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

Guest AuthorJanuary 15, 2018

As we make our New Year’s resolutions and measure how we have done on the prior year’s resolutions, we also celebrate January as the birth date of a great man who had high hopes and new resolutions for his beloved but flawed country. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made some powerful and everlasting resolutions for […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 10, 2018

Just recently, in the midst of cold and flu season, a young asthmatic patient of mine who works in the fast food industry walked into my office barely able to breathe. She couldn’t speak. We quickly worked to open up her airways, and the story she then shared was chilling. She had stopped her maintenance […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 10, 2018

It’s safe to say that a large part of Florida’s thriving economy is fueled by franchised businesses, which provide some of our most common services — fast food, auto repairs, haircuts, and so on. Without committed business owners, who take on the responsibility of growing small local businesses associated with big national chains, we would […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 9, 2018

Floridians have never been closer to putting an open primaries referendum on the 2018 ballot than we are today. A proposal to amend our primary system was submitted by Commissioner Bill Schifino of the Florida Constitutional Commission (CRC). Schifino’s open primary proposal is now one of six being considered by the full Commission, out of […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 4, 2018

Florida is falling behind on criminal justice reform. While a majority of states – including Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas – have adopted comprehensive criminal justice reforms over the last several years with bipartisan support, Florida has done little to evaluate its existing policies and create a more effective system. Other states are reducing […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 4, 2018

This week I asked to join litigation against the Palm Beach County School Board. As a working mother of two young sons, this is not a battle I wanted to fight. But I have little choice. The school board is mistreating charter school students, including my younger son. Board members have filed a lawsuit against […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 3, 2018

Dear Senator Latvala, In view of the massive amount of campaign funds in your possession, which can be disbursed for qualified charitable purposes at your discretion, I ask for your consideration on behalf of children with learning disabilities. Financial contributions to improve educational opportunities for children with learning disabilities, specifically dyslexia, is critically important to […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 3, 2018

As we kick off 2018, a message to Florida lawmakers: Don’t quit while you’re ahead. Last year, our legislators kept many New Year’s resolutions: trimming the fat from the state budget, making sure taxpayers kept more of their hard-earned money and expanding educational opportunity for children across the state. This Session, there are several legislative […]

Guest AuthorDecember 15, 2017

Travel and tourism have long served as the backbone of Florida’s economy, which is now the 18th largest in the world. Here in Pensacola, we’re proud that our city has emerged as a driving force of this growth industry. In just the past year, the Pensacola region welcomed 2.7 million visitors who have invested $787 […]

Guest AuthorDecember 13, 2017

I considered myself Campbell Park Elementary family. Not only did four of my children attend this school, but I was so actively involved in mentoring students, volunteering and attending PTA meetings that I was often mistaken for staff. So, it was a surprise to me that my daughter Tanijah was bullied as long as she […]

Guest Author

Cecile Scoon: What can we do now for his dream?

Mona Mangat: Marco Rubio, you failed Florida kids once. Here’s your chance to make amends.

Heather Fitzenhagen: Level the playing field for Florida franchise operators

Tim Canova: Let the voters decide

Melba Pearson, Shalini Goel Agarwal: Keep Florida from falling further behind; adopt meaningful criminal justice reform

Marleny Olivo: Palm Beach School Board should stop attacking charter school students

Marion Hammer: An open letter to Senator Jack Latvala

Chris Hudson: This Legislative Session, Floridians have much to be enthusiastic about

Ashton Hayward: Residents, tourists alike can benefit from sharing economy

Chikara Parks: Finding a safe school is better than waiting for one