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Staff ReportsJuly 15, 2016

There’s just a few weeks until the election, and organizations across the state are rolling out endorsements for state and federal candidates. Several organizations — including the Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida, Florida State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police, and Ruth’s List Florida — issued endorsements this week. — More than six dozen Southwest Florida […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 24, 2016

Dane Eagle is headed back to the Florida House. Eagle won his House District 77 race Friday after no other candidate qualified to run. Candidates had until noon Friday to qualify to be on the ballot. The 33-year-old Cape Coral Republican was first elected to the Florida House in 2012. Despite running unopposed, Eagle built up […]

Peter SchorschMay 22, 2016

For Lizbeth Benacquisto, it’s will not be deja vu all over again. The Fort Myers Republican released a statement Sunday saying she will not run for the Congressional District 19 seat being vacated by Rep. Curt Clawson. Benacquisto finished second to Clawson in the 2014 special election to replace Trey Radel, who resigned after being […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 20, 2016

For the third time since 2012, Southwest Florida will have an open congressional seat. On Thursday, Rep. Curt Clawson announced he was not running for re-election in Congressional District 19. The Bonita Springs Republican said he wanted to spend more time at home with his family. “I was shocked,” said Byron Donalds, a Collier County […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 22, 2016

Heather Fitzenhagen has apologized after a campaign email was sent from her House email address. On Thursday, Gary Fineout of the Associated Press reported that Fitzenhagen apologized for a breach of her official House email account after the address was used to send an invitation to a campaign fundraiser. .@RepFitzenhagen apologies for breach of her […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 15, 2016

Lee County incumbents continued to build their campaign accounts in January. All four Lee County state House members are running unopposed. But that didn’t stop them from raising thousands of dollars, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Florida Division of Elections. Lawmakers can’t raise money during the Legislative Session, which started Jan. 12. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 11, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott is asking the Army Corps of Engineers to take swift action to stop Lake Okeechobee releases into the Calooshatchee and St. Lucie estuaries west and east of the lake respectively. In a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers on Thursday, Scott asked that the agency “take immediate action to relieve the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 9, 2016

Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen is calling on Gov. Rick Scott to do what he can to stop the releases from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee River. “On behalf of Southwest Floridians, I am requesting a study of the fiscal and ecological impacts of the releases. Second, I’d like to invite you to tour Southwest Florida to […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 27, 2016

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The state House passed a controversial measure to regulate fracking, despite significant opposition from Democrats who said the practice could harm the state’s natural resources. The House voted 73-45 after more than an hour of passionate debate to approve the bill (HB 191), with just a few Republicans joining Democrats in opposing it. “Yesterday, over […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 19, 2016

An effort to add liability language to the state law governing drone aircraft is moving through the state Senate, now without a contentious clause calling for joint and several liability. On Tuesday, the Senate commerce and tourism committee approved a measure (SB 642) related to drones. The proposal, sponsored by Sen. Miguel Diaz de la […]

Tag: Heather Fitzenhagen

Endorsement watch: Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida, Ruth’s List, Fraternal Order of Police and others issue endorsements

With no opposition, Dane Eagle wins re-election in HD 77

Lizbeth Benacquisto takes pass on running for Curt Clawson’s congressional seat

Curt Clawson not running for re-election changes political landscape in southwest Florida

Heather Fitzenhagen apologizes for campaign email snafu

Lee County incumbents raise thousands in January

Rick Scott calls for “immediate action” to ease effects of Lake Okeechobee releases

Heather Fitzenhagen asks Rick Scott to halt Lake Okeechobee releases

House approves controversial fracking bill, despite opposition from Democrats

Drone legislation advances in Senate