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

Bill RuftyJuly 22, 2017

Think you’ve had a bad day from which you might not recover emotionally? Randall Edwards had almost three-and-a-half years of them in a Japanese slave labor camp then went on to finish his naval career and another as an electrical engineer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Sunday, he will turn 100 years old. Friends, family […]

Bill RuftyJuly 17, 2017

JD Alexander, a Lake Wales Republican who wielded great influence in the Florida Legislature for four years in the Florida House and 10 years in the Senate, said he has decided not to run for his old Senate seat again. But he hasn’t endorsed anyone in that race yet. “ A part of me wanted […]

Bill RuftyJuly 13, 2017

Republican State Rep. Neil Combee of Polk City faced a terse crowd largely of Republican county and city officials during a noon address Thursday to the Polk Tiger Bay Club. Many legislators are facing folks back home upset with cuts to local governments and for an amendment to the state’s constitution, which if passed by […]

Bill RuftyJuly 3, 2017

Remember former Sen. J.D. Alexander, the Lake Wales Republican who almost single-handedly created Florida Polytechnic University by use of his power as Senate Appropriations chair? Alexander has been out of the Senate for almost five years, but it would appear that the old power cell is still charged and ready to zap when needed. Polk […]

Bill RuftyJune 21, 2017

Republican Legislators could find themselves challenged for election next year … by Republican candidates, Polk County Commissioner George Lindsey, a Lakeland Republican, confirmed Wednesday. In an interview before his address to the Polk Tiger Bay members, Lindsey said what he described as legislators’ attacks on home rule and local government, has many even in the […]

Bill RuftyJune 12, 2017

Sunday’s landslide vote in Puerto Rico to determine statehood and perhaps add the 51st star to the American flag, was almost ignored by news media, until the last minute, because of all the political controversies emanating from Washington. But some officials like U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, an Orlando Democrat representing the 9th Congressional District had […]

Bill RuftyJune 8, 2017

Former state Rep. Baxter Troutman of Winter Haven said he will run for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture. The grandson of the late citrus baron and one-time gubernatorial candidate, Ben Hill Griffin Jr., Troutman will enter the competitive race to succeed Adam Putnam, a Bartow Republican who is term-limited and is running for governor. “I will file […]

Bill RuftyMay 2, 2017

Many Floridians are unable to answer simple questions about how government works, says a new survey of residents by Florida Southern College. Even those with college degree missed some of the answers from questions included on exams administered to those becoming new citizens of the nation. For example, only 65 percent could name Rick Scott […]

Bill RuftyApril 19, 2017

Any health care program implemented by Congress or the state must include affordable preventive health care for all, Dr. Joy Jackson told members of the Polk County Tiger Bay Club Wednesday in Bartow. Jackson is the Polk County Health Department director and chairs the Florida Department of Health’s statewide committee on Pharmacy and Therapeutics. She […]

Bill RuftyMarch 13, 2017

The current bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act will never pass Congress in its current form, freshman U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, an Orlando Democrat, told members of the Polk County Tiger Bay Club during a Monday lunch in Bartow. “I believe ‘Trumpcare’ will be difficult in the House now that the joy […]

Bill Rufty
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Former POW honored ahead of 100th birthday

J.D. Alexander opts out of Senate race

Neil Combee takes on tough room in Polk County

J.D. Alexander rides again to save Polk County arts center

Polk GOP Commissioner warns Republican incumbents may face strong challenges

Darren Soto cautiously eyeing Puerto Rico statehood effort

Baxter Troutman entering competitive Agriculture Commissioner race

New polling shows alarming trend, many Floridians unaware how government works

Primary care physicians: Health care plans must have prevention

Darren Soto: Current GOP health care bill won’t pass