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

Staff ReportsMay 29, 2018

While new polling gives state Rep. Ross Spano a six-point lead in the Republican primary for Florida’s 15th Congressional District, a third of voters surveyed say they are unsure. St. Pete Polls conducted the survey May 25-27 which has the Dover Republican leading fellow state Rep. Neil Combee, 29-23 percent. The poll asked 494 likely […]

Staff ReportsMay 29, 2018

Supporters of the proposed constitutional ban on greyhound racing say they will hold 13 “grassroots meetings” across the state to officially launch the “Protect Dogs-Yes on 13” campaign. The meetings, which start June 4, will be held in Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Sarasota, Naples, Gainesville, Merritt Island, Vero Beach, Largo, Lakeland, and Palm Coast. […]

Staff ReportsMay 29, 2018

Tallahassee-bore-much-of-the-brunt-of-Hurricane-Hermine.jpg

A Tallahassee restaurant is suing its insurer for denying its “lost business income” claim after Hurricane Hermine rolled through the area nearly two years ago. Wahoo Seafood Grill, near I-10’s Monroe Street exchange, sued last week in Leon County Circuit Civil court against Southern-Owners Insurance Co. of Michigan, court records show. The complaint says the […]

Staff ReportsMay 29, 2018

Fausto Gomez, President of Gomez Barker Advisors, recently joined the Board of Trustees of Florida TaxWatch, the taxpayer research institute and watchdog organization. With his addition, TaxWatch says it’s bringing one of Florida’s “most-respected government relations counselors” on board. “We are thrilled to welcome Fausto Gomez,” TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro said in a […]

Staff ReportsMay 25, 2018

The Publix supermarket chain says it’s suspending political contributions as it reevaluates its giving policy after students from the Parkland, Florida, high school where 17 people were killed called for a boycott because it supports a candidate aligned with the National Rifle Association. Student activists from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School staged “die in” protests […]

Staff ReportsMay 25, 2018

The resurrection of Blue Dog Democrats? When last seen in public, the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition went off to lick its wounds following the 2010 elections. The uproar from the passage of Obamacare wiped out most of the moderate-to-conservative Democrats and lurched their caucus further to the left. A Roll Call profile reminds that in its heyday, […]

Staff ReportsMay 25, 2018

Flags will fly at half-staff on Friday to honor a Daytona Beach police officer who died following a training exercise. Thomas Coulter, 25, had been with the Daytona Beach Police Department for only one week. He “suffered a heart attack while conducting physical training in front of Police Department headquarters” last Friday, according to the Officer […]

Staff ReportsMay 25, 2018

We’ve reached the point in the primary cycle where, by now, campaign groundwork and infrastructure should be well underway. Bold is offering evidence of that proposition. Smart candidates are bringing out the big endorsements, and less seasoned candidates making career-killing gaffes. The operatives are talking. If our Jacksonville correspondent isn’t typing, odds are good he […]

Staff ReportsMay 24, 2018

President Donald Trump praised an NFL policy banning kneeling during the “The Star-Spangled Banner,” saying that “maybe you shouldn’t be in the country” if you don’t stand for the anthem. Trump spoke to “Fox & Friends” in an interview that aired Thursday. The policy forbids players from sitting or taking a knee on the field […]

Staff ReportsMay 23, 2018

The Florida Lottery projects an increase in sales from new vending machines and other equipment provided through a new multi-million dollar agency contract. Lottery representatives on Wednesday presented to the state’s Revenue Estimating Impact Conference, a roundtable of state economists. Lawmakers use their projections to craft the state budget each Legislative Session. Details on the […]

Staff Reports
Three people were killed in an accident on the Florida Turnpike in St. Lucie County on Aug. 12. Image via Treasure Coast Newspapers.

Ross Spano leading CD 15 primary, but one-third undecided

Greyhound-racing ban backers plan ‘grassroots meetings’ across state

Hurricane Hermine causes another recent lawsuit in Tallahassee

Personnel note: Fausto Gomez joins TaxWatch board

Publix suspends political giving amid anti-NRA protest

Delegation for 5.25.18 — Insights from the Beltway to the Sunshine State

Flags at half-staff to honor Daytona Beach police officer

Jacksonville Bold for 5.25.18 — Game theory

Donald Trump lauds NFL policy banning kneeling for national anthem

New equipment should boost Lottery revenues, agency says