Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 16, 2015

For reasons that no one on hand could guess, mariachi music flooded Hemming Plaza, across from City Hall, in the minutes before the joint press conference of Sheriff John Rutherford and Republican Mayoral Candidate Lenny Curry. One reporter on hand suggested that it sounded the soundtrack of a fight scene in a western movie. And […]

Melissa RossJanuary 16, 2015

It wasn’t your typical night out at the movies. At a recent Jacksonville screening of the MLK biopic Selma, a who’s who of the city’s African-American business and political elite hobnobbed in the crowd, buying popcorn and snapping selfies with the rest of the moviegoers. Community activist Chevara Orrin, the daughter of the late civil […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 16, 2015

Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater will hit the pavement this weekend to support Republican state Rep. Travis Hutson in his campaign for Senate District 6. Atwater will be part of a St. Augustine canvassing event on Saturday, January 17. District 6 covers St. Johns, Flagler and Putnam counties and parts of Volusia County. “I am […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 16, 2015

Bob Buckhorn won’t be refunding money to contributors after all. The Tampa mayor appeared to be on his way to winning re-election automatically today, as no other man or woman had filed to oppose him — until late yesterday afternoon. But that’s when a write-in candidate by the name of Jose Vasquez qualified for the race, though he […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 16, 2015

The field is set for this winter’s municipal elections in Tampa, and there will be no contests in two races. Lisa Montelione in District 7 and Frank Reddick 5 did not have anybody qualify against them by the noon deadline, and thus they have been re-elected for four more years. Here’s how it looks overall. […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 16, 2015

The field is set for this winter’s municipal elections in Tampa, and there will be no contests in two races. Lisa Montelione in District 7 and Frank Reddick 5 did not have anybody qualify against them by the noon deadline, and thus they have been re-elected for four more years. Here’s how it looks overall. […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 16, 2015

Conventional wisdom in political circles in Tampa is that once Charlie Miranda announced a few weeks ago that he would indeed be a candidate in the Tampa City Council citywide District 2 contest, he automatically became the prohibitive favorite to win that contest. That theory is based on the assumption that with his long political life in Tampa (he […]

Gary FineoutJanuary 16, 2015

New reports are showing that taxpayers are paying more to help Florida’s professional sports franchises and the film industry than the state gets in return. State legislators in 2013 ordered auditors and economists to analyze the millions spent by the state on subsidies for businesses. A series of reports issued this month looked at a […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 16, 2015

Less than an hour ago, Bob Buckhorn was all but re-elected to a second term as mayor of his beloved Tampa. All that stands in his way is a tomato can of a write-in candidate to whom Buckhorn should send a thank-you note for entering the race, thereby allowing him the opportunity to expend the nearly […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 16, 2015

The latest development in the removal of Gerald Bailey as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner is playing out on Facebook. Gov. Rick Scott’s office orchestrated Bailey departure and told the veteran lawmen that Scott had the backing of the Florida Cabinet, which oversees the department. Former FDLE Commissioner Jim York has written an […]

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Too little, too Llate: Lenny Curry and Sheriff Rutherford hold anti-Alvin presser

Jacksonville's black Democrats say Alvin Brown carries weight of being 'first'

Jeff Atwater to canvass for Travis Hutson in St. Augustine on Saturday

Bob Buckhorn gets an opponent — sort of — to run against for re-election

Frank Reddick & Lisa Montelione automatically win re-election in Tampa City Council races

Frank Reddick & Lisa Montelione automatically win re-election in Tampa City Council races

Julie Jenkins supporters believe she can beat Charlie Miranda

Taxpayer help for sports and films doesn't add up for state

On Bob Buckhorn's remarkable achievement

Former FDLE commissioner raises more questions about Rick Scott's firing of Gerald Bailey