Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayJanuary 21, 2015

Without any standard operating procedure governing the transition following the death of a Congressman, Bill Young’s family has had little recourse when the late lawmakers’s personal affects began to go missing, writes Warren Rojas in CQ Roll Call: A corrosive mix of myopic estate planning, lax oversight and a moving truck-sized hole uncovered in guidelines governing continuing […]

Gary FineoutJanuary 20, 2015

The sudden ouster of the leader of Florida’s main law-enforcement agency is now causing a major rift between Gov. Rick Scott and other top Republicans less than a month after his second term in office started. Last week, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater joined with Scott and two other officials to appoint Richard Swearingen as […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 20, 2015

In the Jacksonville mayoral race, never mind the official qualifying period, which is through Friday. The real campaign has begun … with Lenny Curry bumper stickers. You know it’s a race now! With only a $15 contribution, the brand new, official Lenny Curry for Mayor Bumper Sticker can be yours. The former Republican Party of Florida chair has […]

Sally SwartzJanuary 20, 2015

A viaduct for the rich, Martin Health System firing volunteers, and a Martin County land buy to solve a neighborhood problem: Truth or fiction? By definition a rumor mixes both. Consider these three tales, which all fall into the category of “interesting if true, but interesting anyway.” The first: Jupiter Island plans to build a […]

Marc YachtJanuary 20, 2015

I left Philadelphia after High School graduation, January, 1958.The severe 10 degree temperatures, wind, snow and sleet left our graduating class cold to the bone. The harsh ’58 winter found Philadelphians praying for an early spring and eagerly awaiting Punxsutawney Phil and a cloudy Groundhog Day. Should Phil see his shadow February 2, Pennsylvanians could […]

Melissa RossJanuary 20, 2015

Monday night’s Duval County Republican Party gathering ended with the endorsement of Jacksonville mayoral candidate Lenny Curry (albeit with some complications). But the meeting had another unexpected bit of drama when 26-year-old Jesse Wilson, a former Republican City Council candidate, writer for Void Magazine, and supporter of Republican mayoral candidate Bill Bishop, was kicked out of […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 20, 2015

Paul Renner picked up a handful of local law enforcement endorsements today in his campaign for House District 24. The attorney and Jacksonville native announced the support of State Attorney R.J. Larizza of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar and Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson in the Republican primary set for […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 20, 2015

Second-ballot endorsement with intrigue beforehand After a solid few weeks of endorsements and control of the news cycle, the Lenny Curry campaign garnered the official party endorsement Monday night at the Duval County Republican Party meeting. The Curry team offered a statement on the endorsement: “We appreciate the grassroots supporters for asking Chairman Lumb to […]

Dan GelberJanuary 20, 2015

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Baileygate took a foul turn Sunday from bad political optics to something much more ominous. And the Florida Cabinet and Legislature need to respond accordingly. Longtime cop and FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey was fired by Gov. Rick Scott staffers last month. Initially it was reported that during his reelection campaign, Scott political campaign staffers had […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 20, 2015

It wasn’t that long ago — 2010 perhaps? — when I still eagerly anticipated watching the State of the Union address from Washington. But no mas. In January of 2010, my first year writing for Creative Loafing, the editors thought it would be cool for me to “live-blog” the event. And it was sort of […]

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Supporters celebrate the opening of a wheel-chair accessible playground at Anastasia State Park. Image via Florida State Parks Foundation.

C.W. Bill Young's family and staff inherit a nightmare

Ouster of Florida's top cop dividing Rick Scott and Republicans

Email insights: Lenny Curry gets real, with new bumper sticker

All Aboard the rumor train in Martin County

Marc Yacht: Winter means no sleazy politician can drive me from Florida

Young Jax Republican tossed from meeting bemoans 'divisiveness' of local, national GOP

Northeast Florida law enforcement officials endorse Paul Renner in HD 24

Manufacturing consent: Lenny Curry scores Duval GOP endorsement

Dan Gelber: Baileygate takes an ominous turn

Mitch Perry Report for 1.20.15 — And now for the most disappointing night in American politics