Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJune 24, 2015

Although he’s been in politics for a long time now, Joe Gruters has just became a political candidate for the first time in 15 years. The 38-year-old Republican Party chairman of Sarasota County and vice chair and head of fundraising for the Republican Party of Florida recently announced his candidacy for the House District 73 […]

Martin DyckmanJune 24, 2015

Pope Francis‘s encyclical on saving the world — “our common home” — from what we are doing to it is a powerful appeal to everyone, not just to those who belong to the church he leads. The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism — my denomination — praised Francis for having “shone a Catholic spotlight […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 24, 2015

With less than a week before he takes office, Lenny Curry‘s new administration is taking shape. “As I promised the taxpayers of Jacksonville, it is my intent to bring to government the best and brightest to serve with honor and integrity, and the team that we are assembling represents both great talent and a strong commitment […]

Drew WilsonJune 23, 2015

South Pasadena Republican Rep. Kathleen Peters has drawn an opponent for her District 69 re-election bid in Libertarian Robert Saviola, according to Florida Division of Elections records. The Treasure Island candidate is an Air Force veteran, conservative talk radio host and hypnotist who teaches “covert hypnotism” and “neurolinguistic programming techniques.” He also appeared in the […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 23, 2015

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In a long debate, Ordinance 2015-327, prohibiting collection bins for thrift stores and the like, passed 17-1 at Tuesday night’s Jacksonville City Council meeting. The sole abstaining vote was Councilman Reggie Brown, who essentially argued that banning such bins was a value judgement. Reggie Gaffney made a similar contention; however, he ultimately voted for the bill. Speaking […]

Ryan RayJune 23, 2015

Tallahassee attorney and political newcomer Mary Thomas is “considering” a run in Congressional District 2 in the eastern Panhandle. Thomas was seen working the tables, looking very much like a candidate, all the while sounding very conservative at Tuesday night’s Leon County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner. “I think we’ve found a candidate that can beat Gwen […]

Phil AmmannJune 23, 2015

Hillsboro Beach is a tiny sliver on the Broward County coast. With just under 1,900 residents, the town is mostly known for its “Millionaires’ Mile,” a strip of beachfront property containing many of Miami’s affluent and winter homes of wealthy Canadian snowbirds. But hidden within 1.5 square miles, Hillsboro Beach has some mighty big secrets, […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 23, 2015

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By an 18-0 vote, the Jacksonville City Council authorized a resolution urging Housing and Urban Development to defund Eureka Gardens. It seemed clean enough at the time. Bill Sponsor Warren Jones noted that the legislation was being studied in Shelby County, Tennessee, where the same owner had eight properties. Denise Lee added that she wanted to extend […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 23, 2015

The back and forth on a resolution against seismic testing off the Jacksonville coast has finally ended, as it went down in a 9-9 vote. Historians will find amusing a part of the process, which involved Councilman Reggie Gaffney attempting to not vote, because he didn’t understand the issue, before eventually voting against the resolution. His […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 23, 2015

The big news coming out of the Jacksonville City Council meeting: the repeal of 2015-436, the ordinance passed two weeks ago issuing a moratorium on Charlotte’s Web cultivation, processing, and distribution. Recall that two weeks ago, as almost the very last act in the Council meeting, the Council passed the moratorium by a unanimous vote. […]

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Joe Gruters begins transition from party insider to political candidate

Martin Dyckman: Jeb cherry-picks where to enforce his faith

Lenny Curry makes 4 key hires for his administration

Radio host, hypnotist to challenge Kathleen Peters in HD 69

Collection bins prohibited in Jacksonville, backyard hens approved

Republican Mary Thomas considering challenge to Gwen Graham in CD-2

Blogger Chaz Stevens puts tawdry Hillsboro Beach shenanigans in his sights

Jax Council votes for resolution asking HUD to defund Eureka Gardens; controversy ensues

Gaffney spikes the ball: Seismic Testing resolution falls in Jacksonville City Council

Jacksonville City Council repeals Charlotte’s Web moratorium