Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayMarch 28, 2015

The long tail of John Thrasher‘s decision to leave the state Senate to assume the presidency of Florida State University will come to an end on April 7, when special elections to fill the legislative vacancies left in his wake are held. Early voting in three statehouse special elections began this weekend and ends Saturday, […]

Associated PressMarch 23, 2015

Jeb Bush ended Florida’s affirmative action programs in 1999 with a flourish, issuing an executive order he said would “transcend the tired debate” about racial preferences. Some lawmakers grumbled about the first-year governor making such a move without consulting them, and two black legislators staged a 25-hour sit-in at his office to protest. Bush refused […]

James CallMarch 17, 2015

The hot dogs were free, the National Champion soccer team was on hand, as well as the tournament-bound women’s basketball team, but the star of the midday gathering in the Capitol courtyard was Farhan “Ronny” Ahmed. The 21-year-old Ahmed was shot three times and left paralyzed from the waist down when a gunman opened fire at […]

James CallMarch 17, 2015

There’s a development in the Gerald Bailey affair I want to tell you about, but first its FSU Day. Not that I attended the school or anything, but if I’m put on a beat it’s what’s in the front of my mind, you know? Like, I’m all FSU, fascinated by Charlotte’s Web rule-making, intrigued by the personalities […]

James CallMarch 17, 2015

A handful of lawmakers broke away from the Capitol Tuesday afternoon to attend the inauguration of John Thrasher as Florida State University’s 15th president. Thrasher earned two degrees from the university, but his path to the presidency began in 1986 when was elected to the Clay County School Board. From there Thrasher embarked on a career where […]

Guest AuthorMarch 16, 2015

Some governors are slow learners. Gov. Rick Scott is beyond slow. He doesn’t learn. He doesn’t appear to care about public access to records, meetings and information traditionally available to Floridians. Most governors have a bit of trouble getting used to working in the fishbowl of state government, particularly if they won election without stopping […]

Mitch PerryMarch 16, 2015

A bill filed by Crestview Republican Sen. Greg Evers that would allow concealed weapons permit holders to carry guns onto college and university campuses moved along in the state Senate on Monday. The Senate Higher Education Committee voted along party lines to advance SB 176. An identical bill, HB 4005, in the House sponsored by Greg Steube, a […]

James CallMarch 15, 2015

At the state Capitol this week the budget begins to take shape and Rep. Richard Corcoran increasingly becomes the man to watch. By the end of the week the Senate will have released its budget allocation and Corcoran and Sen. Tom Lee, the two chambers’ appropriation chairs, will move closer to center stage as a spending plan begins […]

Diane RobertsMarch 2, 2015

OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE – Some Florida towns have a strawberry festival; some have a seafood festival or a jazz festival or even a frog leg festival. Here in Florida’s capital, we put on an annual Festival of Bad Ideas. Its other name is the Legislative session. Come spring, legislators swarm, careening madly down our narrow, pretty […]

Diane RobertsMarch 2, 2015

OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE – Some Florida towns have a strawberry festival; some have a seafood festival or a jazz festival or even a frog leg festival. Here in Florida’s capital, we put on an annual Festival of Bad Ideas. Its other name is the Legislative session. Come spring, legislators swarm, careening madly down our narrow, pretty […]

Tag: John Thrasher
Dozens of vehicles were torched in a fire at a Jacksonville International Airport fire in a garage May 16. Image via Jacksonivlle Aviation Authority.

Early voting in NE Florida special elections has begun

As governor, Jeb Bush aggressively used executive power

FSU rallies at Capitol

The day that was in Florida politics — March 17

FSU inaugurates John Thrasher as its 15th president

Lucy Morgan: To Rick Scott, open government is a closed book

Guns-on-campus bill advances in Florida Senate

The week ahead in Florida politics

Diane Roberts: Welcome to Tallahassee's Festival of Bad Ideas

Diane Roberts: Welcome to Tallahassee’s Festival of Bad Ideas