Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaApril 20, 2017

Senate Rules Chair Lizbeth Benacquisto has appointed the chamber’s top lawyer to investigate a complaint by next Tuesday seeking to remove Sen. Frank Artiles from office. Senate President Joe Negron announced the move Wednesday in a memo to senators. Benacquisto “found that the complaint states facts supporting a finding of probable cause,” meaning it’s more likely […]

Mitch PerryApril 19, 2017

Florida Democratic Minority House Leader Janet Cruz is calling for Miami Republican Sen. Frank Artiles to step down, following the outrage over published remarks of his racist comments to black Democratic lawmakers. “Frank Artiles’ comments Monday night transcend politics and get to the idea of who we are as people,” said the Tampa Representative in a statement issued late […]

Jim RosicaApril 19, 2017

Surrounded by fellow black and Democratic lawmakers, Sen. Perry Thurston announced Wednesday he had filed a complaint to remove fellow Sen. Frank Artiles from the Senate. In a move sure to send chills through the Capitol’s lobbying corps, he suggested influencers who were within earshot when Artiles went on his tirade in the private Governors […]

Florence SnyderApril 19, 2017

On a busy day of hearings in a busy week of the legislative session, a south Florida woman wanted a picture of herself and a friend and the rain pouring outside the Knott Building. She scanned the immediate vicinity for a friendly face, and held her iPhone out to Jacksonville’s Audrey Gibson. Plainly the tourist […]

Mitch PerryApril 19, 2017

Andrew Gillum is refusing to forgive Miami Republican Frank Artiles, who apologized on the Senate floor Wednesday for using the N-word toward two black lawmakers. The Tallahassee mayor, an African-American who is running for governor next year, says Artiles needs to resign from the Florida Senate. “We have struggled with days when these words were too common,” Gillum […]

Jim RosicaApril 19, 2017

Democratic Sen. Perry Thurston on Wednesday said “there will be consequences” for fellow Sen. Frank Artiles after he spouted insults and used a form of a racial epithet in front of Thurston and Sen. Audrey Gibson Monday night. “We’ve got a (Legislative Black) Caucus meeting” later today, Thurston said. “After that, I’m sure there will […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 19, 2017

When looking for evidence of racism, sexism, and vulgarity, you don’t have to look farther than Tallahassee. Consider the example of Sen. Frank Artiles, who plumbed the depths of all three in an unhinged string of expletives directed primarily to Sen. Audrey Gibson. The Miami Herald, writing about this, made the indelicate decision to quote Artiles directly. “Miami […]

Peter SchorschApril 19, 2017

My father-in-law being a U.S. Marine, I’ve learned not to use the past tense to describe his service. Even at 67 years old, my father-in-law is a Marine, not was a Marine. Republican state Senate Frank Artiles is a Marine, not was a Marine. Volunteering to serve our country shows Artiles has far more courage than I’ve […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 11, 2017

March offered northeast Florida’s state legislators a window to fundraise before the Legislative Session kicked off. Some took advantage of it, such as state Sen. Aaron Bean, who brought in $11,000 via $500 and $1,000 checks on Mar. 6. The Fernandina Beach Republican spent over $7,000 in March, including over $1,000 with Wal-Mart, and $1,497 […]

Jim RosicaApril 3, 2017

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Let freedom pour: Bills aimed at changing beer and booze regulations in Florida have cleared their latest review panel. The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee OK’d measures that would allow beer distributors to give free branded beer glasses to bars and restaurants, authorize beer companies to advertise in theme parks and let craft distillers sell more […]

Tag: Audrey Gibson

Senate sets tight timeline on Frank Artiles investigation

Janet Cruz latest Democrat to call for Frank Artiles resignation

Black lawmaker seeks to remove Frank Artiles from Senate

Florence Snyder: Let’s hope someone loves Frank Artiles enough to get him some help

Andrew Gillum: Frank Artiles needs to go

Perry Thurston says ‘there will be consequences’ for Frank Artiles

How ‘F-bomb’ Frank Artiles shamed the Florida Senate

Of course, Frank Artiles should resign. Does the Senate have the steel to make that happen?

Keith Perry, Audrey Gibson pace northeast Florida fundraising in March

Bottoms up: Beer, booze bills clear Senate committee