Peter Schorsch, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschOctober 9, 2017

GrayRobinson, the mammoth legal-lobbying firm whose governmental affairs practice is headed by former House Speaker Dean Cannon, has won the Golden Rotunda for Lobbying Firm of the Year. Brian Ballard, the Florida-based lobbyist with deep connections to the Trump administration, was named Lobbyist of the Year. The award for Boutique Lobbying Firm of the Year […]

Peter SchorschOctober 9, 2017

Paul Jess has become executive director of the Florida Justice Association (FJA), the group announced Monday. Jess, a veteran attorney and association executive, had been acting as FJA’s interim executive director since January. “Paul has been with FJA for almost three decades, during which time he served in just about every professional capacity at the association, including […]

Peter SchorschOctober 9, 2017

Screen-Shot-2017-10-06-at-4.29.47-PM.png

Chris Spencer, longtime aide to Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes of St. Petersburg, is leaving the Legislature to become a lobbyist at the Tampa office of GrayRobinson, the law firm announced Monday. “Spencer has nearly a decade of experience working with Florida’s legislative and executive branches,” a press release said. “Prior to joining GrayRobinson, he managed […]

Peter SchorschOctober 9, 2017

Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Mitch Perry and Jim Rosica. Ending an eight year run that included the publishing of more than 51,000 blog posts, I will no longer publish original content to SaintPetersBlog.com (the site will remain up as an archive for the […]

Peter SchorschOctober 8, 2017

While the past may be prologue, in the race for St. Petersburg City Council, Justin Bean’s history is something he just cannot shake. On Monday, the 30-year-old St. Petersburg entrepreneur is again facing calls to “come clean” with voters on a 2010 run-in with the law, which first came to light last month, as well […]

Peter SchorschOctober 8, 2017

Vice President Mike Pence has left the 49ers-Colts game after about a dozen San Francisco players took a knee during the national anthem. The former Indiana governor flew in so he could watch Peyton Manning’s jersey retirement ceremony on Sunday. But Pence didn’t stick around long. Pence said on Twitter: “I left today’s Colts game […]

Peter SchorschOctober 7, 2017

PICCOLO-BAKER-KRISEMAN-6.29.17-5-3500x1294.jpg

If there was any doubt about the interest level in the ‘battle of the two Ricks,’ check the latest campaign finance reports for Rick Kriseman and Rick Baker, both of whom raised substantial money during the last two weeks of September. Baker, the former mayor seeking a third term in City Hall, added $66,853 to […]

Peter SchorschOctober 7, 2017

Florida State University President John Thrasher announced the members of the President’s Advisory Panel on University Namings and Recognitions, according to a news release. “I want to thank the members of this panel for their willingness to take on this important matter,” Thrasher said in a statement. “I expect them to be deliberate, to be thoughtful and to […]

Peter SchorschOctober 6, 2017

State Rep. Jay Fant, a Jacksonville Republican vying to become Florida’s next attorney general, Friday said he had personally put in $750,000 toward his election. The loan to his campaign, made last month, brings his total campaign funds raised to just over $958,000, his campaign told Florida Politics. Without it, Fant’s campaign account shows just […]

Peter SchorschOctober 5, 2017

Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics. First Shot A proposed Florida Commission on Ethics opinion says Tony Glover, formerly the state’s top gambling regulator, can lobby his former department as long as he doesn’t do it for the specific divisions he once worked for. Glover had requested the […]

Peter Schorsch

The latest edition of INFLUENCE Magazine features the 2017 Golden Rotunda award winners

Personnel note: Paul Jess becomes FJA executive director

Personnel note: Chris Spencer heads to GrayRobinson

Sunburn for 10.9.17 — INFLUENCE Mag debuts; Fla. still counting the dead from Irma; Joe Negron’s 2018 priorities; EFI doles out raises; Chris Spencer’s new gig

In St. Pete Council race, Gina Driscoll calls on Justin Bean to ‘stop lying’ about criminal past

VP Pence leaves NFL game after players protest during anthem

Rick Baker, Rick Kriseman reload campaign coffers for St. Pete mayoral race

Takeaways from Tallahassee — FSU takes on campus names, markers

Jay Fant lends campaign $750K toward AG bid

Last Call for 10.5.17 – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics