Staff Reports, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsJune 12, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott proclaimed Tuesday as “Pulse Remembrance Day” in recognition of the 49 people killed in the 2016 gay nightclub shooting. Scott “is asking all Florida residents to pause for a moment of silence at 9 a.m. and is directing all state flags in Florida to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset,” the Governor’s […]

Staff ReportsJune 11, 2018

One thing is clear at this point in the race for Florida’s next Attorney General: While former Circuit Judge Ashley Moody is enjoying a slight lead — within the margin of error — the GOP primary is anyone’s race. In statewide campaigns in Florida politics, two things matter when assessing the leaderboard this early in […]

Staff ReportsJune 11, 2018

Jeffrey L. Whitson, Regional Manager of Government Affairs at TECO Energy/Peoples Gas, died Friday at his home in Jacksonville. He was 59. According to an obituary provided by his family, “With gusto, Jeff pursued his passions of politics, political strategy, campaign management, government affairs, policy initiatives, and economic development. “But his greatest accomplishment was his […]

Staff ReportsJune 10, 2018

Hillsborough County School Board member Susan Valdes is laying the groundwork to run for the House District 62 seat. Patrick Manteiga of La Gaceta is reporting that Valdes resigned her seat Friday, to take effect November 6, the day of the general election. “It’s our understanding that her school board seat will be open for qualifying with […]

Staff ReportsJune 10, 2018

Florida’s agriculture commissioner promises his office will never again fail to do follow-up on certain national background checks that could disqualify people from gaining permits to carry concealed weapons. Adam Putnam held a news conference on Saturday in Sun City Center, Florida, to defend himself against critics who say he should resign because of the […]

Staff ReportsJune 9, 2018

First known for cuisine and later his storytelling, chef and TV star Anthony Bourdain had a knack for traveling the world and telling the world about it. After news broke Friday that Bourdain tragically ended his own life in France, the world mourned and celebrated his work — which, we’ve learned, brought him to all the nooks and […]

Staff ReportsJune 8, 2018

After a newspaper report published Friday revealed that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for more than a yearlong period stopped using a federal background check database in its concealed carry permits approval process, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam released a statement explaining his department took key steps to correct the issue once it was discovered, […]

Staff ReportsJune 8, 2018

Can Congress undo deal that saves ZTE? Despite it being the fourth-largest smartphone manufacturer in the world, most Americans were likely unaware of the Chinese telecommunications giant ZTE. If Republican Sen. Marco Rubio has his say, and he is taking full advantage of the opportunity, that could change in the coming days. In March it was revealed ZTE […]

Staff ReportsJune 8, 2018

Two of our top stories this week deal with primary battles for Congressional seats. They are interesting for what is said — and what is not. Mike Waltz is pushing fellow Republican John Ward to withdraw from the race in Florida’s 6th Congressional District. Waltz, like many across the political spectrum, believe that Ward saying that recent Puerto […]

Staff ReportsJune 6, 2018

From the outside it looks like there’s a tough Republican primary brewing in the special election to replace Senate President Joe Negron in SD 15, but a closer look at Belinda Keiser’s campaign messaging raises a lot of questions. Cast aside the fact that she lives 80 miles south of the Martin- and St. Lucie-based […]

Staff Reports

Flags at half-staff for Pulse shooting victims

Poll: Attorney General GOP primary anyone’s race at this time

RIP: Jeff Whitson, respected lobbyist, dead at 59

Hillsborough School Board member Susan Valdes considers run for HD 62

Adam Putnam: No mores lapse in background checks

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Remembering Anthony Bourdain at FSU

Adam Putnam sheds light on report of missed background checks

Delegation for 6.8.18 — Insights from the Beltway to the Sunshine State

Jacksonville Bold for 6.8.18 — Tribal warfare

Belinda Keiser campaign plays fast and loose with facts