Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryNovember 29, 2016

Last year, the city of Tampa joined Orlando, Miami, Key West and St. Petersburg as the only municipalities in Florida with Citizens Review Boards to police actions and policies. According to a South Florida House Democrat, that’s not nearly comprehensive enough to keep a watchful eye on deadly interactions between the police and the public. And […]

Mitch PerryOctober 31, 2016

With the possibility Florida may finally pass a state law legalizing medicinal marijuana next week, advocates for the legislation say opponents of Amendment 2 are using “scare tactics” to try to persuade Floridians to reject the proposal. Specifically, they’re taking aim at the claims there is a danger of marijuana edibles ending up in their children’s […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterOctober 13, 2016

Florida police chiefs want voters to vote “No on 2.” The Florida Police Chiefs Association called on Florida voters to just say no to the 2016 medical marijuana constitutional amendment. The statewide organization joins several other law enforcement organizations and officials, including the Florida Sheriff’s Association, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings, and Palm Beach Sheriff Ric […]

Associated PressAugust 30, 2016

A former sheriff, a state representative and the son of a former Jacksonville mayor are the top candidates to replace Republican Congressman Ander Crenshaw, a longtime Florida political fixture retiring after eight terms. Former Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford, state Rep. Lake Ray, and Hans Tanzler III, a corporate tax lawyer and former federal prosecutor who […]

Lloyd DunkelbergerJuly 13, 2016

The Florida Sheriffs Association has elected its first African-American president in the history of the law enforcement association. Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings will lead the organization, which represents the 66 elected sheriffs in the state and the appointed public safety director in Miami-Dade County. Demings, a native of Orlando who has been the Orange […]

Mitch PerryMarch 16, 2016

Like may people in the Tampa Heights community that he represents, House District 61 Democrat Ed Narain was holding his breath when news broke on Tuesday that Gov. Rick Scott had vetoed $256 million in projects from the just concluded legislative session. The good news is that Narain’s request for $1.2 million to move what has become a […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 11, 2016

Legislation that would reform Florida’s civil forfeiture laws advanced in a Senate committee on Thursday. The bill (SB 1044) sponsored by St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes, eliminates civil forfeiture in the state of Florida. Under the proposal, a seizure of assets or property may only take place after the arrest of a property owner, and the final […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 25, 2016

As Florida lawmakers once again consider a proposal to allow open carry of firearms, opponents, including the League of Women Voters Florida, argue that if passed, such a law would devastate the state’s biggest industry: tourism. There’s a compromise solution, though, says Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner of MomsRising.org, a grassroots organization that seeks economic security for all […]

Mitch PerryDecember 14, 2015

The Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) issued a statement on Monday giving their full support to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, who has been under a firestorm of criticism in recent days for comments he was quoted as saying last week regarding the open carry legislation being debated in the Florida Legislature. Gualtieri and the FSA […]

Mitch PerryNovember 23, 2015

There’s been an increasing rise in reforming civil asset forfeiture laws around the country, with conservatives and libertarians (such as the Cato Institute) leading the cause in many cases. Civil asset forfeiture is the legal practice that allows law enforcement officials to seize private property and money that is suspected of aiding, or resulting from, […]

Tag: Florida Sheriffs Association

Florida House Democrat Barbara Watson proposes statewide commission to review police shootings

Medical marijuana advocates slam ‘scare tactics’ of Florida Sheriffs Association and Drug Free America

Florida police chiefs oppose medical marijuana amendment

John Rutherford, Lake Ray and Hans Tanzler vie for House seat

Florida Sheriffs Association elects first African-American president

Ed Narain proud of accomplishments in House, ready for Senate

Jeff Brandes’ civil forfeiture reform bill moves in Senate

Email insight: Open Carry opponents praise Florida Sheriffs compromise proposal

Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri’s out-of-context quotes lead to misinterpretation, harsh responses

State report on civil asset forfeiture laws in Florida suggests reforms are needed