Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersMay 11, 2018

Republican state Sen. Kelli Stargel put her foot on the gas somewhat in raising money in April for her re-election campaign in Florida Senate District 22, bringing in $36,850. The haul is Stargel’s largest yet in the 2018 campaign cycle, marks the first significant fundraising month for her campaign since last October, and was tops […]

Scott PowersApril 30, 2018

All Aboard Florida’s $1.75 billion in tax exempt private activity bonds are not only in link with the law and regulations, they’re not without precedent in federal funding of railroad projects, the company stated Monday. In a letter to U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows, chair of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Government Operations, All Aboard Florida’s […]

Scott PowersApril 26, 2018

Armed with newly-raised congressional skepticism about the legitimacy of a financing method used by the company, state Sen. Debbie Mayfield on Wednesday urged Gov. Rick Scott to pull Florida from the financing deal backing Brightline’s proposed private passenger railroad along the east coast. Scott’s office replied that it would review it. At issue is $1.75 billion […]

Drew WilsonApril 11, 2018

Newly filed campaign finance reports show Republican Sens. Dennis Baxley, Debbie Mayfield and Kathleen Passidomo each raised more than $45,000 for their re-election campaigns last month. Baxley, who represents Senate District 12, brought in $47,500 for his campaign in March, including 44 checks for the maximum campaign contribution of $1,000. His committee, Floridians for a […]

Scott PowersMarch 2, 2018

With the derailment of bills seeking state regulation of the private Brightline passenger train system, state Sen. Debbie Mayfield has gotten language inserted into the Senate budget plan that would authorize a safety study of the train. The budget proposal includes new language that would authorize a transportation research center at the University of South […]

Scott PowersFebruary 6, 2018

Based on the results of a records request state Sen. Debbie Mayfield and state Rep. Erin Grall conducted, Indian River County Attorney Dylan Reingold declared Tuesday morning that Florida can legally regulate Brightline trains, and that the Department of Transportation knows that. Reingold cited correspondence Mayfield and Grall dug up that shows the Federal Railroad […]

Scott PowersJanuary 17, 2018

Now that four people have been killed after somehow walking or bicycling into Brightline railroad trains’ paths, the state senator who has been pushing for Florida to regulate safety for the state’s new high-speed, private passenger rail service decried whether there have been enough tragedies for the state to start considering train safety. “How many […]

Scott PowersDecember 28, 2017

State Sen. Debbie Mayfield is urging Gov. Rick Scott to have the Florida Department of Transportation review several safety concerns she’s been raising about the proposed Brightline higher-speed passenger train, while warning that the recent fatal Amtrak derailment in Washington state may foretell issues in Florida. Mayfield, a Melbourne Republican, has been pushing legislation the […]

Scott PowersDecember 19, 2017

Monday’s fatal train derailment in Washington state has Florida state Sen. Debbie Mayfield saying she sees the same fears and the same fights in the Northwest, and the same kind of potential tragedy, that have her pushing for state safety regulations of the Brightline higher-speed passenger train being planned by All Aboard Florida. “I do […]

Jim RosicaDecember 5, 2017

The Florida Democratic Party now says Sen. Jack Latvala “must resign” in light of “the numerous allegations of sexual harassment against” him. The party released a statement Tuesday through its spokeswoman, Johanna Cervone. It follows calls from fellow GOP senators also calling for him to, or suggesting that he, step down from office. “Latvala’s behavior is […]

Tag: Debbie Mayfield
Gabrielle Russon

Kelli Stargel revs up campaign with $36K take in April

All Aboard Florida defends its bond status for railroad money

Debbie Mayfield urges Rick Scott to ‘protect’ state from Brightline bond questions

Three Senate Republicans raise $45K+ in March

With train bills dead, safety study language appears in Senate budget offer

Florida can regulate Brightline, Indian River attorney says

With four Brightline pedestrian deaths, Debbie Mayfield imploring need for state safety regulation

After fatal derailment in Washington, Debbie Mayfield urges Rick Scott to review rail safety

Debbie Mayfield warns of parallels between Washington train wreck and Florida concerns

Florida Democratic Party: Jack Latvala ‘must resign’