Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressMarch 31, 2015

A judge has ruled that a South Florida mayor acquitted of federal corruption charges should be restored to his old office. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Gisela Cardonne Ely ruled Tuesday that Michael Pizzi should return as Miami Lakes mayor and also receive back pay and other benefits dating to August 2013. Pizzi was suspended as mayor […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 31, 2015

Amendment 1 supporters on Tuesday flooded senators with calls urging them to support funding for land-buying in advance of Senate floor action on the state budget Wednesday. In November, 75 percent of voters statewide supported the water and land conservation funding initiative that provides an estimated $741 million in the 2015-16 state budget. The proposed […]

Guest AuthorMarch 31, 2015

Dear legislator: A number of years ago I was playing golf at Solivita, a community near Poinciana on the Polk County side of Osceola County. The area looked strangely familiar, especially the cypress swamps and pine woods between the holes. As I came up one fairway and looked into an oak hammock, I saw the […]

Florence SnyderMarch 31, 2015

A half century after an unsolved murder, who did the crime is less important that what the crime did to those left behind. The October 22, 1966 murders of Robert and Helen Sims and their 12 year old daughter Joy changed Tallahassee, overnight, from a place where everyone trusted everyone to a place where the […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 31, 2015

On the steps of Jacksonville’s City Hall on Tuesday, Bill Bishop announced he won’t endorse either Alvin Brown or Lenny Curry in the runoff mayoral race this year. Instead, he said, Bishop plans to run for mayor in 2019. On a sweltering March afternoon, the moderate Republican stood at a makeshift lectern before a cadre of local supporters and […]

Guest AuthorMarch 31, 2015

Florida legislators created a prescription drug program in 2009 to monitor controlled substances, which has helped reduce the number of Floridians who suffer from prescription drug addiction. Medications provide great benefit to patients when used correctly and under the guidance of their treating physician. Some opioid drugs, though, are crushed into powder or injected by […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 31, 2015

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Bills dealing with oil and gas hydraulic fracturing in Florida passed their first Senate committee stop on Tuesday after a state environmental official said they would provide needed regulation for the industry. SB 1468 by Sen. Garrett Richter, a Republican from Naples, requires the state to develop rules for permitting “high-pressure well-stimulation,” which includes hydraulic […]

Mitch PerryMarch 31, 2015

Tampa Democratic Party strategist Ana Cruz is moving on up, having recently been named to the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors. A former executive director with the Florida Democratic Party, Cruz currently manages the Floridian Partner’s Central Florida office in Ybor City, a lobbying firm with offices across the state. She can […]

Melissa RossMarch 31, 2015

Taking a veiled swipe at the current JSO leadership, Ken Jefferson says that if he’s elected sheriff he won’t “govern from behind the desk.” “I want to re-introduce the Police Department back to the community,” said Jefferson, the Democratic candidate in the race to replace outgoing Sheriff John Rutherford. “What I’m finding out from […]

Melissa RossMarch 31, 2015

Taking a veiled swipe at the current JSO leadership, Ken Jefferson says that if he’s elected sheriff he won’t “govern from behind the desk.” “I want to re-introduce the Police Department back to the community,” said Jefferson, the Democratic candidate in the race to replace outgoing Sheriff John Rutherford. “What I’m finding out from […]

Uncategorized

Judge: Acquitted Florida mayor should be returned to office

With Senate budget amendments teed up, calls flood senators

Rick Dantzler: Dear legislator, where will Fla. kids learn to hunt and fish?

Florence Snyder: The murders that changed Tallahassee forever

Bill Bishop does not endorse, will run in 2019

Sandi Frear: Why abuse-deterring opioids must be a priority this legislative session

Fracking bills pass Senate committee with DEP support

Democratic strategist Ana Cruz named to Tampa Chamber of Commerce Board

Ken Jefferson: No more "drive-by cops" in Jax if elected

Ken Jefferson: No more “drive-by cops” in Jax if elected