Scott Powers, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersFebruary 15, 2018

As the University of Central Florida presidential search committee meets Thursday to draw up a list of finalists, six new candidate names emerged, including a research vice president of the University of Oklahoma and provost at the University of Rochester, but no Florida political figures. The UCF search to find a successor to President John […]

Scott PowersFebruary 14, 2018

As the White House responds to reports that former aide Rob Porter was not the only official potentially working with highly sensitive information without first being properly vetted, Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy introduced a bill Wednesday to try to make the law require necessary security clearances. Murphy’s bill, her office stated in a news […]

Scott PowersFebruary 14, 2018

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham has done enough of her “workdays” now that she’s describing them as her campaign strategy, and midway through her shift Wednesday at a Hispanic grocery store and deli in Kissimmee she was talking more about what she gets to hear than what she wants to offer. She spent Wednesday stocking […]

Scott PowersFebruary 14, 2018

One of the key reasons Democrat Margaret Good won the House District 72 special election Tuesday was because she and the Democratic Party pushed local issues while Republicans pushed national issues, Florida Democratic Party Executive Director Juan Penalosa said Wednesday. Good beat Republican James Buchanan 53-45 in a district that has long been considered red, and […]

Scott PowersFebruary 14, 2018

Orlando Police Chief John Mina has officially entered the race to run for sheriff, seeking to succeed his longtime partner in Orlando law enforcement Sheriff Jerry Demings, who is running for county mayor. Long expected to be a candidate, Mina filed his candidacy paperwork Wednesday morning with the Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office. He […]

Scott PowersFebruary 13, 2018

House Bill 469’s splash at the House Government Accountability Committee Tuesday afternoon worked out to whether people consider boat salvers to be heroes or pirates. They may appear to be heroes when they’re pumping out someone’s pleasure boat to keep it from sinking, and then maybe towing it back to safety, and possibly saving lives […]

Scott PowersFebruary 13, 2018

Martin and Indian River Counties, together with the Citizens Against Rail Expansion in Florida organization, filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against U.S. Department of Transportation officials for approving the Brightline private passenger train. The suit, which also included the Indian River County Emergency Services District, charges that the federal department, Secretary Elaine Chao, the Federal […]

Scott PowersFebruary 13, 2018

A handful of serious candidates have applied to become the next University of Central Florida president, including current UCF Provost Dale Whittaker and current or former top officials from North Carolina, Ontario and Colgate, with two days remaining before the application deadline. Of 31 candidates who have applied for the job that comes open July […]

Scott PowersFebruary 13, 2018

Democratic state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith picked up his campaign-fundraising pace in early January for his 2018 re-election effort in Florida House District 49, bringing in nearly $24,000 even as his only opponent dropped out of the race. Smith, of Orlando, reported that his campaign raised $23,838 in the first eight days of January prior […]

Scott PowersFebruary 12, 2018

Orlando city officials took one of the biggest steps of any Florida city in recent years to ease laws that restrict vacation rentals, approving an ordinance Monday to allow owner-occupied rentals in single-family residential zones. The move, approved 6-1, takes effect July 1, ending what has effectively been a 26-year ban on vacation rental homes […]

Scott Powers

UCF late candidates include executives from Rochester, Oklahoma, no political figures

Stephanie Murphy offers bill to restrict sensitive information to people with clearance

Gwen Graham work day in Kissimmee connects with Puerto Rico evacuees

Juan Penalosa: HD 72 showed Republicans talking national and losing; Democrats, local and winning

Orlando Police Chief John Mina files to run for Orange County sheriff

Boat towing and salvage restrictions bill passes committee

Brightline opponents sue federal officials for approving train

UCF Provost Dale Whittaker among 31 candidates so far for presidency

Carlos Smith tops Orange County legislative candidates, raising $23K

Orlando City Council votes to allow home sharing vacation rentals