Orlando

Scott PowersMay 11, 2016

Democrat Bob Healy, a political newcomer, raised more than $10,000 in campaign funds for his effort in Kissimmee-based Senate District 15 in April, outperforming two better-known political veterans, Democratic state Rep. Victor Torres and Republican Peter Vivaldi. Healy’s $10,114 April haul compared with $8,494 for Torres and $8,011 for Vivaldi, who didn’t enter the race […]

Scott PowersMay 11, 2016

State Rep. Randolph Bracy and former state Sen. Gary Siplin boasted the biggest fundraising efforts in April in the Orlando-based Senate District 13 race. That does not include loans. With $10,000 he lent his campaign, former state Rep. Bob Sindler brought in $13,950, while Bracy raised $10,500, Siplin $9,145 and environmental activist Chuck O’Neal $2,465 […]

Scott PowersMay 11, 2016

Firefighters gave another big boost in April to their effort to get former firefighter and former state Rep. Mike Clelland into the Florida Senate in Orlando-based Senate District 13. And trial lawyers pitched in again too to help Clelland, who’s now a trial lawyer. Clelland’s independent political action committee Common Sense for Central Florida picked […]

Scott PowersMay 10, 2016

Democratic state Sen. Darren Soto has picked up several endorsements from Osceola County elected officials for his Congressional District 9 race, his campaign announced Tuesday. Soto, one of five candidates seeking the Democratic flag in the upcoming Aug. 30 primary, has received the new endorsements of current and former officials from Osceola County, including District 3 County […]

Scott PowersMay 9, 2016

Republican incumbent state Rep. Bob Cortes raised $12,680 in April for his re-election campaign in House District 30, renewing the pace he had set before the Florida Legislative Session. Cortes, a first-term Republican in a swing district that straddles Orange and Seminole counties, also spent about $4,700 in April. That leaves him with about $104,000 […]

Scott PowersMay 9, 2016

Democratic House District 49 candidate Carlos Guillermo Smith raised $13,755 in April, one of the biggest hauls in any Central Florida state House race. Smith attributed the impressive total, his biggest month since he announced his candidacy last June, to momentum from his work as an advocate in Tallahassee during the 2016 Legislative Session, and support […]

Scott PowersMay 9, 2016

BusinessForce, a political action affiliate of the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, has endorsed the re-election bids of Pete Clarke and Ted Edwards for Orange County Commission. Clarke, a businessman and former public official from Orlando, is running for re-election in District 3, which covers much of south-central Orange County. Edwards, a lawyer from Winter […]

Scott PowersMay 9, 2016

BusinessForce, a politically active affiliate of Orlando’s chamber of commerce, has endorsed Robert “Bobby O” Olszewski in the District 1 race for Orange County Commission. “Bobby Olszewski has a solid business background both professionally and academically and a strong record of working extremely hard as an elected official in Orange County collaborating with businesses and […]

Scott PowersMay 9, 2016

Democrat Susannah Randolph has won the endorsement of one of the biggest backers of Democrats, the National Education Association, in her quest for the primary nomination to run for Congress in Congressional District 9. The nation’s largest teachers union, almost always a strong financial supporter of Democrats, announced it is backing Randolph rather than any […]

Scott PowersMay 6, 2016

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs has sent messages on two controversial fronts involving the county’s lucrative tourist tax, asking the Tourist Development Council to put up money to attract the NFL Pro Bowl and to think about pushing for an ordinance to deal with future tourist tax issues. The latter request — Jacobs actually only softly suggested […]

Orlando
The Yankees organization is generous with Helene relief in Florida. Image via AP.

Bob Healy out-raises Victor Torres, Peter Vivaldi in April in SD 15 race

Randolph Bracy, Gary Siplin boast top fundraising April in SD 13

Firefighters, trial lawyers bankroll Mike Clelland’s SD 13 campaign

Darren Soto picks up Osceola County officials’ endorsements in CD 9 race

Bob Cortes raises $12K in April for HD 30 race

Carlos Guillermo Smith raises more than $13K in April for his HD 49 race

BusinessForce endorses re-elections of Ted Edwards, Pete Clarke, in Orange County Commission races

BusinessForce backs Bobby Olszewski in Orange Commission race

Teachers’ union endorses Susannah Randolph in CD 9 race

Teresa Jacobs urges Orange County tourist board to back Pro Bowl, consider pushing for tax ordinance