Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJune 21, 2018

John McKay, a former Florida Senate President who serves on the Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Board of Governors, said Thursday he was “misunderstood” about serving as chair. McKay told Florida Politics he’d be “honored that anyone would consider me,” but said he has “no interest whatsoever” in chairing the panel. Citizens is the state-run insurer of last resort. […]

Drew WilsonJune 20, 2018

Democrat Kayser Enneking rolled out a one-two punch on the endorsement front this week for her bid to unseat Republican Sen. Keith Perry in Senate District 8. On Monday evening, the Gainesville physician landed a nod from the political committee tied to LGBTQ rights organization Equality Florida. “Equality Florida Action PAC endorses Kayser Enneking in […]

Peter SchorschJune 20, 2018

Attorney Jennifer Wilson, formerly with Adams and Reese‘s Tampa office, has moved to Shumaker Advisors Florida, LLC, to help boost its Florida practice. The team is the lobbying subsidiary of the SHUMAKER® law firm, also known as Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP. Wilson previously worked as a top advisor and campaign manager for several Florida lawmakers. She brings more than […]

Jim RosicaJune 19, 2018

Marc Dunbar, the Tallahassee-based lawyer and gaming lobbyist, has officially “expressed interest in serving as chair of the Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Board of Governors,” CFO Jimmy Patronis announced Tuesday through a spokeswoman. Dunbar, whom Patronis only recently appointed to the board, was one of six names released by Patronis’ office. Citizens is the state-run insurer of […]

Staff ReportsJune 19, 2018

Jason Harrell has been named director of legislative and government affairs for the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers (FCCC), the organization announced Tuesday. Harrell now is budget and communications director for the Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation (CCOC). He’ll continue in that role until the end of the Florida Legislature’s Revenue Estimating Conference in […]

Jim RosicaJune 19, 2018

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Lawyers on Monday filed recommendations as to how an administrative law judge should rule in a bid protest over the statewide law enforcement radio system, a deal potentially worth in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The recommended orders from Motorola Solutions and the Department of Management Services (DMS) were filed under seal, however, meaning they are […]

Drew WilsonJune 19, 2018

On Tuesday, the Florida Retail Federation announced its endorsement of Naples Republican Kathleen Passidomo for a second term in Senate District 28. “Senator Passidomo has been a true champion for retail by helping ensure Floridians are prepared in the event of a disaster, working towards tort reform, providing more than $150 million in tax relief […]

Drew WilsonJune 18, 2018

New candidates filed Monday for three Republican-held seats in the state Legislature. In Senate District 2, Fort Walton Beach Democrat Mary Jeanne “Gigi” Gibson is challenging Panama City Republican Sen. George Gainer. Gibson is currently Gainer’s only real challenger — Pensacola Republican Jantzen Craine has had his name down to run for the seat since 2015, but has not […]

Drew WilsonJune 18, 2018

Florida retailers are endorsing Lakeland Republican Sen. Kelli Stargel’s re-election for Senate District 22. Florida Retail Federation President/CEO R. Scott Shalley said in an announcement Monday: “In her role as Senate Finance & Tax Chair this past year, Senator Stargel showed continued leadership in her support of Florida’s retailers by including in the tax package a […]

Jim RosicaJune 15, 2018

Florida now has topped 100,000 “active” and “qualified” patients in its medical marijuana use registry, the Department of Health announced in an email Friday. But again, according to a department spokesman, that doesn’t mean the department will issue another four licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana, as provided under state law. The state had exceeded 100,000 overall almost […]

Influence

John McKay says ‘no thanks’ to Citizens board chair

Kayser Enneking endorsed by Equality Florida, AFL-CIO

Personnel note: Jennifer Wilson joins Shumaker Advisors

Marc Dunbar says he’s ‘interested’ in Citizens Insurance chairmanship

Personnel note: Jason Harrell to lobby for Florida court clerks

Judge close to decision in radio system bid protest

Florida Retail Federation backs Kathleen Passidomo for re-election

North Florida lawmakers draw re-election challengers as qualifying begins

Florida retailers endorse Kelli Stargel for re-election

State tops 100,000 marijuana patients — but no more providers