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

Staff ReportsJune 28, 2017

Mark Pafford, the former House Democratic Leader, has joined the board of directors of the League of Women Voters of Florida, the organization announced Tuesday. Pafford “brings extensive government experience to the League,” President Pamela Goodman said in a statement. In a phone interview, Pafford told Florida Politics he hopes “to be a great resource, bringing […]

Staff ReportsJune 27, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott on Friday appointed Jonathan Zachem as the new Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Matilde Miller, who had been serving as interim secretary since January, has accepted the job of Vice President of Compliance for VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s public-private tourism marketing agency. “DBPR is often on […]

Staff ReportsJune 27, 2017

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Citrus leaders are throwing their support behind Ben Albritton in his bid to replace Sen. Denise Grimsley in Senate District 26. The Albritton campaign announced Tuesday four members of the Florida Citrus Commission, including Chairman Marty McKenna and Vice Chairman Mike Garavaglia, have endorsed Albritton in his Senate District 26 bid. “Citrus is the heart […]

Staff ReportsJune 26, 2017

Making a Better Tomorrow is once again targeting Alex Diaz de la Portilla, including releasing a mailer that calls Senate District 40 voters to tell the former state senator they “don’t need his predatory politics.” The new mailers are the latest in a series of mailers from the Venice-based political committee attacking Diaz de la […]

Staff ReportsJune 26, 2017

A 5G wireless technology bill that was vigorously opposed by the Florida League of Cities was nonetheless signed into law Friday by Gov. Rick Scott. The bill (HB 687), sponsored by St. Cloud Republican Mike La Rosa in the House, pre-empts to the state the regulation of telecommunications companies putting “small wireless facilities in rights of way.” The League […]

Staff ReportsJune 26, 2017

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Gov. Rick Scott on Friday approved the Legislature’s “Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act,” which gives the state authority to regulate “personal delivery devices (PDDs) and unmanned aircraft systems.” A “personal delivery device” is a machine for use on sidewalks, usually not traveling more than 10 miles per hour. Photo credit: Starship Technologies London-based Starship Technologies, for instance, makes a six-wheeled “self-driving delivery […]

Staff ReportsJune 26, 2017

The chair of the capital area’s Republican Party is firing back after Democratic candidate for governor Andrew Gillum ignited a partisan firestorm this weekend over recent subpoenas into city-backed redevelopment deals. Gillum told the Tampa Bay Times’ Windy March on Saturday, “ ‘I just know that based on the way they have come after me ever […]

Staff ReportsJune 26, 2017

President Donald Trump signed a bill into law aimed at reforming the Department of Veterans Affairs by allowing the secretary to dismiss bad employees. The bill, which was sponsored by Sen. Marco Rubio, gives the VA secretary the authority to fire and demote employees. It also adds protections for whistleblowers, by prohibiting the secretary from using […]

Staff ReportsJune 26, 2017

Miami Republican Jose Mallea is the target of a new mailer, which claims he helped usher in a massive tax increase during his time in city government. The mailer — which appears to be from Conservatives for Truth PC, a Coral Gables political committee — claims Mallea, who served as chief of staff to former […]

Staff ReportsJune 23, 2017

As expected, Gov. Rick Scott‘s office on Friday announced he had signed into law two closely-watched medical marijuana bills. Scott approved both the bill (SB 8-A) that implements the state’s medical marijuana constitutional amendment, passed by voters last year, and a companion measure (SB 6-A) that exempts caregivers’ personal information from public disclosure. With Scott’s signature, the […]

Staff Reports

Personnel note: Mark Pafford joins state League of Women Voters board

Personnel note: Jonathan Zachem appointed DBPR secretary

Four members of Florida Citrus Commission back Ben Albritton in SD 26

New mailers target Alex Diaz de la Portilla in SD 40

Rick Scott approves 5G wireless bill over League of Cities’ opposition

Governor signs drone regulation bill

Leon County GOP head calls Andrew Gillum ’embarrassing’

Donald Trump signs VA reform bill backed by Marco Rubio

New mailer targets Jose Mallea over tax increases

Medical marijuana implementation bill signed into law