Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannJuly 8, 2015

One of the Florida Capitol’s most respected insiders, Deborah Gallay, died on Tuesday, July 7. She was 66. Gallay’s extensive public service career included positions in the Executive Office of the Governor, the Department of Education and Board of Regents, which later became the Board of Governors and staff director of Senate Finance & Taxation. Never […]

Daniel TilsonApril 22, 2015

Gov. Scott finally got busy addressing big issues this week. Not serious, mind you, just busy. Lots of finger-pointing, no problem-solving With President Barack Obama visiting South Florida and using the Everglades as backdrop to observe Earth Day, Scott refused the White House’s invitation to participate. Why risk hearing any inflammatory words or phrases. Climate […]

Daniel TilsonApril 6, 2015

Looks like Gov. Rick Scott wants to “keep working” past January 2018. That’s when our next governor gets inaugurated. But that doesn’t mean the term-limited Scott wants to give us a break. Think you’ll need some Scott-free psychic space where you can look back in anger and heal the wounds his administration inflicted on you […]

Marc YachtMarch 30, 2015

The late Johnny Cash sang, “Don’t take your guns to town, son. Leave your guns at home….” I would suspect that the Second Amendment crowd might boycott his music today. Guns on campus are on the Florida legislative fast tract. Florida Senate Bill 176 and House Bill 4005 allow students with concealed weapons permits to […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 6, 2015

Citizens Property Insurance Corp.’s Board of Governors on Friday approved a deal to consolidate the company’s information technology and other functions to the EverBank Center in downtown Jacksonville. The planned move of the state-run insurer, scheduled for completion by the end of the year, will improve efficiencies and communication by bringing most Citizens employees together at a […]

Ryan RayJanuary 24, 2015

Former Rick Scott Director of External Affairs Carrie O’Rourke has landed one of the plum positions in Florida politics: She’s the new John Sebree. O’Rourke is leaving her position as vice chancellor for governmental affairs at the Florida Board of Governors to become the vice president of public policy for the Florida Association of Realtors. […]

Ryan RayJanuary 24, 2015

Former Rick Scott Director of External Affairs Carrie O’Rourke has landed one of the plum positions in Florida politics: She’s the new John Sebree. O’Rourke is leaving her position as vice chancellor for governmental affairs at the Florida Board of Governors to become the vice president of public policy for the Florida Association of Realtors. […]

Martin DyckmanDecember 15, 2014

If Jeb Bush runs for president, as he most likely will, one of his signature issues, education, will get him hammered from both sides. The Republican Party’s tea bag wing is unforgiving – so far – over his embrace of the Common Core standards even though the federal government has had almost nothing to do with them. […]

Peter SchorschNovember 8, 2014

State Sen. John Thrasher, Florida State University’s soon-to-be president, submitted his letter of resignation from the Legislature on Monday. His departure is effective midnight Sunday. The move set off a series of political events, beginning with formal filings by Republican state Reps. Ronald “Doc” Renuart and Travis Hutson to run for Thrasher’s Senate District 6 […]

Tag: Board of Governors

Longtime Florida educational policy insider Deborah Gallay dies

Daniel Tilson: In Rick Scott's Florida, if the flooding doesn't get you, lack of health insurance will

Daniel Tilson: Gov. Rick Scott angling for Sen. Bill Nelson's seat in 2018

Marc J. Yacht: Concealed weapons on campus — tragedy in the making!

Citizens Board OKs move to Jax EverBank Center

Carrie O’Rourke lands plum position at Florida Association of Realtors

Carrie O'Rourke lands plum position at Florida Association of Realtors

Martin Dyckman: Jeb might have an education problem in 2016

John Thrasher submits resignation letter, Travis Hutson, Doc Renuart angle for his seat