Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaSeptember 30, 2016

The forces against this year’s medical marijuana initiative lined up a one-two punch Friday against the proposed state constitutional amendment. Former state Supreme Court Justice Ken Bell provided the legal jab, saying marijuana doesn’t belong in the state’s chief governing document. He addressed reporters at a press conference in Tallahassee. “You create a fundamental right that […]

Anne LindbergSeptember 28, 2016

The Florida Farm Bureau-Pinellas has endorsed four Republicans running for re-election to the state House of Representatives. Reps. Chris Latvala, House District 67, and Larry Ahern, HD 66, received contribution checks from Farm Bureau-Pinellas board members Leslie Waters and Fred Petty during the group’s annual dinner earlier this month. Waters is mayor of Seminole and […]

Anne LindbergSeptember 26, 2016

State Sen. Jack Latvala on Monday wrote to the Florida Department of Transportation objecting to any plan to start charging tolls on current lanes of the Howard Frankland bridge. Latvala was reacting to recent news that state officials plan to take one of the four existing lanes in each direction on the bridge and charge […]

Anne LindbergSeptember 26, 2016

Jennifer Webb vows in her first video ad of the campaign season to fight the special interests she says are dominating Tallahassee. “For too long, big special interests have gotten their way in Tallahassee and we’re paying the price,” Webb says in the 30-second spot. Examples flash on the screen: “Duke Energy customers will pay […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 26, 2016

The Senate District 8 race between Alachua Democrat Rod Smith and Republican Keith Perry is a competitive race with splashy fundraising totals and spending both. For evidence of that robust trend of contributions and expenditures, look no further than the candidates’ finance reports covering the period between Sept. 3 – 16. Spending is especially big for both Smith […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 23, 2016

Clearwater’s Chamber of Commerce announced endorsements in several local races, and a virtual tie between two equally qualified candidates for a Pinellas County Commission seat. In a statement Friday, CLEARPAC, the committee for the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Chamber’s board of directors, made recommendations based on “the importance of Election Day to […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterSeptember 23, 2016

Environmentalists shouldn’t be the only ones sounding the alarm when it comes to Florida’s water quality concerns. Instead, Sen. Jack Latvala said all of the state’s stakeholders need to work together to address the issues affecting Florida’s water. “It’s not just (environmentalists). It’s not just the white hats with petitions and protests,” said Latvala, a […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterSeptember 23, 2016

The Florida Chamber of Commerce has thrown its support behind 79 candidates ahead of the general election. “We believe these candidates will put Florida’s long-term future ahead of short-term fixes and will help ensure our state remains competitive,” said Marian Johnson, senior vice president of political operations for the Florida Chamber. “We are proud to […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 22, 2016

Getting the juice back on after Hurricane Hermine was about the same or faster than similar “power restoration efforts” after storms. That’s the conclusion of a report released this week by the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) on Tallahassee’s response to this month’s Category 1 storm. The FMEA’s survey shows “another Category 1 storm, Hurricane […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 13, 2016

In a significant “get” for the state’s largest government affairs firm, Southern Strategy Group (SSG) will rep global ride-hailing service Uber for its local-level needs. The deal comes as ridesharing services heat up the news again. Most recently, in Tampa Bay, House Republican Leader Dana Young demanded in a letter that local regulators scuttle proposed rules that […]

Tag: Jack Latvala

‘Reefer Madness’ returns to Tallahassee

Florida Farm Bureau-Pinellas endorses four Republicans for state House

Jack Latvala to FDOT: Don’t turn lanes on Howard Frankland into toll roads

In first video ad, Jennifer Webb slams special interests

SD 8 candidates Rod Smith, Keith Perry spend big in first half of September

Clearwater Chamber announces local endorsements; virtual tie between Charlie Justice, Mike Mikurak

Jack Latvala: Water quality is a business issue

Florida Chamber endorses in 79 legislative races

City was speedy on power restoration post-Hermine, report says

Southern Strategy Group snags Uber’s local lobbying contract