Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschSeptember 3, 2015

Courtesy of the Associated Press’ Gary Fineout who, along with Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida, have a track record of taking on agency heads and staff who make huge gaffes that result in their agencies getting bad press, is the story that dropped Wednesday on how DMS managed to botch a recent My Florida Net2 bid […]

Phil AmmannAugust 18, 2015

Telecommunications giant AT&T named expert political consultant Ian Cotner as new Regional Director of External Affairs. Cotner, with over a decade of experience in the Florida Capitol, will oversee legislative and community affairs projects in the Treasure Coast, Palm Beach, Okeechobee and Glades Counties. He will work with community leaders, legislators and business leaders on […]

Ryan RayAugust 14, 2015

With just two lobbyists in the Cocoa, Fla.-based shop, Spearman Management brought in an estimated $630,000 in governmental consulting fees between April 1 and June 30, according to recently submitted compensation reports. Lobbyist Erin Hellkemp joined firm owner Guy Spearman, III to earn about $370,000 in legislative lobbying fees and $260,000 in executive branch lobbying fees. […]

Ryan RayAugust 13, 2015

Bryant Miller Olive‘s lobbying practice took in an estimated $145,000 between April 1 and June 30, according to recently submitted compensation reports. The firm’s Q2 ledger books are skewed toward executive agency lobbying, a rarity among Tallahassee governmental relations firms. Executive lobbying accounted for $95,000 last quarter, the remaining $50,000 coming from work among Florida […]

Ryan RayAugust 10, 2015

For many political pros, influencing state lawmakers in Tallahassee is more of a side gig. And for some of them, it’s a highly profitable one. For instance: Republican lawyer and curator of Sayfie Review Justin Sayfie took in an estimated $25,000 between April 1 and June 30 from just three executive and two legislative lobbying contracts. City […]

Ryan RayAugust 5, 2015

Telecommunications giant AT&T announced Wednesday they have brought on board Katherine San Pedro as the firm’s Regional Director of External Affairs for Miami-Dade County. San Pedro previously managed the campaign of Republican Rep. Bryan Avila of Hialeah before joining his staff as a legislative aide in the Capitol, the same trajectory she followed after working on Kendall Republican Rep. Jeanette Nunez‘s victorious campaign […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 24, 2015

A Senate bill that shifts from utilities to local government the cost of moving power lines and other utilities in easements for roadway expansions passed a Senate committee on Monday despite opposition from local governments. SB 896 by Sen. Jeff Brades, a Republican from St. Petersburg, was prompted by a dispute between the city of Cape […]

Ryan RayFebruary 24, 2015

Liberty Partners of Tallahassee — led by Jennifer Green, Melanie Shanks Bostick, Ashley Dieguez, and Thomas Hobbs — continues to build on its boutique- t0-mid-size practice unique amid Florida lobbying firms. Its 17 legislative clients and 15 executive clients include Expedia, Humana, AT&T, No Casinos, and the AAA Scholarship Foundation. Though there is no clear common thread between some of them, there is […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 11, 2015

Florida Technology Council, the newest association focused on the state’s fast-growing technology sector, announced today its finalized inaugural board of directors. Founded July 2014, the FTC will advocate on behalf of the state’s information technology industry before both the legislative and executive branches. Founding members are AT&T, SAS, Uber Operations, Kyra InfoTech, Scholastic, Five Points […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 27, 2015

In the State of the Union, President Barack Obama outlined his plan to unleash the power of broadband service to all Americans and the economic rewards expanded broadband service will secure. As outlined in a report released by the White House, “affordable, reliable access to high speed broadband is critical to US economic growth and competitiveness.” The […]

Tag: AT&T

State agency follies continue: This time its DMS’ turn in the barrel

Personnel note: AT&T names Ian Cotner as Regional Director of External Affairs

Guy Spearman’s shop takes home $630K in second-quarter lobbying fees

Bryant Miller Olive collects $145K in Q2 lobbying fees

One-man lobby shops do nicely in 2015 Q2

Personnel note: Katherine San Pedro to join AT&T lobbying team

Cities, counties say bill would stick them with costs for moving roadside utilities

Liberty Partners of Tallahassee brings in as much as $250K in lobbying fees for Q4 2014

Florida Technology Council names inaugural members, executive director

Bill Eberhardt: AT&T merger with DirecTV helps close digital divide