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

Guest AuthorMay 28, 2014

Like a small handful of Floridians, I’ve been watching the redistricting hearing in Tallahassee over the U.S. Congressional district maps. As someone who drew and submitted maps, some of which were accepted by the Legislature, I am bemused by the efforts to focus on the politics surrounding the creation of the maps, but not on […]

Guest AuthorMay 28, 2014

A great thing about my job is I spend time working with Florida’s higher education institutions. Our colleges and universities create graduates and spur economic vitality. Florida has an excellent balance of both private and public institutions working in service for the people of Florida. Higher education is the springboard for many Floridians to success. […]

Guest AuthorMay 28, 2014

My friend of 30 years died recently. Her husband called one Sunday in February to say she was gone. Not understanding the euphemism, I said, “Gone? Gone where? When is she coming back? She didn’t tell me she was going anywhere.” In almost a whisper, he said, “She died this morning.” Her death was so […]

Guest AuthorMay 27, 2014

Another Memorial Day has passed. It’s supposed to be a solemn occasion to honor our military men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while in service to this nation. This year, as America remains entangled in the endless “war on terror,” some of us took time out of our weekend to thank a growing […]

Guest AuthorMay 27, 2014

Last week word leaked out that one of the first agency heads Gov. Rick Scott selected was leaving state government. Wansley Walters, Secretary of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, had signed up for a state pension program that required her to leave state employment after five years. So, her time ran out before the […]

Guest AuthorMay 26, 2014

Last year, a Florida first-grader named Madison was sitting on the floor of her classroom during story time when she received one of the biggest surprises of her life. Her father, having just returned from serving overseas for a year, walked into her classroom still wearing his fatigues. When she saw him, she jumped up […]

Guest AuthorMay 25, 2014

My husband and I take our kids to Bay Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg every Memorial Day. We’ve been attending this event for 14 years and can remember the days when hardly anyone showed up. Back in 2000 and 2001, we could always find a parking space, a seat in front, and plenty of […]

Guest AuthorMay 25, 2014

In a recent one-vote margin, the United States Supreme Court ruled on the validity of prayer before public meetings. It was a highly contentious issue and brought immediate comments from both sides of the issue. Regardless of where one sides on the issue, the fact is that the court is deeply and narrowly divided. So […]

Guest AuthorMay 25, 2014

One morning last week, chaos unfolded in our house as four people — my two daughters, my husband and myself — aimed to head out the door by 8 a.m., our daughters for school and my husband and I for our offices. The girls carried their backpacks, lunchboxes and school projects in tow — or […]

Guest AuthorMay 22, 2014

Media sources are awash in stories that focus upon rising costs of higher education and the link to rising student debt through federal student loan programs. The reality is there is a collection of federal activities helping to drive up these same costs. The cost of higher education has become a top issue in federal […]

Guest Author

Henry Kelley: Tallahassee trial won’t result in fair voting districts in Florida

Ed Moore: Young workers, entrepreneurs need pro-growth reform

Rebekah McCloud: An uncomfortable question: where are your papers?

Steve Kurlander: Obama’s “responsible end of war” has Orwellian ring

Barney Bishop: Wansley Walters: A visionary leader in juvenile justice

Dennis Ross: A painful truth

Catherine Durkin Robinson: Memorial Day is a chance to teach your kids

John Grant: If you care about America, get involved in the upcoming elections

Maritza Martinez: When should a parent allow a child to fail?

Ed Moore: There are federal actions helping to drive up higher education costs