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

Ryan RayJanuary 2, 2015

The Department of Economic Development’s Cissy Proctor will be promoted to Chief of Staff, according to an internal department announcement. The position has been vacant since Chad Popell left the office to become Secretary of the Department of Management Services back in mid-December. Proctor currently serves the DEO in the role of Director of Strategic […]

Ryan RayDecember 13, 2014

The political committee of state Senator Tom Lee has taken in more than $214,000 since mid-November. That’s when SaintPetersBlog first forecasted that Lee would ultimately assume the reins of one of the legislature’s most powerful posts, the Senate Committee on Appropriations. Now that he has, there’s little reason to believe the contributions will slow down much. The […]

Ryan RayDecember 13, 2014

According to an internal Department of Education email from Commissioner Pam Stewart released late on Friday afternoon, Chancellor Randy Hanna is leaving his post as head of the Division of Colleges. The governing body of the state colleges — as Florida’s community colleges were recently re-christened — has been led by Hanna for most of Gov. Rick […]

Ryan RayDecember 12, 2014

Amid a national fervor surrounding failures to indict the white police officers who cut short the lives of two unarmed black men, newly sworn-in Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum visited the Florida Museum of History’s new collection of Civil Rights-era artifacts Friday morning. The Mayor called the exhibit “very powerful” and wondered aloud about the efficacy of a […]

Ryan RayDecember 12, 2014

Amid a national fervor surrounding failures to indict the white police officers who cut short the lives of two unarmed black men, newly sworn-in Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum visited the Florida Museum of History’s new collection of Civil Rights-era artifacts Friday morning. The mayor called the exhibit “very powerful” and wondered aloud about the efficacy of a […]

Ryan RayDecember 12, 2014

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The Republican field of state House candidates continues to fill out this week as Hialeah Rep. Bryan Avila and District 54 hopeful William Sykes filed their paperwork and open campaign accounts ahead of 2016 elections. Avila, a freshman lawmaker recently coming off a 60-40 November victory over Democrat Mariano Corcilli, is an English professor at […]

Ryan RayDecember 11, 2014

Yet another pair of Florida State Representatives have filed to run for their seats again 23 months from now, this one bipartisan: Republican Sarasota Rep. Greg Steube and incoming freshman Rep. Bobby DuBose, a Broward Democrat, filed re-election paperwork and opened campaign accounts this week. Steube, who would term out in 2018 should he win, ran […]

Ryan RayDecember 10, 2014

While the 2014 midterm elections have sent scores of Democratic Capitol Hill staffers scrambling after new employment, this fall is a season of change for some Republicans too: domestic policy specialists Sara Decker and Scott Parkinson are set to take on higher-ranking roles within U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s staff. Sara Decker is currently Rubio’s head […]

Ryan RayDecember 10, 2014

While the 2014 midterm elections have sent scores of Democratic Capitol Hill staffers scrambling after new employment, this fall is a season of change for some Republicans too: domestic policy specialists Sara Decker and Scott Parkinson are set to take on higher-ranking roles within U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s staff. Sara Decker is currently Rubio’s head […]

Ryan RayDecember 9, 2014

Another pair of Republican state House members – again in the supermajority after ceding seats in 2012 – have filed to run for their seats once more in 2016: Sanford Rep. Jason Brodeur and Rep. Frank Artiles of Miami have each filed paperwork re-opening campaign accounts and making formal their intentions to seek a fourth and […]

Ryan Ray

Cissy Proctor tapped as new DEO Chief of Staff

Committee tied to Tom Lee raking in the bucks since he was named Approps chairman

Chancellor Randy Hanna leaving Florida Division of Colleges

Andrew Gillum visits Civil Rights exhibit, calls for state museum in Tallahassee

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum visits Civil Rights exhibit, calls for state museum in capital city

Rep. Bryan Avila, William Sykes begin 2016 campaigns

Reps. Greg Steube, Bobby DuBose file for 2016 re-election

Sara Decker, Scott Parkinson climb the ranks in Sen. Marco Rubio’s office

Sara Decker, Scott Parkinson climb the ranks in Sen. Marco Rubio's office

Reps. Jason Brodeur and Frank Artiles lay groundwork for 2016