Elevator pitch

Phil AmmannFebruary 21, 2018

On Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott announced ten appointments and four reappointments to a variety of state boards. All the following appointments are subject to Florida Senate confirmation. New College of Florida Board of Trustees Felipe Colon, 36, of Sarasota, is a financial adviser. He received his bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College. Colon succeeds Bradford Baker […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 20, 2018

Andrew Vargas has won the Republican primary in House District 114, vacated last year by Daisy Baez. Vargas is a 35-year-old political newcomer who works as an insurance attorney and a law partner of influential Miami-area state Rep. Carlos Trujillo. From the 7 p.m. poll closing, Vargas took a definitive lead, getting more than 76 percent […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 20, 2018

In what may be shaping up as the political “Year of the Woman,” Josie Tomkow has won the Republican primary for House District 39, which opened up over Thanksgiving with the departure of Neil Combee. Tomkow, a 22-year-old University of Florida student, took a decisive 65 percent of the vote to become her party’s nominee for […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 20, 2018

Republican Kurt Jetta faced an uphill battle in his bid for Florida’s 21st Congressional District, looking to unseat Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel of West Palm Beach. First, as a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, the Delray Beach businessman needed to overcome a sure-to-be difficult GOP primary. Next, Jetta would have to prevail in a […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 15, 2018

A mass shooting took place Wednesday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County, when 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, a former student, shot and killed an estimated 17 people. Broward Sheriff Scott Israel confirmed 17 people were killed, including both students and adults; two of the victims were killed outside the school, one in the […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 13, 2018

Democrat Margaret Good decisively won the Sarasota-area House District 72 special election Tuesday, defeating Republican James Buchanan 52 to 45 percent. Florida Democrats were quick to praise Good on flipping HD 72, which was reliably Republican for at least a decade, citing her “positive message of growing Sarasota’s economy, fully funding our public schools, and protecting our coastline.” […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 12, 2018

For the closing moments of the House District 72 special election, Republican James Buchanan ripped a page from the Donald Trump campaign playbook – holding a Trump-like rally, complete with a chorus of “lock her up.” While intended to excite supporters, the demonstration also set Democrats on fire. The hourlong rally in Sarasota County – featuring […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 7, 2018

Facing of one of the deadliest flu epidemics in the history of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, a Senate committee temporarily postponed a measure which would give Floridians greater access to antiviral medication, critical in the treatment of the flu and strep. SB 524, sponsored by St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes, would allow […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 6, 2018

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements — both on and off — of the legislative merry-go-round. On: Austin Kernan is a new legislative analyst in the Senate Majority Office. Off: Cathy Boyett is no longer a committee administrative assistant for the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee. Off: Administrative support staffer Lindsey Locke is no longer with […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 31, 2018

February could bode well for Lennar Corp., Florida’s largest homebuilder. Lennar, the nation’s second-largest homebuilder, is close to completing its strategic buyout of Arlington, Virginia’s CalAtlantic Group, expected to happen as early as next month. This acquisition will make the Miami-based Lennar — which builds over 6,000 homes in Florida every year, with 8,000 homes built in 2016 alone — […]

Phil Ammann
Lake Mary, Florida, celebrates their 10-7 win against Boerne, Texas during the United States Championship baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Saturday, Aug. 24, 20204. (AP Photo Tom E. Puskar.

Rick Scott announces 14 state board appointments

Andrew Vargas overwhelmingly takes GOP primary in HD 114

Josie Tomkow KOs Jennifer Spath in HD 39 special primary election

Facing uphill battle, Republican Kurt Jetta ends CD 21 bid

Compilation of reactions by Florida politicians to Broward school shooting

Florida Democrats congratulate Margaret Good on HD 72 win

Email insights: James Buchanan closes HD 72 race with Donald Trump playbook

With hundreds dying from the flu, lawmakers choose inaction

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

With merger nearly complete, Lennar Corp. poised to help homebuilders face new challenges