Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannDecember 12, 2014

Corporations are lining up to sponsor Gov. Rick Scott’s second term inauguration, at least in part, announced the Republican Party of Florida on Friday. Among the companies stepping up to help cover costs include Clewiston’s U.S. Sugar Corp. insurer FCCI Services, Inc. of Sarasota, who each put up $25,000 this month. Calder Race Course from […]

Mitch PerryDecember 12, 2014

As always, Howard Simon is a very busy man. The executive director of the ACLU of Florida for over 17 years was in Tampa early Friday morning as the featured guest speaker at the annual Tampa/Hillsborough County Human Rights Council awards breakfast at the DoubleTree Hotel in Westshore. Simon said one of the chief reasons he […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 12, 2014

November fundraising for Tampa City Council members was pretty stagnant, according to campaign finance updates. Candidates are just about three months out from the election, but don’t seem to be too aggressive on bringing in the campaign cash. Up until this week there was only one candidate running to replace District 2 city council member […]

Ryan RayDecember 12, 2014

Amid a national fervor surrounding failures to indict the white police officers who cut short the lives of two unarmed black men, newly sworn-in Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum visited the Florida Museum of History’s new collection of Civil Rights-era artifacts Friday morning. The mayor called the exhibit “very powerful” and wondered aloud about the efficacy of a […]

Bruce RitchieDecember 12, 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., […]

Mitch PerryDecember 12, 2014

On Wednesday, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren blasted the $1.1 trillion spending package in the House put together by Republicans and Democrats that would keep most government agencies operating through next summer. Warren’s ire was with two parts of the bill that were added on to it in the past week: provisions that would sharply increase the influence of […]

Mitch PerryDecember 12, 2014

A rumored floor challenge to the lone candidate for the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee failed to materialize Thursday night, allowing Elizabeth Belcher to win the position without opposition. Belcher has been involved with the DEC since 2008. She became more involved with local politics retiring from a 27-year career as a special agent with […]

Mitch PerryDecember 12, 2014

Earlier this week Mitch Rubin, the executive director of the Florida Beer Wholesalers Association (FBWA), announced that while “for several years,” his organization has supported lifting the restriction on 64-ounce growlers, the FBWA’s support in next year’s legislative session won’t be tied into his greater concerns of direct brewer to consumer sales. Tampa House Republican […]

Mitch PerryDecember 12, 2014

For the first time in four years, non-charter public schools in Florida received a relatively substantial amount of funding from the Florida Legislature this year towards the maintenance of school buildings. In 2011 & 2012, all of the monies allocated by Tallahassee allocated to the Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) trust fund went to charter […]

Mitch PerryDecember 12, 2014

For the first time in four years, non-charter public schools in Florida received a relatively substantial amount of funding from the Florida Legislature this year towards the maintenance of school buildings. In 2011 & 2012, all of the monies allocated by Tallahassee allocated to the Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) trust fund went to charter […]

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United States election confusion and Community vote or voting crisis concept as hands holding votes casting ballots in a tangled American flag as voters confused with 3D illustration elements.

Rick Scott’s inauguration events line up corporate sponsors

Florida ACLU head Howard Simon on the police, same-sex marriage and restoration of ex-felon voting rights

Tampa City Council candidates struggle to raise money in November

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum visits Civil Rights exhibit, calls for state museum in capital city

On Florida’s newly appointed Department of Environmental Protection director

Mitch Perry Report for 12.12.14 – House Dems side with Warren over Obama in budget vote

Elizabeth Belcher selected as Hillsborough County Democratic Party chair

Dana Young takes Mitch Rubin at his word on 64-ounce growlers

MaryEllen Elia & Judy Genshaft discuss priorities at Hillsborough Legislative Delegation meeting

MaryEllen Elia & Judy Genshaft discuss priorities at Hillsborough Legislative Delegation meeting