Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersJanuary 8, 2019

Florida’s foresters, land managers and storm recovery crews have more than just the obvious devastation left behind by Hurricane Michael. Now, they must prepare for the potential of massive wildfires, floodplains flooding, and the prospect of devastation by pine beetles. That was part of the sobering message given Tuesday to the Florida Senate Environment and […]

Danny McAuliffeDecember 18, 2018

An election-year shuffle of political players could leave some storm-battered counties without legislative representation ahead of and during the 2019 Session. Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis last week tapped state Rep. Halsey Beshears to serve as the next head of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Beshears, a Monticello Republican, will vacate elected office to take […]

Peter SchorschDecember 15, 2018

With a new statewide gig at a regulatory agency, state Rep. Halsey Beshears is expected to soon vacate his House District 7 seat. It’s a fantastic opportunity for Beshears. But we’re hoping it’s not bad news for the constituents of the sprawling, 10-county district stretches across most of the counties hit hardest by Hurricane Michael. […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 7, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott on Friday rolled out two VISIT FLORIDA Hurricane Michael assistance programs to offer “critical relief and support” to storm-ravaged Panhandle and Big Bend counties. Per a media release: “The Tourism Recovery Grant Program for Hurricane Michael and Hurricane Michael Recovery Marketing Program are available to Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Taylor, […]

Scott PowersSeptember 24, 2018

Vacation rental home business is surging even in Florida’s rural counties, according to a new report from the vacation rental-home marketing firm Airbnb, which showed its business growth had more than doubled in the past year in small counties across the state. Released Monday morning, the report states that Airbnb’s business in the Sunshine State’s […]

Drew WilsonAugust 2, 2018

It’s no secret that state Rep. Loranne Ausley has her eyes on Senate District 3, and on Wednesday she made those ambitions official by filing for the seat. Florida Division of Elections records show she opened a campaign account for the 2020 cycle and also filed the required paperwork to solicit funds for the race […]

Phil AmmannApril 11, 2018

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. On: Holly Maxwell is the committee receptionist for Senate Appropriations. Off: Jay Shannon and Jacob Flaherty are no longer legislative assistants for Fort Lauderdale Democratic Sen. Gary Farmer. Off: Marilyn Barnes is no longer […]

Drew WilsonApril 2, 2018

Tallahassee City Commissioner Scott Maddox’s 2020 state Senate campaign showed its first signs of life in months: It helped him pay for lawyers. Maddox is one of the central figures in an FBI investigation into City Hall that’s been going on since 2015, and recent movement points toward the bureau laying out the case for […]

Peter SchorschMarch 26, 2018

State Sen. Montford, a Tallahassee Democrat, had said he would announce a decision on running for mayor of Tallahassee this past weekend, but a spokesman said the longtime elected official has not yet made up his mind. Montford did not respond to calls and messages left Sunday. Montford, 70, was a popular school principal, Leon […]

Staff ReportsMarch 24, 2018

One of the state’s premier breweries just got a lot closer to the Capitol. Proof Brewing Company announced this week it would move its operations to an old Coca-Cola Bottling Company building on South Monroe Street, within walking distance of downtown Tallahassee and Cascades Park. The brewery is now housed in a former warehouse in […]

Tag: Bill Montford
Sunshine Linda-Marie Grund,

The four Hurricane Michael disasters: storm, long-term flooding, fire threat, pine beetle

Leon lawmakers plan for Halsey Beshears’ absence

Takeaways from Tallahassee — When it matters most

VISIT FLORIDA ponies up for Panhandle, Big Bend

Airbnb report: Vacation rental home activity surges in rural Florida

Loranne Ausley files to succeed Bill Montford in 2020

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Scott Maddox spends campaign cash on lawyers

Bill Montford still on the fence on TLH mayoral run

Takeaways from Tallahassee — A brewer gets bigger