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

Staff ReportsJuly 18, 2017

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Ed Hooper has received the endorsement of Florida’s Professional Firefighters. The organization announced during its 73rd annual convention in Sarasota this week it was backing Hooper, a Clearwater Republican, in his Senate District 16 race in 2018. In a statement, Jim Tolley, the organization’s president and CEO, said it was honored to have worked with […]

Staff ReportsJuly 17, 2017

Rep. Francis Rooney is going python hunting. The Naples Republican announced Monday he plans to take part in the South Florida Water Management District’s python elimination program on Aug. 10. The program aims to eliminate the Burmese python, an invasive species, which damages the Everglades ecosystem and its native wildlife. “I am looking forward to […]

Staff ReportsJuly 17, 2017

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Peebles & Smith is now Peebles Smith & Matthews. The firm announced Monday that Ryan Matthews, who most recently served as the interim secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, has joined as a principal. Peebles and Smith is a well-regarded boutique lobbying firm whose list of clients heavily tilted toward local government clients. On […]

Staff ReportsJuly 17, 2017

Jose Mallea is bringing in some star power — Florida politics, style — in the final days of his special House District 116 primary campaign. On Monday, Mallea campaign released a Spanish-language radio advertisement featuring former Gov. Jeb Bush. The ad comes just one week before the special Republican primary in the race to replace Rep. […]

Staff ReportsJuly 17, 2017

Gas prices “have held relatively steady for the past two weeks, but now face upward pressure,” according to a recent advisory from the AAA. The national average for one gallon of regular unleaded is $2.25—that’s a penny less than a week ago, but three 3 cents more than this time last year, a news release […]

Staff ReportsJuly 17, 2017

The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy has tapped Mark Kaplan to serve as the chairman of the board. The organization announced recently that Kaplan, the vice president of public affairs at Mosaic, will serve as chairman of the 2017-18 Board of Directors. Kaplan, according to the literacy organization, brings extensive legal and policy background […]

Staff ReportsJuly 14, 2017

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The state’s Constitution Revision Commission announced committee assignments, consisting of “10 standing substantive committees and two standing procedural committees,” it said in a Friday news release. “Establishing committees for the CRC means we can move forward on developing proposals that will benefit Florida families, businesses and students,” Chairman Carlos Beruff said in a statement. “Each commissioner brings […]

Staff ReportsJuly 14, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed a former aide to the State Board of Education. Scott announced Friday that Ben Gibson, a Tallahassee attorney, will join State Board of Education for a term ending Dec. 31, 2020. Now in private practice, Gibson has held positions in the Governor’s Office, House of Representatives and with with Republican […]

Staff ReportsJuly 14, 2017

House Speaker Richard Corcoran continues to grow his political team, despite staying tight-lipped about his 2018 plans. The Tampa Bay Times reported Friday that Watchdog PAC, the Land O’Lakes Republican’s political committee, has hired Jamestown Associates. The Philadelphia-based Republican firm helped shape Donald Trump’s television ad campaign during the 2016 election cycle. The Tampa Bay […]

Staff ReportsJuly 13, 2017

Rep. Brian Mast will report raising more than $700,000 in the second quarter of 2017, his campaign announced. The Mast campaign said Thursday it raised $733,964 between April 1 and June 30. That three-month fundraising haul brings his total raised to more than $1.12 million this cycle, according to the campaign. “While national Democrats desperately […]

Staff Reports
Alexandra Islas. Image via New College of Florida.

Ed Hooper endorsed by Florida Professional Firefighters

Francis Rooney to go python hunting in Big Cypress swamp

Personnel note: Peebles & Smith becomes Peebles, Smith & Matthews with hire of Ryan Matthews

Jose Mallea releases ad featuring Jeb Bush ahead of HD 116 primary

AAA: Gasoline prices still could rise despite recent leveling off

Personnel note: Mark Kaplan named chair of Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy 2017-18 board

Constitutional review panel announces committee assignments

Personnel note: Rick Scott appoints Ben Gibson to State Board of Education

Report: Richard Corcoran’s Watchdog PAC hires Jamestown Associates

Brian Mast campaign says it raised more than $700K in Q2