Orlando

Scott PowersJuly 11, 2017

Kissimmee may be part of the heart of Florida’s tourism district, but three local lawmakers told the Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber of Commerce Tuesday why they did not openly support VISIT FLORIDA during the political wars of this year’s Legislative Session. Republican state Reps. Mike La Rosa and Neil Combee and Democratic state Rep. John Cortes described […]

Scott PowersJuly 11, 2017

The money race for the August 15 special election Republican primary for Florida’s House District 44 has three candidates with at least $50,000 raised, topped by John Newstreet‘s $67,000, according to the first campaign finance reports released by the Florida Division of Elections. Newstreet, president and chief executive officer of the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of […]

Scott PowersJuly 10, 2017

John Newstreet has received another major business association endorsement in the special election race for the open seat in Florida’s House District 44, with nods from two political committees representing the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association. Both the CFHLA political action committee and the CFHL political committee gave unanimous endorsements to Newstreet, president and […]

Scott PowersJuly 10, 2017

A Brevard County commissioner is taking on Puerto Rico, in a confrontation that is rumbling through Central Florida’s Puerto Rican population and bound to lead to a showdown Tuesday night at the county commission meeting. John Tobia, a Republican former member of the Florida House of Representatives who now represents southeast Brevard on the county […]

Scott PowersJuly 10, 2017

Saying he promised to do something after Pulse and the gay community is still waiting, a congregation of Orlando faith leaders Monday called on Gov. Rick Scott to sign an executive order banning anti-gay discrimination in state government. The Rev. Terri Steed Pierce, senior pastor at the Joy Metropolitan Community Church, which serves Orlando’s LGBTQ […]

Scott PowersJuly 7, 2017

After 36 years in law enforcement including stints as Orlando police chief, Orange County public safety director, and his current post as sheriff, Jerry Demings announced Friday he’s ready to take on the entire county as mayor, pledging public safety, smart growth, and “community bonding” as his platform. Demings, 58, joined his wife Democratic U.S. […]

Scott PowersJuly 7, 2017

Faced with a potentially-serious Republican nomination challenger, David Smith dropped another $25,000 loan into his campaign for what will be an open seat in Florida House District 28. Smith’s June 30 loan was augmented by $2,963 in fundraising in June, giving him $100,855 in total contributions and loans. He had primed his campaign when he […]

Scott PowersJuly 6, 2017

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings has made official the worst-kept secret of the year in Central Florida politics: that he’s running for mayor of Orange County. Yet Demings, a Democrat, hasn’t officially announced anything yet. He has, however, filed his paperwork, late Thursday, with the Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office, officially declaring his candidacy. […]

Scott PowersJuly 6, 2017

Someone doesn’t trust President Donald Trump with voter roll information. Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Mike Ertel said Thursday he’s been fielding calls from nervous voters wanting to get their names and data off of voter rolls because they worry that information might be sent to Trump’s Advisory Commission on Election Integrity. Ertel has been […]

Scott PowersJuly 6, 2017

If Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy had people shaking their heads last week when she introduced a balanced budget amendment bill, she had a few scratching their heads Thursday as she organized a town hall exercise in Winter Park that demonstrated how difficult it might be. Murphy, joined by Phillip R. Smith, national political director […]

Orlando

Mike La Rosa, Neil Combee and John Cortes defend attacks on VISIT FLORIDA

HD 44 special election money race has three $50K candidates, John Newstreet leading

John Newstreet gets Central Florida hotel group backing in HD 44 race

Brevard resolution opposing statehood outrages Central Florida Puerto Ricans

Orlando faith leaders call on Rick Scott to sign anti-discrimination order

Jerry Demings launches mayoral campaign pledging public safety, smart growth, ‘community bonding’

David Smith pours another $25,000 personal money into his HD 28 race, topping Central Florida races

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings files to run for Orange County Mayor

Seminole elections supervisor says people are calling to get off voter rolls

Stephanie Murphy pledges support for balanced budget, then shows it’s not easy