Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 13, 2017

A bill filed Friday in the Florida House would mandate police, correctional, and fire departments to have career development paths for employees. House Bill 247, filed by first-term Palatka Republican Bobby Payne, would require that agencies offer these career development plans, but would also have those plans be “voluntary” for public safety employees. The bill would […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 16, 2016

Yet another freshman legislator from Northeast Florida beat the Christmas rush and filed for re-election in 2018. House District 19 Rep. Bobby Payne, a Palatka Republican who cruised to a 45 point victory over Democrat Hubert Snodgrass in November, filed for re-election on Thursday. Payne, who survived a competitive primary against former RPOF Chair Leslie Dougher and Katherine Van […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 8, 2016

Northeast Florida finally has clarity on what its legislative delegation for the next two years will look like, as a panoply of new faces, along with one holdover, won emphatic mandates for election. Many of the races — such as the ones won by Cord Byrd in House District 11, Clay Yarborough in HD 12, Rep. […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 28, 2016

Before Aug. 30, Palatka’s Bobby Payne was overshadowed in the HD 19 GOP primary by his two high-profile opponents, former RPOF Chair Leslie Dougher and Katherine Van Zant. Since the primary in the safely Republican district, establishment money has quickly consolidated behind Payne. In the period from Oct. 8 to Oct. 21, Payne received $35,250 of his total $161,240 […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 7, 2016

In the GOP primary in House District 19, nominee Bobby Payne was overshadowed, ironically enough, by his defeated opponents. Former RPOF Chair Leslie Dougher and Katherine Van Zant, the wife of the incumbent, got the bulk of the coverage. And Van Zant dominated the fundraising race. However, Payne ended up taking the election, and the Palatka Republican’s fundraising […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 29, 2016

On Thursday, the Northeast Florida Builders Association rolled out its general election endorsements. The NEFBA slate is heavy on incumbents and people either running unopposed or poised to win safe elections. The most interesting endorsement: Reggie Fullwood, the indicted incumbent in House District 13, instead of Republican pastor Mark Griffin. Fullwood was the only Democrat to get the […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 5, 2016

Most people outside of Putnam County never saw it coming until the very end. In the House District 19 race to succeed Charles Van Zant, expectations were that Katherine Van Zant or former Florida GOP chair Leslie Dougher would win. Both had bigger names. Van Zant had more money. An interested party made sure that media throughout Northeast […]

Peter SchorschJuly 19, 2016

An invitation to a fundraiser for several legislative candidates has some wondering if it’s part of a larger drama surrounding three Republicans’ ambitions to serve as Florida House Speaker. Billed as an “Evening with Florida Republican House Candidates,” the event is slated for Aug. 11 in Orlando. The invitation to the event is emblazoned with the logos of nine GOP […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 12, 2016

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April’s fundraising story in the House District 19 GOP primary is familiar: Katherine Van Zant is well ahead, and Bobby Payne and Leslie Dougher trail. New money totaling $7,607 in April brought Van Zant, the wife of the incumbent Charles Van Zant, up to $137,740 raised. All told, Van Zant has just over $103,000 on hand. Much of Van […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 10, 2016

In House District 19, it’s all but certain that the Republican primary winner will replace Charles Van Zant in Tallahassee. If a new survey of 582 likely voters is valid, that seat will stay in the family. An internal poll of HD 19 likely primary voters shows Katherine Van Zant, wife of the term-limited incumbent, well ahead of […]

Tag: Bobby Payne

House bill would mandate career development for police, fire departments

Bobby Payne files for re-election in HD 19

New faces abound in Duval Legislative Delegation

Money finds former darkhorse candidate Bobby Payne in HD 19 race

Establishment money lines up behind HD 19 Republican Bobby Payne

Northeast Florida Builders roll out general election endorsements

Bobby Payne’s HD 19 victory surprised outsiders, but not him

No, these are not House candidates pledged to Randy Fine’s (unofficial) bid for Speaker

GOP candidate Katherine Van Zant extends HD 19 money lead

Internal poll shows Katherine Van Zant leading in HD 19 GOP race