Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschDecember 18, 2017

The qualifying period for those looking to run for the Clearwater City Council has closed and four candidates have made the cut for a pair of seats up for grabs in the March 13 municipal elections. Seat 4, currently held by termed-out council member Bill Johnson, will be filled by David Allbritton or Tom Keller, while […]

Staff ReportsJuly 24, 2017

Without surprise or intrigue, the full board of Enterprise Florida (EFI) on Monday hired lawyer and Gov. Rick Scott loyalist Pete Antonacci to be its next leader. The former lobbyist had been recommended as the new CEO by the jobs-recruiting agency’s executive committee during a conference call last week. Scott chairs the EFI board of directors as governor. In […]

Terry RoenMarch 7, 2017

Enterprise Florida’s Executive Committee named Mike Grissom interim CEO Tuesday, a day after the embattled agency’s CEO abruptly resigned. Former CEO Chris Hart IV resigned after serving only three months on the job. Stan Connally, vice chairman of the Enterprise board of directors, hastily called the meeting Tuesday and nominated Grissom, who served as interim […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterNovember 30, 2016

A former state lawmaker has been selected to lead Enterprise Florida, a decision that comes as proponents gear up for what could be another difficult year for the public-private economic development agency. The Enterprise Florida Board of Directors on Wednesday voted unanimously to hire Chris Hart IV as the CEO of Enterprise Florida. Hart, the […]

Jim RosicaAugust 4, 2016

Enterprise Florida (EFI), the state’s public-private economic development agency, is aiming to hire a new CEO on a tight timeline — by September. Members of the agency’s search committee held a brief organizational conference call Thursday. Discussing the job ad soon to go out, committee member Carol Craig suggested it make clear they need a candidate “strong on legislative […]

Gary FineoutJuly 25, 2016

Amid a major shakeup pushed by Gov. Rick Scott, the Florida agency responsible for luring jobs to the state is paying nearly a half-million dollars to departing employees. Florida taxpayers are picking up the majority of the cost for severance payments and payouts for unused leave. Records requested by The Associated Press show that 10 […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 11, 2016

In one of his final meetings, Bill Johnson encouraged the business community to keep doing what it can to attract companies to the Sunshine State. “I traveled about 30,000 miles in the last year or so and I’ve been in almost every single county in the state,” said Johnson, the departing head of Enterprise Florida. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 11, 2016

Major changes could be coming to Enterprise Florida. A review of the state’s public-private economic development agency found it could save $6 million through a series of cuts, including slashing 27 positions and reducing operating costs. Gov. Rick Scott in March ordered a review of the state’s public-private economic development organization. The Naples Republican tapped […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 10, 2016

The departing head of the state’s private-public economic development agency will receive more than $132,000 as part of his severance package. The Enterprise Florida board of directors’ executive committee approved Bill Johnson’s severance package during its committee meeting Tuesday. Johnson will receive $132,500. His final day is June 24. Alan Becker, the vice chair of […]

Jim RosicaApril 14, 2016

The next head of Enterprise Florida, the state’s public-private economic development organization, will no longer report directly to Gov. Rick Scott, according to a new Governor’s Office organizational chart. The chart, first unearthed Wednesday by Associated Press Capitol reporter Gary Fineout in his The Fine Print blog, had been quietly posted on the Governor’s Office official website, www.flgov.com. […]

Tag: Bill Johnson

Four candidates qualify for pair of Clearwater City Council seats

It’s official: Pete Antonacci hired as Enterprise Florida CEO

Enterprise Florida names Mike Grissom interim CEO

Chris Hart IV selected as Enterprise Florida CEO

Enterprise Florida looking for new chief by next month

Florida’s jobs agency gives checks to departing employees

Enterprise Florida CEO Bill Johnson: ‘Public-private partnerships play an important role in how we sell Florida’

Enterprise Florida could save $6M through a series of cuts, reorganization

Bill Johnson to receive $132K as part of severance package

Enterprise Florida downgraded in Rick Scott’s new organizational chart