Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschSeptember 15, 2016

A spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Scott wouldn’t confirm or deny the governor had urged University of West Florida trustees not to pick state Sen. Don Gaetz as the school’s next president. UWF Board of Trustees Chair Lewis Bear said during Thursday’s meeting his board had been “interfered with,” that certain people in “high office” had tried to intimidate them […]

Associated PressAugust 17, 2016

State Sen. Don Gaetz wants to be the next president of the University of West Florida. Media outlets in the Florida Panhandle report that the Niceville Republican is among more than 70 applicants for the job. Gaetz is serving his second term in the Florida Senate and faces term limits in November. He served as […]

Peter SchorschAugust 4, 2016

The league of Republicans against Donald Trump may have found another member in Will Weatherford. The former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, a Wesley Chapel Republican, suggested in a text message today that the real estate tycoon-turned-reality TV star won’t get his vote. “Sadly, I find both candidates to be unworthy of the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJuly 1, 2016

Lizbeth Benacquisto raised more than $50,000 in June, bring her total fundraising haul to more than $300,000. State records show Benacquisto raised $52,600 between June 1 and June 24. The three-week haul brings the Fort Myers Republican’s fundraising total to $306,571. Benacquisto received $1,000 donations from “Working for Florida’s Families,” the political committee backing Sen. Ron […]

Jim RosicaJune 27, 2016

State Sen. Don Gaetz is telling constituents not to take the special-session-on-gun-control bait. Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who was Senate president in 2012-14, sent out an email Monday. It reprinted and linked to an op-ed he wrote for the Northwest Florida Daily News, Okaloosa County’s newspaper. It appeared Sunday. He wrote on the mass shooting at […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 24, 2016

George Gainer is on his way to the Florida Senate. The Bay County Republican won the Senate District 2 seat Friday after no other candidate qualified for the race. “I am humbled and honored to have been elected without drawing another candidate to run against me,” Gainer said in a statement. “From the first day I […]

Ryan RayMay 31, 2016

In a crowded 2nd Congressional District primary with three candidates from Tallahassee or east of it, it was Panama City’s Neal Dunn who managed to win the day among Capital City Republicans last week. The urological surgeon won a Leon County Republican Executive Committee straw poll by five points over former U.S. Attorney Ken Sukhia and 17 points over former Rick […]

Jim RosicaMay 9, 2016

Incoming Senate President Joe Negron tapped Mike Hansen to head the staff for the chamber’s Appropriations Committee, a spokeswoman said Monday. Hansen will take over when Negron officially becomes president in November. Hansen, 63, had left state government to become president and CEO of The Florida Council for Community Mental Health in Tallahassee. He served as […]

Gary FineoutMay 7, 2016

A charter school management company which has operated schools statewide was indicted this week by a Florida Panhandle grand jury, accused of fraudulently billing a charter school for supplies, equipment and services. The charges of grand theft, money laundering and aggravated white collar crime were announced Thursday by State Attorney Bill Eddins against the management […]

Ryan RayApril 23, 2016

Rep. Matt Gaetz knows voters are angry. He’s angry too. Invective against “spineless politicians” and “lawless bureaucrats” peppered the Ft. Walton Beach Republican’s campaign kick off tour around Northwest Florida on Saturday. The 33-year-old lawmaker is seeking to succeed U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, whose announced retirement from Congress has set off a chain reaction of electoral maneuvering across […]

Tag: Don Gaetz

Rick Scott won’t say whether he lobbied against Don Gaetz as UWF prez

Don Gaetz applies to be UWF president

Add Will Weatherford to the #NeverTrump camp?

Lizbeth Benacquisto raises more than $50K in SD 27 race

Don Gaetz: We don’t need special session for gun control

George Gainer becomes instant winner in SD 2

Neal Dunn wins Leon Republicans’ straw poll

Mike Hansen to be next Senate budget staff head

Florida grand jury indicts charter school management company

Matt Gaetz kicks off U.S. House campaign with “Fight Washington” bus tour