Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaOctober 22, 2015

Ask around about Nicholas Scher and you start hearing the same words over and over: “genuine,” “hard-working,” “committed.” Though he’s now cracking the casebooks as a law student at St. Thomas University in South Florida, the 25-year-old has paid his political dues as Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera‘s personal assistant. He was responsible for Lopez-Cantera’s daily briefings, having to research various policies, but […]

Melissa RossOctober 22, 2015

Transitioning from the Republican to the Democratic side of the aisle, 25-year-old Jared Rosenstein is wining raves for his work on the staff of another Jared, state Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Coral Springs. “I got into politics during the 2008 presidential election. I was proudly supporting Sen. John McCain and I discovered that the vast majority of […]

Jim RosicaOctober 22, 2015

In both public service and the private sector, Ryan Reiter has set himself apart from the pack. “Exceptionally bright, courteous, responsible and compassionate” is how one person explained why the 29-year-old former Marine merits inclusion in this year’s “30 Under 30” crowd. As an aide to Broward County Commissioner Chip LaMarca, he coordinated a free bus-pass program for low-income […]

Jim RosicaOctober 22, 2015

It’s been a busy year for Sara Johnson. Since joining the anti-gambling expansion No Casinos team in early January, Johnson has spoken to more than 35 civic groups, radio shows and political clubs, along with a bevy of community leaders. The 21-year-old got an early introduction to hectic paces. At 14, she attended her first TeenPact Leadership class and learned […]

Ryan RayOctober 22, 2015

I am … 25 years young. I live in … Sarasota/Tallahassee. I got into politics because … My family exposed me to the power of community organizing as a child. My great-grandmother along with a group of other concerned citizens helped desegregate the public beaches in Sarasota in the 1950s by organizing caravans of people who went […]

Mitch PerryOctober 22, 2015

The 28-year-old Berny Jacques is an assistant state attorney for Florida’s 6th Judicial Circuit, but is a pure political animal, also chairman of the Young Floridians for Opportunity PAC. A native of Haiti who immigrated to the states when he was 7, he got his first opportunity when U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart brought him on […]

Jim RosicaOctober 21, 2015

Just reading Chelsi Henry‘s online biography can you make you out of breath, realizing all she’s accomplished at the age of 27. She’s a lawyer (Florida Coastal School of Law, 2013) as well as “entrepreneur, columnist, political strategist, motivational speaker, and business consultant,” her website says. Add to that government official. She’s a former supervisor of the Duval Soil and Water Conservation […]

Jim RosicaOctober 21, 2015

Friends say Taylor Nix Hatch personifies enthusiasm, which isn’t surprising since she was a cheerleader at Florida State University. The 28-year-old now is Director of Legislative Affairs, or top in-house lobbyist, for the Department of Management Services, the state’s real estate manager. Before that, she was the Deputy Legislative Affairs Director at the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. […]

Ryan RayOctober 21, 2015

Harrison Grandwilliams didn’t take the most common path to becoming a young man of note in Broward politics, but in a way, that makes him classically Floridian. The chief legislative aide to Broward County Commissioner Beam Furr came to South Florida by way of Long Island, New York and New College of Florida, a small liberal arts […]

Jim RosicaOctober 21, 2015

Andy Gonzalez knows fundraising. He’s director of political development at the Florida Chamber of Commerce, where he “coordinates fundraising efforts for the Florida Chamber’s Political Action Committees (PACs).” Gonzalez “works to ensure Floridians continue to elect pro-business, pro-jobs leaders with clear positions on job creation and economic growth,” the Chamber’s website says. Before that, he was was […]

Tag: 30 under 30

Meet Nick Scher, one of the “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics

Meet Jared Rosenstein, one of the “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics

Meet Ryan Reiter, one of the “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics

Meet Sara Johnson, one of the “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics

Meet Edward James, one of “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics

Meet Berny Jacques, one of the “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics

Meet Chelsi Henry, one of the “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics

Meet Taylor Nix Hatch, one of the “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics

Meet Harrison Grandwilliams, one of the “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics

Meet Andy Gonzalez, one of the “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics