Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jacob OglesJanuary 8, 2019

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Joe Gruters wants to stop ethics complaints from being used as political cudgels. Now the Republican state senator from Sarasota is proposing a solution that could add a layer of secrecy to the process. His bill (SB 228) would prohibit the Florida Ethics Commission from making public ethics complaints made against a candidate within 60 […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 4, 2018

On Apr. 20, the Florida Ethics Commission will offer a formal opinion on whether or not the Duval County School Board contracting services with the construction company of Jacksonville City Councilman Garrett Dennis amounts to a conflict of interest. Per Councilman Dennis, this is a simple formality, as he has already been cleared of any potential conflict […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 18, 2018

Rep. Kim Daniels is seeking to have a Florida Ethics Commission complaint against her dismissed Friday morning. Her rationale? It was filed too close to the 2015 election. Daniels, who was unsuccessfully running for re-election to the Jacksonville City Council, had a complaint regarding her financial disclosure forms filed just four days before that vote. State law […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 13, 2017

Former 4th Circuit Public Defender Matt Shirk took a hit from the Florida Ethics Commission last week in a closed session. But despite the finding of probable cause, it won’t matter much. “The Commission accepted the recommendation of its Advocate, finding probable cause,” read a news release, which added that the commission “also decided to take […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 9, 2017

The Florida Ethics Commission has cleared Rep. Cary Pigman of charges that he misused his position to retaliated against a school principal in his district. The approved a recommendation by Judge June C. McKinney to dismiss the case against Pigman. At least one member of the commission abstained from the vote, while another member voted […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 27, 2017

Friday was judgment day for former State Rep. Charles Van Zant and his wife, Katherine Van Zant, via a hearing of the state ethics commission. The ethics complaints against the former state representative and his wife involve failure to disclose ownership of a condo in Orange Park. The income and co-ownership of the condo with Mrs. […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 26, 2017

Friday is judgment day for former State Rep. Charles Van Zant and his wife, Katherine Van Zant. The two will be the stars of the show at Friday morning’s meeting of the state ethics commission. Former Rep. Charles Van Zant and his wife Katherine each face separate hearings covering the same material. The ethics complaints against the […]

Mitch PerryDecember 14, 2015

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Just in time for Tuesday night’s GOP presidential debate from Las Vegas, the Florida Democratic Party is mocking Marco Rubio with the release of a new web video called, “The Rubio Card” that mocks the Florida Senator’s variously reported financial problems over the years. Questions of Rubio’s spending on a Republican Party of Florida charge card […]

Martin DyckmanSeptember 23, 2014

If the Legislature decrees that two plus two equals five or that water runs uphill, does that make it so? A similar question is percolating in the Florida courts. Does a blind trust constitute “full and public disclosure” of the financial interests of a public official? Common sense says no. A law passed in 2013 […]

Tag: Florida Ethics Commission

Joe Gruters wants to de-weaponize complaints lodged against candidates

State ethics commission to review Jacksonville City Councilman’s company contracting with school board

Kim Daniels seeks dismissal of ethics complaint

Ethics Commission dings Matt Shirk for pushing ‘Sober 101’

Commission clears Cary Pigman in state ethics case

Ethics commission fines Charles Van Zant, wife for financial disclosure flubs

Leslie Dougher hammers Charles Van Zant ahead of Friday ethics meeting

FDP releases ad for mock Marco Rubio credit card

Martin Dyckman: Blind trusts protect the politicians, not the taxpayers