Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaAugust 10, 2016

Incoming House Democratic Leader Janet Cruz of Tampa has let go two top staffers as she remakes the chamber’s Minority Office. Its staff director, 17-year House veteran Durward Brewer, and communications director Paul Flemming have been released, Cruz said Wednesday. Taking Brewer’s place will be Joe McCann, a lobbyist and former senior VP at the Ballard Partners lobbying firm and a […]

Peter SchorschJuly 21, 2016

The last time supporters of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio gathered in Tallahassee it was to “bring the family together” in advance of Super Tuesday and update supporters on how they could help the then-presidential candidate’s White House bid. That was before Donald Trump won the Florida primary and dashed Rubio’s hopes — for now — of moving to 1600 […]

Associated PressMarch 14, 2016

Florida lawmakers went home when they were supposed to this year. That alone made the 2016 Legislative Session more successful than last year. In an often contentious process where far more bills die than go to the governor, it was a rare year in Tallahassee. How so? Lawmakers passed restrictions on abortion and killed a […]

Rosanne DunkelbergerFebruary 18, 2016

“Sticks and bricks” were on the agenda at Tallahassee’s “Emerging Trends in Real Estate,” seminar where updates were given on seven major development efforts totaling more than $1 billion. Nearly 200 people attended, representing a variety of interests including commercial real estate, banking, engineering, city, county and state government, and construction. It was held at the University Center Club, […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 9, 2016

Florida State University’s newly minted Jim Moran School of Entrepreneurship is coming to Monroe Street in Tallahassee thanks to lobbying heavyweight Brian Ballard and his wife Kathryn, an FSU trustee. “We are so excited and proud to support the Jim Moran School of Entrepreneurship,” Kathryn Ballard said. “This will be a special place for FSU […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 15, 2016

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Jeb Bush, fresh off a record-breaking fundraising effort, celebrated in July with major donors at an exclusive two-day conference in Kennebunkport, Maine. It was there the former governor boasted his $114 million hauls were “only the beginning.” That was last year. Months later, and weeks before the first votes in Iowa and New Hampshire, Bush […]

Peter SchorschDecember 23, 2015

The 2015 holiday season marks a quiet before the storm in Florida politics, before the lawmakers and lobbyists take over Tallahassee in January and the high drama of Jeb Bush vs. Marco Rubio and the rest of the GOP presidential field reaches its primary crescendo. So this year, before the annual rites and rituals of “The Process” come to […]

Associated PressDecember 8, 2015

Want a sure bet? The gambling agreement between Gov. Rick Scott and the Seminole Tribe is going to face changes during the next three months – if it’s approved at all. The deal signed Tuesday calls for a guaranteed $3 billion over seven years for Florida in exchange for the state agreeing to limit the […]

Peter SchorschNovember 6, 2015

A leading Florida fundraiser who initially backed Jeb Bush‘s campaign is publicly withdrawing support over Bush’s ongoing attacks on Sen. Marco Rubio. Brian Ballard, a lobbyist in Tallahassee who donated $20,000 to the pro-Bush super PAC Right to Rise USA, told Politico on Thursday that he had privately abandoned Bush earlier but wanted to make his concerns […]

Peter SchorschOctober 22, 2015

I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting with Andy Gardiner at his home, but, based on his tenure as president of the Florida Senate, I have to wonder whether his house has working electricity, much less cable or Wi-Fi. That’s because Gardiner hates technology. To employ one of Daniel Ruth‘s gimmicks, Gardiner apparently represents the […]

Tag: Brian Ballard
Universal Orlando Resort

Janet Cruz shakes up House Dems office, hires Joe McCann

Marco Rubio’s major Tallahassee fundraiser planned for August 22

Unlike 2015, Florida lawmakers go home happy, on time

Wayne Tower, err, the new Ballard building highlights ULI presentation

Brian, Kathryn Ballard donate building to FSU Moran School of Entrepreneurship

Anxious Jeb Bush donors await signal it’s time to move on

This holiday season is brought to you by these Florida lobbyists and political associations

Gambling deal with Seminole Tribe still has long way to go

Jeb Bush fundraiser Brian Ballard defects over attacks on Marco Rubio

Senate President Andy Gardiner hates technology