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

Guest AuthorApril 27, 2014

I’m privileged to live in the congressional district served by Mr. Anti-Poverty himself, U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland. The second-term congressman and former funeral home director, you should know by now, has made fighting poverty his No. 1 priority. In doing so, Southerland has embarked on a crusade to overhaul (some would say gut) the food […]

Guest AuthorApril 27, 2014

Many political offices come with a high public profile and considerable power. The higher the office, the greater the power and the higher the profile. Those with great wealth often spend millions to either get an office for themselves or control someone who occupies one. Some megabuck zillionaires purchase sports teams for fun, but some […]

Guest AuthorApril 26, 2014

Protectionist behavior inadvertently shaped Florida into the tourism mecca it is today. In the early 1960s, Walt Disney had plans to locate his new studios and theme parks in New Orleans, but he faced such fierce protectionist behavior from officials there that he chose Central Florida instead. The rest is history, and Floridians can hardly […]

Guest AuthorApril 26, 2014

“You won’t ever experience anything like Boston,” the woman told me. We were waiting for our wave to be called for the marathon. Athlete’s Village in Hopkinton held 9,000 runners. Most seemed to be lined up in front of the port-o-potties with me. “This your first time?” I asked. “I’ve run Boston before,” she said. […]

Guest AuthorApril 26, 2014

As the school year comes to a close, the inevitable question arises for graduating students: What am I going to do? Some of you have a plan. Some of you already have a job or have been accepted into a graduate program. And then some of you have no clue. What is life after school? […]

Guest AuthorApril 24, 2014

The students who enroll at the school I founded in southeast Jacksonville in 1988 come for many different reasons, but a good number come after struggling elsewhere. Some got lost in schools that were too big, or didn’t fit in schools that were too cliquish. Some didn’t take full advantage of their opportunities and needed […]

Guest AuthorApril 24, 2014

NOTE: The views of state Sen. Jack Latvala, a Clearwater Republican, may influence the outcome of proposed legislation concerning state pensions and the Florida Retirement System. Dear Senator: Perhaps you hold some sway over this matter. In a little over a week, the Florida Legislature will make another momentous decision regarding Florida’s public retirement system. […]

Guest AuthorApril 24, 2014

As lawmakers continue budget negotiations in Tallahassee over the coming days, a group of Volunteer Florida volunteers will be participating in a beach restoration project this weekend in Northwest Florida’s Cessna Park. These volunteers are not just cleaning up a beach, however: They are saving taxpayer dollars and exploring careers in Florida’s public service sector. […]

Guest AuthorApril 23, 2014

On Tuesday, Curt Clawson became, for all intents and purposes, the new member of the U.S. House in Southwest Florida’s 19th District. He beat two political veterans and a newcomer in a four-way primary in this very deep red district. There is a general election in June, but there is very little chance of a […]

Guest AuthorApril 23, 2014

Last week, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor returned to the Tampa Bay area to shore up her political base for what will be a tough re-election campaign and her noted policy prerogatives will be the hinge on which her political future hangs. If she wants to show support for countless drivers and small businesses in the […]

Guest Author
Gov. Ron DeSantis and Kevin Gutherie speak at a June 20, 2025 press conference on Israel Rescue missions. (Florida Channel)

Andrew Skerritt: Southerland’s stance on Obamacare inconsistent with his poverty campaign

John Grant: Rich people can buy political office or the person who occupies it

Justin Kintz: Legislature needs to remove barriers to innovative mobile app

Catherine Durkin Robinson: Boston Marathon was thrilling, dizzying, inspiring

Mark Routhier: You earned your degree, but you should never stop learning

Nadia Hionides: A school that works for one child may not work for another

Michael Richardson: An appeal to Sen. Jack Latvala for prudent pension reform

Chester Spellman: Volunteer Florida meets needs with exponential impact

Jamie Miller: Clawson victory demonstrates the power of self-financed campaigns

Ned Bowman: Rep. Castor needs to champion biofuels reform