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

Michael MolineAugust 31, 2016

Primary voting ran smoothly in Florida Tuesday, for the most part, but Secretary of State Ken Detzner said he had already contacted legal authorities about the release of returns in Broward County before the polls closed. “It’s unacceptable that the results were released prior to the polls closing,” Detzner said during a news conference in Tallahassee. […]

Michael MolineAugust 30, 2016

Incumbent Brad Drake crushed Bev Kilmer‘s hopes of returning to the Florida House Tuesday, winning an overwhelming victory in the Republican primary for House District 5 in the Panhandle. Meanwhile, next door in House District 4, Destin Mayor Mel Ponder won a plurality victory in a field of five seeking the Republican nomination. Jonathan Michael […]

Michael MolineAugust 30, 2016

Candidate Mary Thomas was the target and beneficiary of late injections of political action committee money into Florida’s 2nd Congressional District race. The “North Florida Neighbors” super PAC dropped $3,540 into telephone calls intended to boost Neal Dunn, the Panama City urological surgeon fighting Thomas in the GOP primary. Thomas is general counsel to the Department of Elder Affairs […]

Michael MolineAugust 29, 2016

A group representing insurance agents has urged Florida regulators to investigate the solvency of American Colonial Insurance Co., one of the private insurers tapped to take over property coverage from the state’s insurer of last resort. The Professional Insurance Agents of Florida cited a letter dated Aug. 5 in which, the group said, American Colonial informed […]

Michael MolineAugust 29, 2016

Mary Thomas has secured another conservative woman’s backing in her bid for the Republican nomination in Florida’s 2nd Congressional District. The endorsement came from U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican associated with the tea party movement. “The U.S. House needs more conservative women, more moms, and more energized Christians like Mary,” Blackburn said. “I know firsthand […]

Michael MolineAugust 26, 2016

The Florida Council of 100 has hired veteran Tallahassee hand Bob Ward as its new chief executive, the organization announced Friday. Ward, who stepped down as clerk of the Florida House earlier this year, will assume the duties of president and chief executive officer on Monday, the council announced. “Bob is a proven leader who […]

Michael MolineAugust 26, 2016

Close to 100,000 Florida children have secured scholarships to attend private schools this year through the state’s school-choice programs for low-income families. Florida Tax Credit Scholarships will allow 92,126 students to attend 1,665 private schools, according to Step Up For Students, one of two nonprofit organizations administering the program. That represented a 13,462-student gain over […]

Michael MolineAugust 25, 2016

The state could have saved $218,000 in policing costs alone in a single year by sending low-level juvenile offenders into civil diversion programs instead of arresting them, a government watchdog group said Thursday. Florida TaxWatch said juvenile misdemeanor pre-arrest diversion programs — JPADS in Tallahassee parlance — “are crucial to keeping juveniles from deeper involvement […]

Michael MolineAugust 24, 2016

A tropical storm stands an excellent chance of hitting South Florida this weekend. An insurance industry group wants Floridians to start getting ready. The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America on Wednesday recommended Floridians review their policies now, to make sure they’re covered against storm damage, or add coverage, if necessary. “Flood insurance is not covered by […]

Michael MolineAugust 24, 2016

State health officials have confirmed a new non-travel-related case of Zika in Palm Beach County, bringing the total number of locally transmitted cases in the state to 43. The new case was not related to a locally acquired case already identified in Palm Beach County, Gov. Rick Scott said Wednesday during a conference call. “We’ll be […]

Michael Moline

Voting went well in Florida — except for premature release of results

Slim GOP primary victory in HD 4, but Brad Drake crushes in HD 5

Mary Thomas targeted, boosted by late super PAC money in CD 2

Agents, facing commission cuts, question American Colonial’s solvency

Tea Party enthusiast Marsha Blackburn endorses Mary Thomas in Florida’s CD 2

Florida Council of 100 taps former House clerk for leadership role

School-choice scholarships in Florida reach nearly 100,000 students

Watchdog: Civil juvenile diversion saves taxpayers money

Insurers warn Floridians to prepare for tropical storm

Locally acquired Zika infection identified in Palm Beach County

Florida politics had 11 questions before federal qualifying week. Here are the answers.