Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jacob OglesNovember 15, 2018

Bay County’s Supervisor of Elections stood alone in Florida when he allowed voters displaced by Hurricane Michael to cast ballots by email and fax. But while no other officials took the compassionate but clearly illegal course of action, more than one questioned why the state prohibited elections officials from accepting votes electronically under the circumstances. […]

Jacob OglesNovember 12, 2018

Bay County Supervisor of Elections Mark Andersen illegally accepted more than 140 electronic ballots on or before the Nov. 6 election, citing concerns that Hurricane Michael may have displaced voters. But so far, three other North Florida elections chiefs in the Category 4 storm’s path have denied doing the same. And no officials besides Andersen have […]

Jacob OglesNovember 5, 2018

Early voting will continue up to the day before Election Day in six counties still recovering from Hurricane Michael. Polling locations remain open in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, and Jackson counties, all of which sustained major damage. The state extended the early-voting deadline in those counties. Secretary of State Ken Detzner, Florida’s chief elections […]

Danny McAuliffeOctober 13, 2018

Tri-Eagle Sales, a leading beverage wholesaler in North and North-Central Florida, will offer cans of water from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. The beer distributor intends to help community members who’ve been affected by Hurricane Michael. In Gadsden County, where Tri-Eagle is located, the storm killed at least four, and mandatory curfews remain in effect, according […]

Danny McAuliffeJune 27, 2018

Kristy Branch Banks was selected this week to serve a brief stint on the Franklin County School Board. Gov. Rick Scott appointed Banks to the District 3 post on Tuesday for a term that ends Nov. 13. Banks, 47, of Apalachicola, owns her own law practice. She received her law degree from Florida State University. […]

Staff ReportsJune 26, 2018

CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis announced Tuesday he had directed insurance experts to Franklin County to help residents navigate the insurance claims process. A “fast-moving, out-of-control wildfire” broke out Sunday, the Tallahassee Democrat reported, claiming as many as two dozen homes in the Eastpoint area. As of early Tuesday, the blaze was roughly […]

Associated PressJuly 4, 2017

A large stretch of Florida’s Gulf Coast is open for recreational scalloping. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission opened an area from St. Vincent Island in Franklin County to the Pasco and Hernando County line to recreational scalloping over the weekend. A recreational salt water fishing license is required to gather bay scallops, and […]

Associated PressNovember 3, 2016

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Donald Trump regularly warns his crowds to closely watch polling places to prevent Democrats from stealing the election. But his campaign has failed to enlist many to serve as official poll watchers in major population centers, according to spot checks by The Associated Press. In some key regions, Democratic monitors will far outnumber Republicans on […]

Bruce RitchieDecember 11, 2014

Jon Steverson, Gov. Rick Scott’s choice as Department of Environmental Protection secretary, has been an outspoken director of the Northwest Florida Water Management District during his brief tenure there. Whether he will impress environmentalists with his passion and results at DEP is uncertain. Scott named Steverson, 39, on Thursday to replace Herschel T. Vinyard Jr., […]

Bruce RitchieAugust 10, 2014

Former U. S. Senator Bob Graham was back on the campaign trail this month, and he said he’s loving it. Graham’s daughter, Gwen Graham, is running as a Democrat for Congress against Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Panama City. Last week, she wrapped up an eight-day “Grilling with the Grahams” tour of the congressional district’s 14 counties […]

Tag: Franklin County

Only Bay County accepted fax, email ballots, elections officials confirm

Other counties in Hurricane Michael’s path deny accepting electronic ballots

Six storm-struck counties extend early voting to Monday

North Florida Anheuser-Busch distributor to offer cans of water Saturday

Franklin County gets new school board member

Jimmy Patronis sends help for victims of Eastpoint blaze

Florida opens large stretch of Gulf Coast for scalloping

Donald Trump tells backers to ‘watch the polls’ — but signups slow

Bruce Ritchie: On Florida’s newly appointed Department of Environmental Protection director

Bruce Ritchie: Bob Graham is back on the campaign trail helping daughter Gwen