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

Scott PowersDecember 5, 2016

Palm Beach neurosurgeon and former Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson is Donald Trump‘s pick to be secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Trump’s transition office announced the nomination Monday, bringing his once rival but early supporter into the cabinet discussion for his administration. “I am thrilled to nominate Dr. Ben Carson as our next Secretary […]

Scott PowersDecember 3, 2016

Democratic U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson of Orlando made what’s likely to be his swan song appearance for now before Orange County Democrats Saturday, thanking them for backing him so he could “do so much good for so many people.” Grayson sought the state Democratic nomination to run for Florida’s U.S. Senate seat but lost, and […]

Scott PowersDecember 3, 2016

Political operative Wes Hodge was elected Saturday as the new chair of the Orange County Democrats after laying out a detailed platform for. Hodge was elected by acclimation after his opponent, longtime Orange County Democratic activist Lonnie Thompson withdrew and threw his support behind Hodge while paper ballots from their contest were being counted. Hodge […]

Scott PowersDecember 2, 2016

Orlando has been named “Gay City of the Year” by the gay travel site GayCities.com, which praised the City Beautiful for its outpouring of compassion and unity following last summer’s horrific massacre at the Pulse nightclub and then noted Orlando had been a strong city for gays all along. “GayCities honors the city & community […]

Scott PowersDecember 2, 2016

The horrific Pulse nightclub massacre, the specter of Zika virus, and the uncertainty of politics and national policies aren’t slowing down tourists coming to Orlando. At least not enough to hurt. The Orange County Tourist Development Council received sparkling reports Tuesday showing record receipts from tourist taxes in the past fiscal year and forecasts that […]

Scott PowersNovember 30, 2016

Billionaire New York Democratic campaign financier George Soros‘s interest topped $1.7 million in Central Florida politics and $1.8 million statewide this year as he financed independent campaigns that helped three Democrats win local or state legislative races while three others he backed lost. Soros’ biggest investment came early, backing Aramis Ayala to the tune of $1.38 […]

Scott PowersNovember 30, 2016

An event in Congresswoman-elect Stephanie Murphy‘s infancy keeps redirecting her life, a life that has the 38-year-old business professor heading to Washington to represent Orlando and Central Florida as the first Vietnamese-American woman in Congress. When she was six months old, her family fled Vietnam on a refugee boat. Stephanie, her mother, father, brother, and dozens of mostly […]

Scott PowersNovember 29, 2016

A $5 million plan to add mid-block crosswalks and other improvements to pedestrian and bicycle safety in the major roads serving the University of Central Florida was unanimously approved Tuesday by the Orange County Board of Commissioners. The plan aims at making sidewalks, bike paths and crosswalks more appealing and safer for the 50,000 UCF […]

Scott PowersNovember 29, 2016

Swiss-owned RUAG Space announced Tuesday it will develop a factory in Titusville to provide component parts for satellites to be created by OneWeb Satellites, which announced its presence on Florida’s Space Coast last spring. RUAG, owned by the Swiss government, is a globally-recognized leader in engineering and manufacturing of components for space vehicles. It is […]

Scott PowersNovember 28, 2016

State Sen. David Simmons, re-elected in June when no one filed to run against him in Seminole County’s Senate District 9, is airing TV commercials in Orlando for three weeks thanking voters and urging people to put aside political differences and come together during the holidays. Simmons spent $150,000 on the effort, having Southern Campaign […]

Scott Powers

Ben Carson nominated for Housing and Urban Development secretary

Alan Grayson says goodbye to Orange County Democrats, for now

Orange County Dems pick Wes Hodge as new chair

Orlando named ‘Gay City of the Year’ by gay travel site

Orange County and Orlando get rosy tourist numbers, forecasts

George Soros spends $1.8 million in Florida local races; backs four winners, two losers

‘The girl rescued at sea’ Stephanie Murphy rides that humanitarian service into Congress

Orange County Commission approves UCF pedestrian plan

Swiss company RUAG setting up satellite shop on Space Coast

David Simmons buys TV time to thank voters