Local

Associated PressSeptember 5, 2015

High schools in the Gainesville area are dealing with an unexpected influx of new students. The Gainesville Sun reports that the Alachua County School District has about 800 more high school students than it had expected for the 2015-2016 school year. District officials say they planned for increased enrollment at the district’s seven high schools […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 5, 2015

Tallahassee attorney James Messer, Jr. filed to run Thursday for Leon County’s House District 9 seat. Messer is the first Republican candidate to file for the left-leaning seat held by term-limited Democratic Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda. “I believe it’s time for reasonable people to be heard again. I believe it is time for Leon County to […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 5, 2015

Florida Politics has learned that former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley has contacted Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry to promote an undetermined job candidacy from a current executive of the Chicago White Sox. “I am writing to you to recommend a colleague of mine, Greg Hopwood, for a position within the City of Jacksonville, FL,” Daley wrote to […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 5, 2015

Jacksonville City Councilman John Crescimbeni is singular in his tenacity on a given issue. One such issue: the Police and Fire Pension Fund’s Senior Staff Voluntary Retirement Plan. Recently, Crescimbeni asked Treasurer Patrick Greive some questions about primary beneficiaries that perhaps get to the root of his PFPF pique. When PFPF head John Keane retires next Friday, he […]

Frank TorresSeptember 5, 2015

Qualifying Orlando municipal races ended Friday with Mayor Buddy Dyer and two incumbent City Commissioners facing challengers in November. Dyer will face businessman and veteran Paul Paulson, as well as student Linda “Sunshine” Grund, who filed late Friday. The mayor will be favored to win a fifth term with a heavy fundraising advantage and wide support […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 5, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott announced two judicial appointments in the Tampa Bay area late Friday. He elevated Kim Hernandez Vance from a Hillsborough County judge to the 13th Judicial Circuit bench. Vance, 54, of Tampa, had been a county judge since last year. “Judge Vance has demonstrated, throughout her career, a commitment to serving Florida families,” Scott said in a statement. […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 4, 2015

Shhh! Discretion is the better part of valor, but the former allegedly was not practiced by Derrick Brinson, a 23-year JFRD veteran and Jacksonville native, whose name was up for fire prevention chief … but apparently won’t be now. According to The Florida Times-Union, Brinson’s use of city computers and email is under review, after the leak […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 4, 2015

After taking a stab at Congress last year, Alan Cohn is revisiting his more-familiar career: investigative journalism. WWSB-TV, Sarasota’s ABC affiliate, announced the longtime Tampa Bay reporter, and former congressional candidate, will lead a new 7 p.m. newscast with a political slant. According to Cohn, “ABC 7 News at 7:00” will center on long-form reporting on a […]

Frank TorresSeptember 4, 2015

Seminole County Chief Deputy Dennis Lemma has received endorsements from three elected officials in his bid to be the next Seminole County sheriff. He announced nods from Republican state Reps. Scott Plakon and Jason Brodeur, as well as Seminole and Brevard County State Attorney Phil Archer. Lemma made the announcements on social media Friday morning, […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 4, 2015

A wave of board appointments is coming from the Lenny Curry administration, in its continuing effort to determine the post-election composition of various boards. At least one of these appointees offered Curry tangible support during the campaign, a condition that likely will irk those who have charged that these appointments are overtly politicized. Marc Padgett, President […]

Local

Gainesville-area high schools see enrollment boom

Attorney James Messer becomes first Republican to file in HD 9

Richard Daley recommending White Sox exec for Jacksonville role

PFPF head John Keane set for new $227K pension in just weeks

Field for Orlando municipal races set; Tony Ortiz re-elected without opposition

Rick Scott names two new judges for Tampa Bay area

Prospective Jax Fire Prevention chief singed by Ashley Madison flame

Reporter Alan Cohn returns to investigative journalism with WWSB-TV newscast

Dennis Lemma rolls out trio of endorsements for Seminole County Sheriff bid

Key Lenny Curry supporter poised for DIA board appointment