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

Ryan RayDecember 10, 2015

Rep. Ray Pilon took in a moderate haul last month in his campaign to retain his Sarasota-based House District 72 seat, raising $6,850 during the November reporting period according to recently submitted campaign finance data. The contributions take the third-term Republican to $96,275 raised overall so far, with $66,438 of that remaining on hand. Pilon, a Sarasota […]

Ryan RayDecember 9, 2015

The 101 Restaurant and The Edison, both owned by Adam Corey, quickly became well-known staples of Adams Street culture. On any given night during Session, you’ll be sure to run into a cluster of high-profile politicos – or at least their staff. “Great conversation happens over food,” says Adam Corey, who owns the well-known restaurants near […]

Ryan RayDecember 8, 2015

A Democratic state lawmaker has filed a bill designed to nudge Floridians toward greater participation in the state’s organ donor program. Miami Sen. Gwen Margolis filed SB 1066 Tuesday, a bill relating to “Anatomical Gifts,” a sincere kind of gift if there ever was one. Specifically, the bill leads drivers seeking to renew their licenses toward the option of […]

Ryan RayDecember 8, 2015

The Florida Cabinet continued what it called a “long-standing tradition” Tuesday morning when Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam presented a Florida-grown Christmas tree to his executive branch colleagues. The tree, a Leland Cypress grown in the Jackson County city of Sneads, was bestowed by Putnam on Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and CFO Jeff Atwater, who were there along […]

Ryan RayDecember 7, 2015

In Sunday’s elections which saw voters rebuke the ruling United Social Party of Venezuela, a Florida congressman sees a victory for Democracy. Clearwater U.S. Rep. David Jolly in a statement Monday hailed the victory of the Democratic Unity Roundtable opposition party in the National Assembly over the weekend, defeating the long-ruling party of former president Hugo Chavez. “Last […]

Ryan RayDecember 7, 2015

The Florida A&M University — Florida State University College of Engineering and University of South Florida were chosen to participate in a federally funded entrepreneurship campaign to help turn scientific knowledge into economic gains. The program, called Pathways to Innovation, was established by the National Science Foundation’s National Center for Engineering Pathways to Innovation. The initiative is directed by Stanford […]

Ryan RayDecember 4, 2015

Broward Sen. Eleanor Sobel announced Friday she will run for mayor of Hollywood, confirming speculation that began shortly after Mayor Peter Bober announced he would not seek re-election. Sobel said in September she was “forestalling any decision until after the Legislative Session is completed in March” of next year, but has had a change of heart. The Democratic […]

Ryan RayDecember 4, 2015

Three civics education initiatives proposed by U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham are set to become law as part of the just-passed Every Child Succeeds Act, approved Thursday by the House 359-64. Graham’s camp says the Tallahassee Democrat shepherded language into the bill by working with a bipartisan group of members to sway Education Committee Chairman John Kline to include […]

Ryan RayDecember 4, 2015

Jesse Panuccio, veteran of fierce battles with lawmakers over his boss Gov. Rick Scott‘s business incentive programs, is set to leave the Department of Economic Opportunity he has led since 2013. Panuccio tendered his resignation Friday. He said the decision was bittersweet, though he said it was “time for a new chapter in my career and […]

Ryan RayDecember 3, 2015

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity issued a final order Thursday afternoon ruling that drivers for ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft are “independent contractors” rather than employees per se. As such, drivers for the transportation network companies do not qualify for unemployment benefits, which are paid in part by former employers of laid off workers. “The Department finds […]

Ryan Ray
Image via AP.

Ray Pilon raises $6,850 in November for HD 72 re-election campaign

3 lobbyists walk into a restaurant … and start a new firm, Unconventional Strategies

Miami senator seeking increased organ donations

Gov. Scott, Cabinet presented Florida-grown Christmas tree, thanks to Adam Putnam

David Jolly hails Chavista defeat in Venezuelan elections

Joint FAMU-FSU engineering school, USF to take part in national biz education campaign

Eleanor Sobel running for mayor of Hollywood

Gwen Graham passes civics education initiatives in House

Jesse Panuccio out at DEO

DEO rules Uber drivers are independent contractors for employment purposes