Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 11, 2018

Newly-elected state Sen. Ed Hooper has a lot of plans for his term in office, but the first order of business is finding an office. While hunting for real estate is a necessary first detail, the Pinellas Republican is still laying the groundwork to implement some of his priorities. The former state Representative bested Democrat Amanda […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 31, 2018

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Senate candidate Lindsay Cross wants voters to know the current Republican-led Legislature’s spending priorities are far scarier than ghosts and goblins this Halloween. Cross took to Facebook donning a wolf mask Wednesday in condemnation of conservative priorities. Cross is running against incumbent District 24 Senator Jeff Brandes, a Libertarian-leaning Republican. “It’s clear that your priorities […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 2, 2018

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn is the center of the latest Janet Cruz television ad that will be featured on broadcast and cable channels throughout the coming weeks. The ad launched Tuesday. It shows the two-term mayor in black and white, standing in a bare room. “My friend Janet Cruz embodies what it means to be […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorSeptember 20, 2018

House Democratic Leader Janet Cruz, now challenging GOP state Sen. Dana Young for her Senate District 18 seat, is attacking her opponent’s record on education policy and funding. “Dammit Dana, stop,” Cruz lamented at a press conference in front of Plant High School in south Tampa on Tuesday. Cruz was referring to Young’s track record voting in […]

Scott PowersSeptember 8, 2018

The Florida Supreme Court on Friday deep-sixed a contentious proposed constitutional amendment dealing with schools from the November ballot, agreeing with a lower court that the proposal’s intentions toward charter schools were poorly worded. As a result of the Supreme Court’s 4-3 decision Friday, Amendment 8, which covers several education matters, will not be presented […]

Michael MolineSeptember 5, 2018

A critic of Florida’s proposed victims’ right amendment suggested Wednesday that the Florida Supreme Court should block the Constitution Revision Commission from combining multiple proposals into single revisions to place before the voters. Such “bundling” gives voters a choice to swallow provisions they don’t like to enact those that they do, litigator Harvey Sepler said during […]

Drew WilsonAugust 20, 2018

Leon County Judge John Cooper on Monday ordered a contentious education amendment removed from the November ballot. Amendment 8 bundled three education issues of varying popularity. It would set eight-year term limits for county school board members; require “civic literacy” to be promoted in public schools, and would strip school boards of their sole authority […]

Michael MolineAugust 17, 2018

A Leon County judge indicated Friday that he hopes to rule by Monday on whether to strip from the November ballot a proposed constitutional amendment that could deprive county school boards of oversight of charter schools. “I hesitate to overpromise and under deliver, but my goal is to have this decided by Monday morning,” Circuit […]

Peter SchorschAugust 11, 2018

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Charter chalks a win The Leon County School District suffered a bruising defeat this week when an appeal panel unanimously recommended the state overturn the county’s decision to block a new charter school from setting up shop in the county. The Charter School Appeal Commission, composed evenly of traditional public and […]

Scott PowersAugust 9, 2018

Three Democratic Orange County lawmakers joined with the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association Thursday to bash Republican Gov. Rick Scott‘s record on public education. Outside the offices of the Orange County Public Schools headequarters in Orlando, State Sen. Victor Torres and state Reps. Carlos Guillermo Smith and Amy Mercado all went after the governor for […]

Tag: charter schools

After contentious election, Ed Hooper lays out Senate priorities

‘Werewolf’ Lindsay Cross: Republican spending priorities are scary

Bob Buckhorn stars in Janet Cruz TV ad

‘Dammit Dana’: Janet Cruz blasts opponent Dana Young’s education record

Charter schools amendment stricken from November ballot

Florida Supreme Court hears arguments over Amendments 6, 8

Education amendment struck from November ballot—for now

Judge promises quick ruling in dispute over education amendment

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Charter chalks a win

Victor Torres, Carlos Smith, Amy Mercado rip Rick Scott on education