Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan NicolDecember 21, 2018

State Sen. Lauren Book is putting forward a new measure (SB 174) in response to February’s shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School, mandating silent alarm systems be set up in public schools throughout the state. The act, dubbed “Alyssa’s Law,” is named after Alyssa Alhadeff, a 14-year-old student who was one of the 17 people […]

Danny McAuliffeDecember 21, 2018

Agriculture Commissioner-elect Nikki Fried is bringing in five hires for important roles at the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Fried, a Democrat, notably opted to hire the agency’s Deputy Commissioner Alan Edwards, who serves in his current capacity under Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, a Republican. Edwards has served at the agency since 1993. Edwards will […]

Ryan NicolDecember 20, 2018

Spread the Vote, a national organization aimed at helping potential voters receive government-issued IDs, has named Miami native Matthew Tisdol as its new state director in Florida. Tisdol previously worked as the testing and investigation coordinator for the Housing Opportunities Project for Excellence, a non-profit aimed at helping people process housing discrimination claims. His work has been […]

Drew WilsonDecember 20, 2018

Three days after the State Board of Education unanimously approved former House Speaker Richard Corcoran as the state’s next Education Commissioner, the Pasco County Republican has selected his chief of staff. As reported by Andrew Atterbury of POLITICO Florida, Corcoran has picked Alex Kelly to serve as his top staffer. Kelly currently serves as the vice president […]

Drew WilsonDecember 19, 2018

The new year is nearly upon us, and that means it’s time to start fundraising for 2020 and the slate of special elections lined up for the Florida Legislature. Top Republican lawmakers plan to do just that. According to an invitation obtained by Florida Politics, Senate President Bill Galvano and House Speaker Jose Oliva will […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 19, 2018

Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis’ Transition Advisory Committee on Health and Wellness conferred via phone Wednesday in its second of three meetings. Lt. Gov-elect Jeanette Nuñez, co-chair of the committee, vowed in the previous meeting that the panel was “well-equipped, eager and ready” to improve health care and lower costs, the Tampa Bay Times reported. To that end, Nuñez promised a discussion […]

Jacob OglesDecember 19, 2018

Ensuring Florida’s economic growth benefits minority communities and those impacted by generational poverty must be a focus of Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis, according to former Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford. That will involve boosting education opportunities in all communities and finding innovative ways to increase access to capital for Sunshine State residents, he said. The issue […]

Ryan NicolDecember 19, 2018

Democratic state Rep. Kristin Jacobs wants to create a $110 million compensation fund for the victims of February’s mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in which 17 were killed. She filed legislation (HB 123) in the Florida House on Wednesday. The fund would be set up within the Department of Education. The department then would be […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 19, 2018

Governor-elect Ron DeSantis‘ Education and Workforce Development Committee continued its deliberations Wednesday, offering every indication that education’s transformation in Florida will only accelerate under his administration. DeSantis promoted school choice on the campaign trail (one school of thought says this helped him with African-American women, who may see their children benefiting from charter schools). Perhaps the […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 19, 2018

When Gov. Rick Scott traveled Florida months back selling his final budget, one with “historic funding” for the environment and education, critics noted the election-year budget was a vast departure from his first in 2011. Scott defended the budget, essentially asserting that prudent fiscal management ensured that spending could be boosted when times were good. And […]

Influence
Anna Maria Island home after Hurricane Milton.

Lauren Book proposes ‘Alyssa’s Law’ to set up silent alarms in public schools

Nikki Fried announces key personnel hires

Personnel note: Spread The Vote names new Florida director

Personnel note: Richard Corcoran taps Alex Kelly as chief of staff

Top Florida GOP lawmakers hosting annual Mardi Gras fundraiser Feb. 9

Ron DeSantis health panel explores ‘empowering patients’

Ron DeSantis economic transition board encouraging capital access in minority communities

Kristin Jacobs files bill to create compensation fund for Parkland victims

Accountability will underscore Ron DeSantis’s education agenda

Rob Bradley on the budget: Health care ‘efficiencies,’ healthy reserves