Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsOctober 17, 2018

AshBritt Environmental, a “rapid-response disaster recovery and special environmental services contractor” in Deerfield Beach, has hired Ballard Partners‘ namesake Brian Ballard and its Christina Daly Brodeur. Veteran influencer Ron Book also remains the company’s lobbyist, according to lobbying registration records accessed Wednesday. Daly Brodeur, formerly Secretary of Florida’s Department of Juvenile Justice under Gov. Rick Scott, joined Ballard’s firm last month. The […]

Peter SchorschOctober 17, 2018

In the first poll since Hurricane Michael devastated the Panhandle — and changed the course of state politics — the race for Florida Governor is virtually tied. Twenty days before Election Day, Democrat Andrew Gillum is at 47 percent, while Republican Ron DeSantis is at 46. However, among those who say they have already voted, DeSantis […]

Staff ReportsOctober 17, 2018

Amid post-Hurricane Michael warnings to homeowners against signing assignment of benefits (AOB) agreements comes a defense of these contracts from the Restoration Association of Florida. “We are extremely concerned about multiple advisories warning homeowners not to sign any contracts containing assignment of benefits (AOB) language,” association spokeswoman Amanda Prater said in a written statement. The trade association represents water, […]

Drew WilsonOctober 17, 2018

UnitedHealth Group announced this week that it’s pledging a half-million dollars to help Floridians impacted by Hurricane Michael get back on their feet. “We are deeply concerned for the people affected by Hurricane Michael, and we are committed to supporting local communities in the Gulf Coast region as they recover and rebuild,” said company CEO […]

Drew WilsonOctober 17, 2018

Gulf Power told its customers in in Jackson and Holmes counties north of I-10 who lost power due to Hurricane Michael that it would get their lights back on by midnight Thursday. On Wednesday, it announced it had hit that mark a day early. As of 5 a.m. CDT Wednesday, the company said it had restored […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 17, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott has messaged heavily in the Senate race, including an ad released Tuesday spotlighting his post-Michael storm recovery efforts. However, a more effective testimonial came Tuesday evening, when Scott spotlighted a ringing endorsement of his storm management skills from Democratic U.S. Rep. Al Lawson. Lawson, a first-term Democrat representing Florida’s 5th Congressional District, eschewed the […]

Guest AuthorOctober 17, 2018

The entire state is focused appropriately on hurricane recovery, relief, and repair efforts. But with less than three weeks before Election Day, what does this mean for the hundreds of thousands of people in the affected regions? Gov. Rick Scott, Mayor Andrew Gillum, CFO Jimmy Patronis, and many other elected officials have been actively working on […]

Drew WilsonOctober 16, 2018

Utility company Gulf Power said Tuesday that it had gotten the lights back on for more than 70,000 customers, more than half the number who lost power when Hurricane Michael tore through the Panhandle last week. “We’ve added even more boots on the ground, and we’re concentrating our efforts in our hardest hit areas,” said Adrianne Collins, […]

Michael MolineOctober 16, 2018

Hermine — $139 million. Matthew — $1.2 billion. Irma — 10.4 billion. Michael — who knows at this stage, but last week’s Category 4 hurricane, the most powerful storm to hit the Florida Panhandle in recorded history, will wind up costing the insurance companies plenty. Still, Florida’s industry — uniquely dominated by smaller players since […]

Scott PowersOctober 15, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott‘s U.S. Senate campaign announced Monday that he expects to be so busy with Hurricane Michael recovery that he might not do any more campaigning before the Nov. 6 election and that First Lady Ann Scott will take over his campaign appearance commitments for at least the next couple of weeks. The campaign […]

Tag: Hurricane Michael

Lobby Up: Hurricane cleanup firm AshBritt Environmental hires Ballard Partners

Post-Michael poll: Andrew Gillum, Ron DeSantis deadlocked; Rick Scott narrowly leads Bill Nelson

Remediation contractors insist AOB deals getting bum image

UnitedHealth Group pitches in $500K to Hurricane Michael relief efforts

Gulf Power outpaces its own power restoration timetable in Jackson, Holmes

Al Lawson bonds with Rick Scott over hurricane response

Karen Cyphers: Breaking down the impact of Hurricane Michael on Panhandle voting

Gulf Power crosses halfway mark in power restoration effort

Demotech’s Joseph Petrelli says insurers can cover Hurricane Michael claims

Rick Scott might not campaign anymore; Ann Scott to take over