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

Ryan RayJanuary 24, 2015

Former Rick Scott Director of External Affairs Carrie O’Rourke has landed one of the plum positions in Florida politics: She’s the new John Sebree. O’Rourke is leaving her position as vice chancellor for governmental affairs at the Florida Board of Governors to become the vice president of public policy for the Florida Association of Realtors. […]

Ryan RayJanuary 24, 2015

Former Rick Scott Director of External Affairs Carrie O’Rourke has landed one of the plum positions in Florida politics: She’s the new John Sebree. O’Rourke is leaving her position as vice chancellor for governmental affairs at the Florida Board of Governors to become the vice president of public policy for the Florida Association of Realtors. […]

Ryan RayJanuary 23, 2015

Newly elected state Rep. Jennifer Sullivan this week filed a bill to create a new “End Human Trafficking” license plate to help the efforts of agencies around the state in fighting the scourge, which is rampant in parts of Florida. Funds raised by sales of the $25 specialty plate would fund a public-private program called […]

Ryan RayJanuary 23, 2015

State Rep. Elizabeth Porter has filed this week to run for her fourth and final consecutive term in the Florida House in 2016, according to the Florida Division of Elections. The Lake City Republican has faced little opposition since winning a 2010 rematch against former Democratic state Rep. Debbie Boyd, who represented the District 11 […]

Ryan RayJanuary 23, 2015

The Florida House is poised to again consider legislation allowing gun owners to carry concealed weapons without a license to do so during state-declared states of emergency. Fort Myers state Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen has filed a House companion bill to St. Pete state Sen. Jeff Brandes’ SB 290, filed earlier this month. A similar bill […]

Ryan RayJanuary 23, 2015

A trio of Republican state House members are set to throw a mutual fundraiser at Tucker Duke’s Lunchbox ahead of the legislative session — Sanford’s Jason Brodeur and Majority Leader Dana Young of Tampa for re-election in their respective House seats, and Matt Gaetz of Shalimar for the Florida Senate seat held by his term-limited father, former […]

Ryan RayJanuary 23, 2015

A trio of Republican state House members are set to throw a mutual fundraiser at Tucker Duke’s Lunchbox ahead of the legislative session — Sanford’s Jason Brodeur and Majority Leader Dana Young of Tampa for re-election in their respective House seats, and Matt Gaetz of Shalimar for the Florida Senate seat held by his term-limited father, former […]

Ryan RayJanuary 22, 2015

Miami Gardens state Sen. Oscar Braynon was designated to succeed Arthenia Joyner as the Democratic Senate caucus’ next minority leader. Braynon was elected by a unanimous vote held at the Governor’s Club, one block from the Capitol. “The unity of this vote speaks to the unity of this Caucus,” said Braynon in a statement. “And […]

Ryan RayJanuary 22, 2015

It was a boozy afternoon in Wednesday’s House Business & Professions Subcommittee meeting, led by Apalachicola Republican state Rep. Halsey Beshears and a cavalcade of stakeholders offering public testimony about the current state of affairs within Florida’s alcohol rules and regulations regime. The two hottest issues were by far and away proposed changes regarding 64-ounce […]

Ryan RayJanuary 21, 2015

State Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater gave the keynote address Wednesday morning at a luncheon celebrating the James Madison Institute’s “Thrift Week” initiative to promote less spending and more accountability in state government. As JMI President & CEO Bob McClure explained in his introduction to the CFO: “Being thrift-minded doesn’t just mean pinching pennies – […]

Ryan Ray
TCEC line workers restoring power after Helene. Image via Facebook (TCEC).

Carrie O’Rourke lands plum position at Florida Association of Realtors

Carrie O'Rourke lands plum position at Florida Association of Realtors

Jennifer Sullivan files bill to establish human trafficking aid program

Elizabeth Porter files for re-election bid to Florida House

House to take up guns-during-evacuations bill

Reps. Dana Young, Matt Gaetz & Jason Brodeur to hold joint fundraiser in Tallahassee

Reps. Dana Young, Matt Gaetz & Jason Brodeur to hold joint fundraiser in Tallahassee

Oscar Braynon elected 2016-2018 Senate Democratic leader

Lawmakers drink in grocery store spirits, growlers in legislative hearing

Jeff Atwater speaks before JMI luncheon at start of 'Thrift Week'