Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiDecember 19, 2018

Governor-elect Ron DeSantis‘ Education and Workforce Development Committee continued its deliberations Wednesday, offering every indication that education’s transformation in Florida will only accelerate under his administration. DeSantis promoted school choice on the campaign trail (one school of thought says this helped him with African-American women, who may see their children benefiting from charter schools). Perhaps the […]

Staff ReportsAugust 28, 2018

Two friend-of-the-court briefs by “groups with distinct interests” have now been filed in an attempt to save a proposed constitutional amendment on education from getting trashed from the November ballot. The Florida Supreme Court on Monday said it will hear arguments Sept. 5 at the 4th District Court of Appeal courthouse in West Palm Beach. Justices face […]

Drew WilsonAugust 25, 2018

The political committee backing a contentious education amendment raised another $100,000 as the Florida Supreme Court prepares to consider whether it should be on the November ballot. 8isGreat.org brought in the new cash via a single check Philadelphia real estate investor Howard Rich, who has a proclivity for funding term limits and pro-charter school initiatives. […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 24, 2018

Though Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam faces a sizable deficit in our latest poll of the GOP Governor’s race against U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, sources familiar with the campaign’s thinking relate that Putnam has a short list of five potential Lt. Gov. picks, all of whom are Republican women. Topping the list: Attorney General Pam Bondi, one of Putnam’s highest-profile […]

Drew WilsonAugust 20, 2018

Leon County Judge John Cooper on Monday ordered a contentious education amendment removed from the November ballot. Amendment 8 bundled three education issues of varying popularity. It would set eight-year term limits for county school board members; require “civic literacy” to be promoted in public schools, and would strip school boards of their sole authority […]

Drew WilsonJuly 12, 2018

For-profit charter school companies are footing most of the bills for a committee backing Amendment 8, which would impose eight-year term limits on school board members, among other things. According to recent campaign finance reports, 8isGreat.org has taken in $54,532 in contributions since mid-May, with a majority of that money coming in from charter school […]

Jim RosicaJuly 12, 2018

Calling it “affirmatively misleading,” the League of Women Voters of Florida is seeking to have a proposed constitutional amendment on education tossed off the ballot. At issue is a section that would let organizers of charter schools avoid having to get an OK from local school boards to open. The League itself, President Patricia M. […]

Drew WilsonJune 4, 2018

A trio of school board members on Monday announced the launch of a new political committee backing Amendment 8, which would impose term limits on county school board seats among other changes to the K-12 education system. The committee, “8isGREAT,” is headed up by Collier County School Board Member Erika Donalds, who sponsored the proposal […]

Danny McAuliffeDecember 13, 2017

A friendly scheduling meeting of the Constitution Revision Commission Rules and Administration Committee Tuesday evening took a sharp turn when someone testified that members of a different committee had violated two of the Commission’s rules. Stephanie Owens, a lobbyist for the League of Women Voters, said the CRC’s Education Committee last month did not follow […]

Ana CeballosNovember 1, 2017

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A proposed amendment to the state constitution tweaking the right to privacy sparked a debate over abortion when pro-choice advocates argued the new language would weaken access to the procedure. The issue came up Wednesday during a committee meeting of the Constitution Revision Commission, which is reviewing and considering changes to the state’s governing document. The […]

Tag: Erika Donalds

Accountability will underscore Ron DeSantis’s education agenda

Groups file legal briefs to support education measure under challenge

Pro-Amendment 8 committee adds $100K as Florida Supreme Court considers its fate

Pam Bondi atop list of LG possibilities for Adam Putnam, say sources familiar

Education amendment struck from November ballot—for now

Charter schools dump cash into school board term limits amendment

League of Women Voters sues over education amendment

Conservative school board members launch committee backing term limits amendment

Constitution panel criticized again for procedural hiccups, announces second tour

Constitutional amendment on privacy piques abortion-rights advocates

Florida politics had 11 questions before federal qualifying week. Here are the answers.