Orlando

Scott PowersJune 25, 2018

The city of Orlando announced Monday it has ended its pilot project for the police to use Amazon Rekognition facial recognition software but held the door open for possible further use even as the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida called it a potential invasion of residents’ privacy, free speech and due process rights and […]

Scott PowersJune 25, 2018

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Philip Levine is opening an Orlando office, the third Democratic gubernatorial candidate to hang a shingle in the City Beautiful. Levine’s campaign office formally opens Tuesday at 5 p.m. at 646 West Colonial Dr., a couple miles down Colonial from the East Colonial offices of his Democratic rivals Chris King and Gwen […]

Scott PowersJune 22, 2018

Ten seats in Central Florida’s portion of the Florida House of Representatives will have primaries on August 28, with four Republican and six Democratic in-party battles set by Friday’s ballot qualifying. The big primary battles among Republicans are preparing for two open seats now held by Republicans, and among the Democrats for four places where […]

Scott PowersJune 22, 2018

Republican state Sens. Dennis Baxley, Dorothy Hukill, and Kelli Stargel all managed to avoid Republican primaries as they seek re-elections in their Central Florida districts this fall. With qualifying for the ballot closed at noon and nearly all the elections officially updated to final status, Baxley of Ocala, whose Senate District 12 covers Lake County and […]

Scott PowersJune 22, 2018

The Orange County Democratic Party has canceled efforts to have a gubernatorial debate in Orlando next Tuesday because Philip Levine and Gwen Graham would not agree to participate. Orange County Democratic Chair Wes Hodge expressed regret over the last-week cancellation he announced Friday and that voters in Orange County “will not have the opportunity to hear from […]

Scott PowersJune 22, 2018

The non-partisan Orange County mayoral contest was already a slugfest between Jerry Demings, Rob Panepinto and Pete Clarke. With three minor candidates dropping out (or failing to qualify for the ballot), the race for Orange County mayor Friday is now the same three-person contest it mostly has been, pitting Orange County Sheriff Demings against businessman Panepinto and […]

Scott PowersJune 22, 2018

There will be no primaries in the Orange County Sheriff’s election this year as only one partisan candidate, Darryl Sheppard, qualified for the ballot while Jose “Joe” Lopez switched to run as an independent. Another Democrat also failed to qualify. Consequently, Orlando Police Chief John Mina, already running as an independent candidate, will face Lopez […]

Scott PowersJune 22, 2018

Four candidates, including Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and Orange County School Board Member Nancy Robbinson, have made it onto the ballot for the August 28 election for the countywide chair position of the Orange County School Board. Jacobs and Robbinson were joined by Orange County teacher Robert Prater and Orange County Public Schools administrator […]

Scott PowersJune 22, 2018

Anna Eskamani, campaigning for the Orange County seat opening up in Florida’s House District 47 for more than a year, drew a Democratic primary opponent with the unexpected entry of Ocoee real estate agent Lou Forges, provided he qualifies for the ballot. The entry came as a surprise to Orange County Democratic Party leadership, leaving the party […]

Drew WilsonJune 21, 2018

Winter Springs Republican David Smith announced Thursday that the state’s largest commercial construction trade group has endorsed his campaign for House District 28. “Associated Builders and Contractors is the commercial construction trade association for Central Florida and we are pleased to endorse David Smith for Florida House District 28,” said Mark Wylie, president and CEO […]

Orlando
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Orlando ends use of facial recognition software

Philip Levine opening Orlando campaign office

Ten Central Florida house seats set for primaries August 28

Dennis Baxley, Dorothy Hukill and Kelli Stargel avoid primaries in Central Florida state Senate runs

Orlando Democratic guberatorial debate canceled

Orange County mayoral race becomes 3-man contest it always was

Orange County Sheriff election set for November with three candidates

Four candidates make ballot for Orange Co. School Board chair

Anna Eskamani gets primary opponent

Associated Builders and Contractors endorses David Smith for HD 28