Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiNovember 2, 2017

Jacksonville Beach has been strafed by two hurricanes in the last 13 months — Matthew and Irma. And now state money is requested for dune restoration. On Thursday, Republican Rep. Cord Byrd filed an appropriations request for $2 million for coastal hardening via dune restoration. The money, if approved, would come out of the Department of Environmental […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 26, 2017

On Thursday, the House Select Committee on Hurricane Response and Preparedness heard about issues affecting Florida during Irma, including petroleum supplies and electric utilities. This informational meeting set the table for the future of the committee, with no action items Thursday. Wes Maul, the interim director of the Division of Emergency Management, addressed fuel shortages. […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 23, 2017

In Nov. 2016, Cord Byrd won election to the state House with 98 percent of the vote against a write-in. The real action was in the GOP primary for what was an open seat. Next month, Byrd begins ramping up his House District 11 re-election campaign in earnest, with few worries about a primary challenge as […]

Peter SchorschOctober 20, 2017

Will Frank White turn the Republican primary for Attorney General into a real race? The freshman state Representative from Pensacola just got two more endorsements, from his fellow House Republicans Cyndi Stevenson of St. Johns and Cord Byrd of Neptune Beach. Meantime, Jacksonville state Rep. Jay Fant, the only other GOP contender, had to pump $750,000 into his […]

Jim RosicaOctober 18, 2017

Tobacco companies are hoping next year’s try at a bond cap repeal doesn’t go up in smoke. Legislation that would do away with the limit on the amount of money tobacco companies have to put up as appellate bonds has again been filed, this time for the 2018 Legislative Session. The one-line bill (SB 124) simply repeals the section […]

Jim RosicaOctober 10, 2017

A House investigative panel Tuesday found that Miami-Dade Rep. Daisy Baez likely broke member residency rules. The Select Committee on Member Conduct decided to refer Baez’s case to the Public Integrity and Ethics Committee for the equivalent of a trial. A finding of “probable cause,” required for further proceedings, means it is more likely than not that a violation […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 9, 2017

September’s Hurricane Irma soaked Northeast Florida — and put a damper on state House race fundraising as well. Though the usual caveats apply here (mostly incumbents in safely-drawn seats), there wasn’t a lot of action in September fundraising. The exception: a big-money race in House District 15, where Republican Wyman Duggan brought in $10,650, and Democrat Tracye […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 14, 2017

August historically isn’t a hot month for political fundraising, and the Irma aftermath may make some readers forget about politics. However, politics goes on — and in that context, a look at Northeast Florida fundraising, broken down by candidate category. Attorney General Rep. Jay Fant continued to struggle raising funds in August, bringing in just over […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 24, 2017

Whether Democratic state Rep. Daisy Baez actually lives in South Florida’s House District 114 will be investigated by a select House subcommittee on member conduct. A Thursday memo from Speaker Richard Corcoran agreed there is “probable cause” for an inquiry, in response to an earlier memo earlier from Rep. Larry Metz, chair of the Public Integrity and Ethics Committee. The […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 19, 2017

As we continue to read the tea leaves in the current Florida House Speaker’s race, we see evidence of how Northeast Florida is folding in behind Paul Renner. The latest example: an email sent out by Renner on behalf of Rep. Jason Fischer, pitching a big-dollar fundraiser with a deep host committee and an even more interesting […]

Tag: Cord Byrd

$2M ask for Jax Beach coastal hardening

House hurricane committee mulls what went wrong during, after Irma

Cord Byrd to ramp up re-election bid in November

We might have an AG race: Frank White snags more endorsements

Tobacco bond cap repeal teed up again in Legislature

Daisy Baez residency investigation moves to trial

Except for HD 15, slow September House fundraising in NE Florida

Northeast Florida candidates’ fundraising in August: Some sizzled, some fizzled

Special House panel will investigate Daisy Baez residency

Paul Renner headlining major fundraiser for Jason Fischer