Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Martin DyckmanOctober 26, 2014

The last time the Constitution Revision Commission met, in 1997, it had some very good ideas. One of them was to establish an independent panel to redistrict the Legislature and congressional districts. More than half the members favored it, but fierce pressure from John Thrasher and other Republican bosses in the Legislature peeled off an […]

Julie DelegalOctober 23, 2014

It was easy-breezy. In a land where small electric fans cause tornadoes of political outrage, the simple contract negotiations between state Sen. John Thrasher and his new employer, the Florida State University Board of Trustees, were refreshingly smooth. The terms appear to be completely pro forma. Except for one little detail. The devil is in […]

Christine Jordan SextonOctober 23, 2014

After a moratorium that lasted more than a decade, it appears that there is a rush in Florida to open new nursing homes. State health care regulators this week received 137 letters from companies that are vying to operate new nursing homes that offer 3,115 beds for patients beginning in 2017 as well as a […]

Gary FineoutOctober 2, 2014

Florida State University has chosen state Sen. John Thrasher as its next president despite significant campus opposition. The FSU board voted 11-2 Tuesday to hire Thrasher over three academics. Thrasher is an attorney and former state House speaker. He has long-standing ties to the institution and helped FSU gain a medical school. But his candidacy […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 29, 2014

I know what it’s like to oppose John Thrasher. I was a very junior senator facing one of Florida’s most respected, influential leaders who believed, on his side, just as strongly as I did on mine. I felt the force of his muscular personality, his immense grasp of the issues and his access to great resources […]

Adam WeinsteinSeptember 25, 2014

It’s all over now but the glad-handing. As the insider Board of Trustees planned all along, John Thrasher will be the next president of Florida State University. Even though he’s prevented by law from lobbying on FSU’s behalf for the next two years- — and lobbying expertise was supposed to be his strong selling point. […]

Diane RobertsSeptember 24, 2014

And in Florida State University news: the Heisman-winning quarterback is a clueless brat with a million-dollar arm and a five-cent head; the feds are investigating our handling of sexual assault accusations; and the new president-elect is a Koch-head political hack known for ethics violations. Higher education in Florida, y’all. The presidential “search” was a farce. […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 22, 2014

Florida State University trustees should not select state Sen. John Thrasher as the university’s next president when they vote today. Not on the grounds faculty and students claim: he lacks academic credentials, prefers creationist myths to sound science, and conveniently forgot several of his key votes on climate change. But for more compelling reasons: — […]

Adam WeinsteinSeptember 21, 2014

As early as Tuesday, we may learn who the trustees of Florida State University care about more: The FSU learning community, or their cronies. They can choose as college president any of three highly qualified administrators, fundraisers, and professors at other top-notch public universities. Or they can pick the man they’ve always wanted for the […]

Julie DelegalSeptember 21, 2014

The most powerful Republican in Florida, State Sen. John Thrasher from St. Augustine, wants to be President of Florida State University. He’s put in his papers and submitted to interviews. His qualifications are impressive. Thrasher brought a medical school to the university, after all, providing new prestige to the Tallahassee institution. But while his proponents […]

Tag: John Thrasher

Martin Dyckman: Constitution commission needs to end abuse of primary elections

Julie Delegal: Teacher tenure: As state senator he took it away from public school teachers, but as Florida State president John Thrasher could claim it for himself

End of nursing home moratorium sparks big interest, money and possible legal challenges

FSU picks state Sen. John Thrasher as its next president despite campus opposition

Don Gaetz: Thrasher has the skills, smarts and charm to be a great FSU president

Adam Weinstein: FSU’s presidential ‘choice’ is a reminder of how Florida cronyism really works

Diane Roberts: The search for a new FSU president was a farce

Chris Timmons: Thrasher is the wrong choice for new FSU president

Adam Weinstein: In the FSU presidential battle, Thrasher is his own worst enemy

Julie Delegal: The curse of the warrior: Why Thrasher can’t catch a break at FSU