Local

Drew WilsonFebruary 15, 2016

Incumbent Republican Rep. Carlos Trujillo has drawn a primary challenger for his House District 105 seat. Republican Victor Dotres filed for the seat Feb. 8, becoming the only other candidate in the race besides Trujillo, who is finishing up his third term in the district, which covers parts of Collier, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Dotres, […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 15, 2016

Incumbent Republican Rep. Bill Hager will face a challenger as he goes for his fourth and final term in his House District 89 seat. Nichole Cyr, an accounting clerk for Seminole Gaming, filed to run for the seat as a Democrat on Feb. 4, ensuring Hager won’t skate into another term without a little effort. […]

Bill RuftyFebruary 15, 2016

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Polk County Commissioner Ed Smith, a Lake Alfred Republican, has pulled out of the Republican Primary for Florida House District 41, and has entered the nonpartisan race for Polk County School Board against incumbent Dick Mullenax. Smith said his decision to switch to run for a local office is based “solidly on the health of […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 15, 2016

The simmering tensions between Duval County School Board member Connie Hall and Superintendent Nikolai Vitti boiled over last week, after months of deterioration. As Melissa Ross wrote last week: Records of emails and texts of Hall and two other Duval School Board members were first requested by a Miami law firm. WJCT obtained a copy of those documents and […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 15, 2016

A South Florida lawyer has filed to run for House District 87, now held by Democratic Rep. Dave Kerner, setting up a three-way Democratic primary for the Palm Beach County seat. Darren Ayoub will face off against David Silvers and Virginia Savietto for the chance to take over for Kerner, who announced last year he would forego another term […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 15, 2016

Another Democrat has filed for the House District 14 seat held by termed-out Jacksonville Democrat Rep. Mia Jones. Gracie McCastler, a former elementary school teacher in Duval County, entered the race Feb. 11, making her the fourth Democrat vying to replace Jones, who has served in the Florida House since 2008. McCastler joins former Jacksonville City Council members […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorFebruary 15, 2016

Gulfport municipal elections are supposed to be nonpartisan, but party politics have come out in the city’s lone City Council contest. Though voters will never see it on a ballot, incumbent Dan Liedtke is a Republican. His challenger, April Thanos, is a Democrat. In a recent mailer, Thanos called Liedtke out as “a Tea Party […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 15, 2016

With the entry of businessman and veteran Chadwick Hardee last week, Republican Rep. Rene Plasencia is now facing a three-way primary race as he looks to shift over to House District 50, covering parts of Brevard and Orange counties. Hardee had been thinking about a run in HD 50 last year, but opted to drop out after Plasencia […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 15, 2016

Barring an unforeseen development at Thursday’s special meeting, Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri will table his HRO expansion bill at least through May. However, the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality plans on mobilizing its base Thursday nonetheless. After the Council meeting, the JCE will hold a “Yes to Equality” rally in front of the main library on […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 15, 2016

Lee County incumbents continued to build their campaign accounts in January. All four Lee County state House members are running unopposed. But that didn’t stop them from raising thousands of dollars, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Florida Division of Elections. Lawmakers can’t raise money during the Legislative Session, which started Jan. 12. […]

Local
Image via the National Hurricane Center.

Carlos Trujillo to face GOP primary challenge in HD 105 race

Bill Hager draws Democratic challenger for final term in HD 89

Ed Smith leaves Florida House race for school board

Jason Fischer says Connie Hall should “immediately” resign Duval School Board seat

Democratic attorney joins HD 87 race in Palm Beach

4th Democrat joins race to replace Mia Jones in HD 14

Nonpartisan Gulfport City Council race goes partisan

Businessman Chadwick Hardee jumps into HD 50 GOP primary

Jax Coalition for Equality to rally Thursday after City Council meeting

Lee County incumbents raise thousands in January