Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaDecember 29, 2017

When it comes to applying for a judgeship, the third time could be a charm for Alan Abramowitz. Abramowitz, executive director of the Statewide Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Office, is one of 12 applicants for a Tallahassee-area circuit judge seat opening because of the retirement of Charles A. Francis. Abramowitz has applied to become a judge […]

Scott PowersDecember 28, 2017

State Sen. Debbie Mayfield is urging Gov. Rick Scott to have the Florida Department of Transportation review several safety concerns she’s been raising about the proposed Brightline higher-speed passenger train, while warning that the recent fatal Amtrak derailment in Washington state may foretell issues in Florida. Mayfield, a Melbourne Republican, has been pushing legislation the […]

Scott PowersDecember 28, 2017

Nearly three-quarters of Florida voters say they could not vote for a candidate who has been accused of sexual misconduct, according to a new statewide public opinion poll conducted by Gravis Marketing of Winter Springs. Gravis found almost widespread agreement on that position. Voters in nearly all age groups, genders, religious affiliations, races, and education […]

Scott PowersDecember 27, 2017

With the new federal tax laws kicking in next year capping deductions of state and local taxes, Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg is urging Gov. Rick Scott to follow New York’s lead and open a loophole allowing Floridians to prepay 2018 property taxes now, before 2017 ends. “It is this office’s recommendation that you […]

Jim RosicaDecember 27, 2017

Partly because they came late to the court this year, some high-profile cases before the Florida Supreme Court will remain unresolved by the close of 2017. As of this writing, the court’s weekly opinion release was going to be on holiday hiatus until Jan. 11, though “out-of-calendar releases” are still possible, a spokesman said. Here are a few of those pending […]

Jim RosicaDecember 26, 2017

Spoiler alert: If you’re a regular of this site, and reading this story, you can guess what the #1 pick is. Otherwise, 2017 still offered a bounty of material to Tallahassee’s reporting ranks. We still chuckle at the uninitiated who ask, “What do you write about when the Legislature isn’t in session?” Without further ado, […]

Jim RosicaDecember 20, 2017

Update: Jack Latvala resigned from the Senate Wednesday afternoon. In a resignation letter to Senate President Joe Negron, Latvala wrote: “I have never intentionally dishonored my family, my constituents or the Florida Senate. “My political adversaries have latched onto this effort to rid our country of sexual harassment to try to rid the Florida Senate of […]

Mitch PerryDecember 18, 2017

Mary Thomas, the former top lawyer at the Department of Elder Affairs under Gov. Rick Scott, is on a list of finalists to become a Pinellas-Pasco circuit judge. The 6th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) sent 11 names, including Thomas, to Scott last month to fill two vacancies created by the retirements of Mark I. Shames […]

Jim RosicaDecember 18, 2017

A Tallahassee judge will hear argument on whether to throw out Orlando attorney John Morgan‘s lawsuit over the ban on smoking medical marijuana. Circuit Judge Karen Gievers scheduled a Jan. 25 hearing on the state’s motion to dismiss, court records show. The suit originally was filed in July by People United for Medical Marijuana, the political committee behind […]

Jim RosicaDecember 14, 2017

An epic 238-page lawsuit filed by Joe Redner‘s Florigrown company—replete with references to Encyclopedia Britannica, ancient Roman medical texts and the Nixon White House tapes—alleges that the state is failing its responsibility to carry out the people’s will when it comes to medical marijuana. The complaint was filed Wednesday in Leon County Circuit Civil court […]

Tag: Gov. Rick Scott

Open Tallahassee judgeship gets a dozen applicants

After fatal derailment in Washington, Debbie Mayfield urges Rick Scott to review rail safety

No surprise: Poll shows Floridians don’t like sexual misconduct by candidates

Seminole Tax Collector Joel Greenberg urges Rick Scott to allow pre-paid taxes

High-profile Florida Supreme Court cases still hanging fire at year’s end

Jim Rosica’s review of top state government stories of 2017

Rick Scott on Jack Latvala: It’s ‘time to resign’

Former Rick Scott official in line for Pinellas-Pasco judgeship

Judge sets hearing in ‘no smoke’ medical marijuana case

Joe Redner’s Florigrown files mammoth medical marijuana lawsuit