Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaApril 20, 2017

The head of the NAACP Florida State Conference is calling for state Sen. Frank Artiles to step down. The organization “stands fully behind the Florida Legislative Black Caucus … and several groups who have called for the resignation of Miami Senator Frank Artiles,” said Adora Obi Nweze, president of Florida’s National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. […]

Joe HendersonApril 20, 2017

The damage wrought by state Sen. Frank Artiles’ racist rant has ripples that extend far beyond the seats of power in Tallahassee. All it took to confirm that was to type his “Senator Frank Artiles” into Google. Within seconds, a collection of stories popped up that confirms how much impact the bile from his bigoted […]

Peter SchorschApril 20, 2017

A great deal has already been said about the yes-he-really-said-it Frank Artiles saga. And there seems to be near-universal agreement on these points: — Artiles is a world-class jerk. — What he said goes far beyond the limits of acceptable. — This was not his first foray into the unacceptable. — Artiles needs professional help. […]

Jim RosicaApril 20, 2017

Senate Rules Chair Lizbeth Benacquisto has appointed the chamber’s top lawyer to investigate a complaint by next Tuesday seeking to remove Sen. Frank Artiles from office. Senate President Joe Negron announced the move Wednesday in a memo to senators. Benacquisto “found that the complaint states facts supporting a finding of probable cause,” meaning it’s more likely […]

Mitch PerryApril 19, 2017

Florida Democratic Minority House Leader Janet Cruz is calling for Miami Republican Sen. Frank Artiles to step down, following the outrage over published remarks of his racist comments to black Democratic lawmakers. “Frank Artiles’ comments Monday night transcend politics and get to the idea of who we are as people,” said the Tampa Representative in a statement issued late […]

Staff ReportsApril 19, 2017

Equality Florida, the state’s LGBTQ-advocacy organization, Wednesday called for Republican Frank Artiles “to resign … or be removed” from the state Senate. “Once again, Frank Artiles’ bigotry is all over the news, this time because of racist, sexist, and homophobic slurs used against his Senate colleagues and lobbyists in Tallahassee earlier this week,” Public Policy […]

Jim RosicaApril 19, 2017

Surrounded by fellow black and Democratic lawmakers, Sen. Perry Thurston announced Wednesday he had filed a complaint to remove fellow Sen. Frank Artiles from the Senate. In a move sure to send chills through the Capitol’s lobbying corps, he suggested influencers who were within earshot when Artiles went on his tirade in the private Governors […]

Florence SnyderApril 19, 2017

On a busy day of hearings in a busy week of the legislative session, a south Florida woman wanted a picture of herself and a friend and the rain pouring outside the Knott Building. She scanned the immediate vicinity for a friendly face, and held her iPhone out to Jacksonville’s Audrey Gibson. Plainly the tourist […]

Jim RosicaApril 19, 2017

Democratic Sen. Perry Thurston on Wednesday said “there will be consequences” for fellow Sen. Frank Artiles after he spouted insults and used a form of a racial epithet in front of Thurston and Sen. Audrey Gibson Monday night. “We’ve got a (Legislative Black) Caucus meeting” later today, Thurston said. “After that, I’m sure there will […]

Jim RosicaApril 19, 2017

Senate Democratic Leader Oscar Braynon says fellow Sen. Frank Artiles‘ apology for using racial epithets and obscene insults is “not enough” and “the Senate must be compelled to act.” Braynon, who is black, issued a statement Wednesday after news that Artiles, a Cuban-American Republican, hurled insults at African-American Democratic Sens. Perry Thurston and Audrey Gibson at […]

Tag: Frank Artiles

Florida’s NAACP joins those calling for Frank Artiles’ resignation

Joe Henderson: What damage could follow as Frank Artiles’ rant reverberates around the globe?

How Frank Artiles colleagues should respond to his defiance

Senate sets tight timeline on Frank Artiles investigation

Janet Cruz latest Democrat to call for Frank Artiles resignation

Equality Florida calls Frank Artiles to be ousted from office

Black lawmaker seeks to remove Frank Artiles from Senate

Florence Snyder: Let’s hope someone loves Frank Artiles enough to get him some help

Perry Thurston says ‘there will be consequences’ for Frank Artiles

Oscar Braynon to Frank Artiles: Apology not accepted