the year. The two-person shop had a half-dozen executive clients last quarter, handled by Michael Cantens, while the 13 clients on the legislative side got the full attention of both Cantens and Alex Miranda. […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 28, 2018

Sole proprietor Lester Abberger reported an estimated $40,000 in lobbying compensation last quarter through this firm, Florida Lobby Associates. The new report makes for an estimated $170,000 in total compensation last year, though the nature of compensation reports mean Abberger’s shop could have brought in less than that, or as much as $340,000. Lobbyists who […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 28, 2018

Lobby firm Gomez Barker Associates received an estimated $190,000 in pay from its principals last quarter to finish out the year with $885,000 in total compensation. The two-man shop, run by Fausto Gomez and Manny Reyes, had 30 clients for all or part of 2017, and its Q4 numbers show heavy support from South Florida […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 28, 2018

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney was paid an estimated $690,000 by clients in the fourth quarter of 2017 according to newly filed lobbying compensation reports. The bulk of that haul, $410,000, came in through legislative lobbying, while the remainder was reported for the executive branch. The firm had 11 lobbyists who put in the full 52 weeks: Ivette […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 28, 2018

New lobbying compensation reports show Paul Hawkes was paid $130,000 by principals in the fourth quarter, for total earnings of $520,000 in 2017. Hawkes’ sole-proprietor shop represented 17 clients in the Legislature and 13 before the governor and Cabinet in Q4. Hawkes is also a lobbyist for Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, which pulled in an estimated […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 27, 2018

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham sent out an email Tuesday attacking Republican foe Ron DeSantis for his silence in the post-Parkland policy debate. While DeSantis was the target, Gov. Rick Scott and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who is also running as a GOP candidate for governor, weren’t spared in the “Sound of Silence Alert.” “Governor […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 27, 2018

Former Rep. Ray Pilon is planning a return to the Legislature, but it isn’t due to the seismic shakeup caused by U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney’s announcement that he won’t run for re-election. The Sarasota Republican said in an email to Florida Politics that he plans to file for House District 72, the seat he held […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 26, 2018

Sarasota Republican Sen. Greg Steube announced Monday that he will run for Florida’s 17th Congressional District. “I’m running because Washington is broken; it needs to serve the people it was intended to serve, Floridians; rather than special interests in DC,” Steube said in an email. “My entire adult life has been about service, I enlisted […]

Drew Wilson
Tim Weisheyer was appointed to the Florida State University Board of Trustees. Image via FloridaRealtors.com.

Email Insights: Chip LaMarca ‘cowardly and AWOL’

Mike Haridopolos reels in $260K in Q4, $890K in 2017

Flagler Strategies brings in $100K in Q4, $400K in 2017

Florida Lobby Associates posts $40K in Q4

Gomez Barker Associates brings in $885K in 2017

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney clears $3.2M in 2017

Paul Hawkes hauls in $525K of solo lobbying pay in 2017

Email insights: Gwen Graham slams Ron DeSantis for ‘sounds of silence’

Ray Pilon planning return to House District 72

Greg Steube is running for Congress; seeks seat being vacated by Tom Rooney