Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannJune 22, 2015

Bradenton Republican Rep. Jim Boyd announced a major fundraiser in September to support his re-election bid to House District 71. He is now running unopposed, and will term-limit out of the Florida House in 2018. Boyd is a former Palmetto City Councilman, who is now Deputy Majority Leader and Whip for the 2014-2016 legislative term. […]

Mitch PerryJune 22, 2015

Contained inside the $80.4 billion budget that the Florida Legislature approved last week was $3.3 million in additional funding for the Early Steps Program, money that Gov. Rick Scott had threatened to cut before the session began earlier this year. Early Steps helps babies and toddlers with developmental disabilities or delays during their first three […]

Melissa RossJune 22, 2015

Arguing that Jacksonville is becoming an increasingly diverse community, city activists who’ve long pushed for “inclusive prayer” to open city council meetings say they’ll make their voices heard again at Tuesday night’s session. Under the leadership of outgoing Council President Clay Yarborough, a Christian invocation typically has been recited to open the government meetings. That […]

Peter SchorschJune 22, 2015

There are few people in Florida politics with more influence than Susie Wiles. She’s a managing partner for mega-lobbyist Brian Ballard; she ran the 2010 campaign of little-known outsider, now two-term Gov. Rick Scott; and she has been a gubernatorial appointee to the Republican Party of Florida’s Executive Committee. Wiles’ reach extends outside of Florida […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 22, 2015

Last week, Florida Politics published an article about the Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee reversing its previous support of a seismic testing moratorium. The catalyst for that reversal: Councilman Stephen Joost, who changed his position from a vote two weeks prior. We asked Joost via email last week about what went down. On Monday morning, his […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 22, 2015

An interesting divergence of memory has surfaced between Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund Chair John Keane and a local newspaper editor. FloridaPolitics.com is at the center of this maelstrom. On Friday, we had an exclusive interview with a very emotional Keane, who charged the local Paper of Record with misrepresenting him and the Pension, helmed by […]

Mitch PerryJune 22, 2015

In the wake of the racist terrorist attack on nine black people at a historic church in Charleston, South Carolina last week, there has been a renewed focus on the divisiveness of the Confederate flag,which currently flies on the grounds of the South Carolina Capitol. Meanwhile the biggest Confederate flag in the world (according to its […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJune 22, 2015

If no one emerges by 5 p.m. Monday evening as a qualified candidate for St. Pete City Council District 3, Ed Montanari will emerge as the council member elect to replace outgoing Bill Dudley. As of Monday afternoon Montanari seems to have it in the bag. No one has filed paperwork to run against him […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 22, 2015

Though this reporter’s focus has been on the Sam Mousa budget review marathon, Lenny Curry‘s transition committee meetings continue apace at Jacksonville University. Today, we are sitting in on a couple of these; the first, as the title suggests, is Operations, Human Resources, and Productivity. The big news out of this: a Neighborhoods Department, cut in recent […]

Phil AmmannJune 22, 2015

Ocala Republican state Rep. Dennis Baxley announced the endorsement of Levy County Superintendent Robert Hastings in the Senate District 5 race. Baxley, the representative from House District 23, which covers much of Marion County, is known as the “Father of Stand Your Ground” for his support of the state’s controversial self-defense law. The staunch conservative is running for […]

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Jim Boyd to hold Sarasota fundraiser for HD 71 race on Sept. 23

Kathy Castor thanks Andy Gardiner for preserving Early Steps Program funding

Activists to Jax City Council: Go back to “inclusive prayer”

Tax troubles for Jacksonville insider Susie Wiles?

Why Stephen Joost flipped on seismic testing

Frank Denton and John Keane continue war of words on Jax Pension Deal

Kathy Castor says she hates Tampa’s Confederate flag

Ed Montanari likely to win City Council seat unopposed

Will Jacksonville have a Neighborhoods Department under the Lenny Curry Administration?

Levy County Superintendent Robert Hastings endorses conservative Dennis Baxley in SD 5 race