Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonMay 10, 2018

Republican Rep. Colleen Burton is kicking off her campaign for a third term in House District 40 with a fundraiser in Lakeland next week. The kick-off will be held at the Lone Palm Golf Club, 800 Lone Palm Drive, from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm on May 17. The invite for the event sets the […]

Joe HendersonApril 11, 2018

A few years ago, U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross dropped by the editorial board of the Tampa Tribune for a chat. As metro columnist, I was invited to attend. I don’t recall specifics about the meeting, but I do remember Ross saying emphatically that he didn’t want to be a career politician. He said it with […]

Scott PowersMarch 20, 2018

Three fathers of murdered students, three sheriffs, and state Sen. Lauren Book are among the appointees to the newly created Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission established to investigate the Feb. 14 massacre and identify and address what could have been done differently. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri will chair the commission established through […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 23, 2018

In the aftermath of the shooting massacre in Parkland last week, Florida Democrats (and some Republicans) have talked about reducing the ability for some individuals to acquire firearms. Meanwhile, state Rep. Ross Spano, a candidate for Attorney General, is going in the opposite direction. Spano and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd released their own sets of proposals Friday to […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 20, 2018

Six days after the deadliest high school shooting in the state’s history, a law enforcement panel convened Tuesday in Tallahassee at Gov. Rick Scott’s request to discuss ideas that can prevent future campus massacres. “I have a wife at home that won’t send our kids to school,” Coconut Creek Police Chief Albert “Butch” Arenal said. […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 17, 2018

Saying they’re tired of Congress punting on the issue, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, joined by the acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), announced a new agreement under which 17 local jails in Florida will hold undocumented immigrants for 48 hours after the inmate has posted bail to give federal agents time to […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 24, 2017

There is palpable fear amongst the undocumented community after the Department of Homeland Security issued new memos that gives U.S. officials sweeping latitude to target “removable aliens” for deportation, effectively making most of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. priority targets. Under Barack Obama, immigration officials were told to focus on convicted criminals instead of […]

Les NeuhausFebruary 21, 2017

A recently-fired employee of the Florida Department of Children and Families, who had worked as a child protection investigator since 2015, was taken into custody by sheriff’s deputies on drug trafficking charges after a warrant was issued for her arrest, a spokesperson with the agency said Tuesday. According to the Lakeland Ledger, Laymeshia Hicks, 25, […]

Bill RuftyAugust 17, 2016

Strong mayor pushed because of weak responses The city of Lakeland has been going through a series of bipolar political moves — or lack of moves — over the last few decades. Its leaders and business executives in the city can’t seem to figure out if they want to be a big municipality or a small […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 10, 2016

Taxpayers beware: There is a dangerously naive proposal making the rounds in Tallahassee. Some politicians want to significantly damage Florida’s successful Contraband Forfeiture Act. This is the law that prevents criminals from profiting from their illegal acts. Just like we prohibit killers from profiting by writing books about their crimes, the civil contraband forfeiture law […]

Tag: Grady Judd
Gabrielle Russon

Colleen Burton launching HD 40 re-election May 17

Joe Henderson: Dennis Ross never wanted to be congressman for life

Sheriff Bob Gualtieri to lead Douglas High commission with Lauren Book, three fathers

Ross Spano, Grady Judd call for allowing guns in schools, churches

Florida sheriffs propose more school resource officers, arming teachers with guns

ICE, Florida counties strike deal on new immigrant detention policy

Fear grips Latino communities in Florida as deportations increase

Child welfare investigator, mother arrested for cocaine, heroin in home

Polk political notebook: Strong mayors, weak spellcheck and dueling websites

Grady Judd: Taxpayers have most to lose from attack on Contraband Forfeiture Act