Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 23, 2015

Like so many others, I am really worried about my friend Nick Iarossi, one of the founders of the lobbying firm Capital City Consulting. As Jim Rosica reported Tuesday, gambling giant Las Vegas Sands is abandoning its push for a destination casino resort in Florida. Part of thie move includes Sands canceling its contract with […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 17, 2015

For its newly launched Broward County office, lobbying firm Ballard Partners said Thursday it has hired government relations and fundraising expert Stephanie Grutman. Grutman brings more than 17 years of experience, which included being one of Politics Magazine’s most influential Democrats in Florida for 2009. She also spent four years as finance director of Senate […]

Ryan RayAugust 25, 2015

Lobbyist Brian Ballard is poised to expand his headquarters as a man about Tallahassee a few blocks over to Monroe Street, downtown’s main artery: As first reported in the Tallahassee Democrat, the Ballard Partners principal has a six-story office complex in the works. “We love being a part of the fine fabric of Tallahassee, where we have raised our family and […]

Peter SchorschAugust 5, 2015

The fantasy sports industry is turning to one of Florida’s most prominent governmental affairs firms for a real-world assist with state government. DraftKings Inc., FanDuel Inc., and the Fantasy Sports Trade Association have retained Ballard Partners to represent them before the Florida Legislature and the executive branch. DraftKings, based in Boston, and FanDuel, operating from New […]

Peter SchorschJune 22, 2015

There are few people in Florida politics with more influence than Susie Wiles. She’s a managing partner for mega-lobbyist Brian Ballard; she ran the 2010 campaign of little-known outsider, now two-term Gov. Rick Scott; and she has been a gubernatorial appointee to the Republican Party of Florida’s Executive Committee. Wiles’ reach extends outside of Florida […]

Tag: Brian Ballard
Now it's time for Florida to start cleaning up.

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

Poor Nick Iarossi: What will top lobbyist do after losing Las Vegas Sands as a client?

Personnel note: Stephanie Grutman joins Ballard Partners’ new Broward office

Brian Ballard unveils downtown Tallahassee redevelopment project

DraftKings, FanDuel, Fantasy Sports association draft Ballard Partners for lobbying assist

Tax troubles for Jacksonville insider Susie Wiles?