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

Jim RosicaOctober 21, 2015

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State Sen. Bill Galvano has filed a proposed new Senate district map for his Reapportionment Committee, meaning there will be one “base map” going forward to discuss and amend. Galvano posted the map to the Senate’s redistricting website at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Among other things, it contains a district that crosses Tampa Bay – the 19th, […]

Jim RosicaOctober 21, 2015

A South Florida lawmaker wants the official symbol of New Year’s Eve celebrations in the state to be “The Big Orange.” State Sen. Gwen Margolis, a Miami-Dade Democrat, filed her bill (SB 606) on Wednesday. As the legislation explains, the Big Orange – a 35-foot-wide, 2,000-pound, “LED-lighted icon” – was created 30 years ago “to ignite the […]

Jim RosicaOctober 21, 2015

The head of the Senate’s redistricting panel said he plans to file a bill for the Senate’s new district boundaries by late Wednesday and begin to discuss it by Friday. Despite seemingly little headway made during an hours-long meeting earlier in the day, State Sen. Bill Galvano said redistricting legislation could be on the floor […]

Jim RosicaOctober 21, 2015

Just reading Chelsi Henry‘s online biography can you make you out of breath, realizing all she’s accomplished at the age of 27. She’s a lawyer (Florida Coastal School of Law, 2013) as well as “entrepreneur, columnist, political strategist, motivational speaker, and business consultant,” her website says. Add to that government official. She’s a former supervisor of the Duval Soil and Water Conservation […]

Jim RosicaOctober 21, 2015

Friends say Taylor Nix Hatch personifies enthusiasm, which isn’t surprising since she was a cheerleader at Florida State University. The 28-year-old now is Director of Legislative Affairs, or top in-house lobbyist, for the Department of Management Services, the state’s real estate manager. Before that, she was the Deputy Legislative Affairs Director at the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. […]

Jim RosicaOctober 21, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court has ordered oral argument for its review of a proposed constitutional amendment allowing medical marijuana. The court posted the order to its website Wednesday; the order was signed Tuesday. Argument was scheduled for 9 a.m., Dec. 8. The court ordered briefs by Oct. 30 and “answer” briefs by Nov. 9. Attorney General Pam Bondi had formally asked for the review to […]

Jim RosicaOctober 21, 2015

State Sen. Tom Lee has emerged a lone voice of Republican dissent over the ongoing effort to redraw the Senate’s district map. Lee, a Brandon Republican and former Senate president, sits on the chamber’s redistricting panel that is meeting Wednesday. The morning part of the meeting was slowed down with technical and legal explanations. Essentially, however, […]

Jim RosicaOctober 21, 2015

Andy Gonzalez knows fundraising. He’s director of political development at the Florida Chamber of Commerce, where he “coordinates fundraising efforts for the Florida Chamber’s Political Action Committees (PACs).” Gonzalez “works to ensure Floridians continue to elect pro-business, pro-jobs leaders with clear positions on job creation and economic growth,” the Chamber’s website says. Before that, he was was […]

Jim RosicaOctober 21, 2015

Groups opposed to an effort to do away with retailers’ having separate stores to sell liquor have banded together as Florida Businesses Unite. The new alliance includes ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, the Florida Independent Spirits Association and Publix, according to a Wednesday news release. For three years now, various lawmakers have carried legislation – or “whiskey and […]

Jim RosicaOctober 21, 2015

Matt Galka‘s secret to success? “Be the same person on TV that you could talk to at a bar,” he says. The 27-year-old “multimedia journalist” started with Tallahassee’s local CBS affiliate, WCTV, in 2011. He’s now with Capitol News Service, helmed by broadcast veteran Mike Vasilinda, reporting “on the Florida Legislature and politics for more than […]

Jim Rosica

Bill Galvano files proposed Senate redistricting map

Look out Times Square Ball, here comes the Big Orange

Bill Galvano says Senate redistricting could be on floor by early next week

Meet Chelsi Henry, one of the “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics

Meet Taylor Nix Hatch, one of the “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics

Supreme Court orders oral argument for medical pot amendment

Tom Lee’s dissent grows over Senate redistricting effort

Meet Andy Gonzalez, one of the “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics

New group enters “whiskey and Wheaties” fray

Meet Matt Galka, one of the “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics