Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Daniel TilsonSeptember 30, 2014

If you or folks you know are tuning out Florida’s 2014 midterm elections and don’t plan to vote, we need to talk. No worries, there’ll be no scolding. No finger wagging or whining about your civic duty. No repetition of the “If you don’t vote, don’t complain!” line. Far as I’m concerned, you never lose […]

Daniel TilsonSeptember 24, 2014

Can Florida politics succeed where sports has failed? Can we get a grip on dangerous social reality, recognize the seriousness of the challenge, and take the right actions to meet it? When news first broke about Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice’s violent abuse of his fiancée, the NFL swept it under the artificial turf. […]

Daniel TilsonSeptember 14, 2014

The failure of Gov. Rick Scott and Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Adam Putnam to develop and advance energy policies in the public’s best interests should give Floridians ample nonpartisan reason to vote them out of office. Within months of taking office in January 2011, Scott had eliminated the Energy and Climate Commission, turning its […]

Daniel TilsonSeptember 9, 2014

I’ve taken an unofficial follow-up poll in Florida’s big Election 2014 Rick Scott-Charlie Crist race. As in 2010, it was a one-person poll done face-to-face with my sometimes car mechanic. Call him Bobby. Four years ago it was accidental, a pre-repair test drive conversation that touched on the upcoming gubernatorial election, with Chief Financial Officer […]

Daniel TilsonSeptember 4, 2014

Let’s forget Democratic and Republican dogma for a bit. Or at least overlook it. Let’s ignore Left vs. Right labeling systems used by media pundits and campaign consultants to generate storylines and get grudge match juices flowing. Let’s put the blame game that dominates the political arena aside for a while. If nothing else, consider […]

Daniel TilsonSeptember 1, 2014

If most of Florida’s lower and middle-income working families were represented and protected by trade unions, Labor Day would be one hell of a big, statewide block party. Parades would wind along thoroughfares of cities large and small, honoring Organized Labor’s historic struggle for social justice and economic fairness, and celebrating its transformative success. Men, […]

Daniel TilsonAugust 27, 2014

Maybe it’s time Florida took a cue from Los Angeles and considered making election ballots double as lottery tickets. Statewide turnout in this week’s primary elections was 17.55 percent, lowest since 1998. In Southeast Florida’s three Democratic Party strongholds, it was worse. Miami-Dade’s turnout was 14.4 percent, Palm Beach County’s was 12 percent and Broward’s […]

Daniel TilsonAugust 25, 2014

Here in August 2014, 50 years after the historic “Mississippi Summer of 1964” helped propel America forward in search of Civil Rights progress, I’m literally brought to tears by what has happened in Ferguson, Mo. They’re tears of both grief and rage, just like they were 50 years ago. My first cousin Karen (now a […]

Daniel TilsonAugust 18, 2014

The excitement so many Florida families feel at the start of a new school year is increasingly tinged, if not outright singed, by burning controversy and conflict over how best to fund, manage and deliver public school education. Like plenty of parents, I keep concerns about our public schools under my hat, leaving our 8-year-old […]

Daniel TilsonAugust 12, 2014

There’s an important primary election coming up Aug. 26, and early voting has already started in many areas. John Paul Alvarez is a Democrat running for state representative in House District 100. He faces three opponents. Two are candidates. The third is the Florida political system. Although I’ve done some past paid communications work for […]

Tag: Daniel Tilson

Daniel Tilson: Here’s why you should vote in the Florida election on Nov. 4

Daniel Tilson: Ray Rice, Jameis Winston and Rick Scott: New normals?

Daniel Tilson: Energy failures from Adam Putnam and Rick Scott

Daniel Tilson: An unofficial Crist-Scott poll — my mechanic is leaning to the right

Daniel Tilson: Choosing the pragmatic over the political in Florida election 2014

Daniel Tilson: Reimagining Labor Day in Florida

Daniel Tilson: Who cares about Florida voter apathy anyway?

Daniel Tilson: Ferguson shows how far we’ve come — in wrong direction

Daniel Tilson: Florida’s public schools open under siege

Daniel Tilson: House District 100 election offers Democrats an opportunity