Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryDecember 15, 2014

As far as security leaks, it ain’t WikiLeaks, the Pentagon Papers or Edward Snowden’s revelations of NSA surveillance on Americans. That stated, the cyberattack on Sony Pictures has produced a trove of embarrassing private emails regarding studio executives, and most of it has been great fodder for tabloids like the New York Post and websites […]

Associated PressDecember 14, 2014

Jeb Bush plans to release a massive 250,000 e-mails in a new e-book covering his time as Florida governor — the strongest indication to date he is seriously considering a presidential run. In an interview aired Sunday on ABC Miami affiliate WPLG-TV, Bush intends to “make up my mind in short order” about a White […]

Phil AmmannDecember 12, 2014

Through a conversation with about two dozen major donors, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is giving the strongest indication to date that he is considering a White House run in 2016. Supporters who raised $200,000 for Rubio in the past met with the Miami Republican met for a conversation this week to discuss the pros and cons of […]

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 […]

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Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks about a gun sales tax holiday at Sept. 8, 2025 press conference. Image via Florida Channel.

Mitch Perry Report for 12.15.14

Jeb Bush to release 250K e-mails from time as governor, inching closer to White House run

Marco Rubio makes strongest indication yet of a White House run in 2016

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