Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschNovember 16, 2017

Gubernatorial candidates raised big bucks last month, none more so than Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam who added $1.2 million between his campaign and committee accounts. Putnam raised $571,932 of that sum through his campaign account and another $616,235 through his political committee, Florida Grown. The former congressman and state lawmaker spent a combined $466,801 from […]

Michael MolineOctober 2, 2017

James Kotas is leaving FCCI Insurance Group to lobby for Darden Concepts Inc., a national restaurant chain with brands that include The Capital Grille, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Olive Garden. He becomes a manager of state and local government relations for 23 eastern states. The department will comprise three employees, including Kotas’ counterpart on the West Coast. […]

Peter SchorschApril 15, 2017

Grab your bonnet, pull out the seersucker and get ready for a good-old-fashion Easter egg hunt. Americans are expected to spend about $18.4 billion on Easter this year, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey. That projection is 6 percent higher than last year’s record of $17.3 billion and marks an all-time high in […]

Drew WilsonNovember 16, 2016

Orlando-based Darden Restaurants announced Wednesday that it added former fast food executive Nana Mensah to its board. Darden board chair Chuck Sonsteby said he and his colleagues “are delighted to welcome Nana to the board.” With Mensah’s appointment, Darden expanded its board to eight seats. “His extensive restaurant operations background, both domestically and internationally, coupled […]

Scott PowersJuly 20, 2016

Darden Restaurants lost a tax dispute with Orange County Wednesday that will result in the Orlando-based restaurant chain company having to pay $330,000 in back taxes and put $18.7 million of tangible personal property back on the county tax roll. The dispute led to Orange County Property Appraiser Rick Singh suing the company over tangible […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 15, 2016

A measure that would prohibit employment, retail and other discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity has picked up a second Republican sponsor in the Florida Senate: Travis Hutson of St. Augustine. The group behind the the “Florida Competitive Workforce Act” (HB 45/SB 120) announced the move in a news release Friday. The prime sponsors […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 5, 2016

State Sen. Jack Latvala now supports a measure that would prohibit employment, retail and other discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, according to a Tuesday news release. Latvala, slated to become Senate Appropriations chairman next year, is the first Republican state senator to back the legislation (HB 45/SB 120), known as the “Florida Competitive Workforce […]

Phil AmmannDecember 22, 2015

Three Florida cities, including St. Petersburg and Orlando, earned perfect scores in enacting policies to protect gay, lesbian and transgendered citizens from discrimination. In a statement Tuesday, Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce recognized Orlando, St. Petersburg and Wilton Manors (in Broward County), for receiving 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation 2015 Municipal […]

Phil AmmannNovember 24, 2015

Ten firms from the Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce Coalition received a perfect score this week on the annual Human Rights Campaign ranking of workplace equality. In an announcement Tuesday, the corporations scoring a 100 percent rating on the 2016 Corporate Equity Index include such Florida-based companies as Akerman LLP, AT&T, Florida Blue, Carlton […]

Jim RosicaOctober 6, 2015

The group supporting a change to the state’s anti-discrimination law on Tuesday released a new poll showing 68 percent of Florida voters support their effort. Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce is pushing a bill (HB 45/SB 120) to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the current prohibitions against employment, retail and other discrimination in the state’s Civil Rights Act. […]

Adam Putnam widened fundraising lead in October, while Phil Levine made a splash

Personnel note: James Kotas exiting FCCI for role with Darden restaurant chain

Easter and Passover as brought to you by these lobbyists and political associations

Darden Restaurants name former fast food exec to board of directors

Darden Restaurants loses tax dispute with Orange County

Support for LGBT-protection bill grows among Legislature’s GOP members

Jack Latvala supports anti-LGBT discrimination bill

3 Florida cities receive perfect score for LGBT anti-discrimination policies

10 Florida employers recognized as national Best Places to Work for LGBT employees

Poll shows growing support for anti-discrimination law