Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 13, 2018

Tampa mayoral candidate Ed Turanchik released a new agenda Thursday aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion in communities of color, particularly in East and West Tampa. “We are calling it our ‘New Day’ agenda, because Tampa’s diverse communities have been left behind, and need a fresh start,” Turanchik said. He created the agenda based on […]

Drew WilsonDecember 13, 2018

Lobbyist, Florida State University alumnus and longtime Tallahassee resident Gus Corbella has applied to fill the City Commission seat vacated by Scott Maddox’ suspension from office. “The entirety of my career and civic life has been devoted to public service and advocacy,” Corbella said in a letter to the commission. “From my formal education at […]

Ryan NicolDecember 13, 2018

Governor-elect Ron DeSantis has recommended Jamal Sowell to serve as the next President and CEO of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI). Most recently, Sowell served as chief of staff for Port Tampa Bay. DeSantis praised him for his work in that role, in a statement. EFI’s Board of Directors officially must appoint Sowell, but DeSantis’ imprimatur all […]

Phil AmmannDecember 13, 2018

Governor-Elect Ron DeSantis’ looming appointments of three Florida Supreme Court justices brings into stark relief the urgent need to institute a fair, nonpartisan and merit-based selection process for judicial nominations in our state. The process for nominating state judges has become increasingly politicized in recent years, threatening the independence and impartiality of our courts. This […]

Peter SchorschDecember 13, 2018

Ken Lawson, a veteran of Gov. Rick Scott‘s administration, will next lead the Department of Economic Opportunity when Ron DeSantis becomes Governor. That’s according to sources inside the transition team who spoke with Florida Politics on Thursday. (The hire was confirmed later in the day by an official news release.) Lawson is now president and CEO of VISIT […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 13, 2018

Year over year, fewer people are signing up for Affordable Care Act protections, a trend solidifying ahead of the Dec. 15 deadline. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), 799,118 Floridians enrolled in December. That number is down from 802,711 the previous year. The spread is even starker when national numbers are rolled […]

Drew WilsonDecember 13, 2018

During a Thursday meeting, the South Florida Water Management District’s governing board voted to end the land acquisition option agreement between the state and U.S. Sugar. The agreement would have given the state the option to purchase 150,000 acres of land owned by the company for Everglades restoration. The land acquisition language was first agreed […]

Staff ReportsDecember 13, 2018

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Former House Speaker and retired Florida State University President T.K. Wetherell has decided to enter hospice, according to his wife. Ginger Wetherell told friends earlier this week that her 72-year-old husband, who has fought cancer for roughly the last decade and a half, wished no further treatment. “I am saddened to hear this news about my […]

Scott PowersDecember 13, 2018

An international backlash against Airbnb’s November decision to not work with Israeli rental home hosts in Israel’s West Bank settlements is emerging in Florida with Surfside declaring the vacation rental home marketing platform is in violation of its law and Miami set to follow with a resolution condemning the company. The municipalities’ backlash comes after Airbnb […]

Staff ReportsDecember 13, 2018

Leon County Republican Party Chair and lobbyist Evan J. Power was arrested Wednesday and charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence with property damage, according to a Tallahassee Police Department report. Power, who refused to take a breath test, was later released from the Leon County Jail on a $500 bond. In a text message, the […]

Headlines

Ed Turanchik launches ‘New Day’ initiative to increase diversity and inclusion in Tampa

Gus Corbella applies to replace Scott Maddox on Tallahassee Commission

Ron DeSantis wants Jamal Sowell to lead Enterprise Florida

Trelvis Randolph: Justice in jeopardy – the reshaping of Florida’s Supreme Court

Ken Lawson tapped to head DEO under Ron DeSantis

NO-bamacare? Affordable Care Act signups down, activists fret

Land deal nixed between state, U.S. Sugar

T.K. Wetherell, former House Speaker and FSU president, now in hospice

Cities hitting Airbnb over Israel West Bank listings policy

Leon GOP chair Evan Power charged with DUI