Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bill RuftyApril 30, 2018

While the hapless state Democratic Party has done almost nothing for the underdog campaign of Ricky Shira of Lakeland in preparation for Tuesday’s special election to fill a vacancy in Florida House District 39, local grassroots organizations did. At the last minute, Shira received $280 in in-kind services from the state. But the county party, […]

Associated PressAugust 3, 2017

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson says lawmakers have authorized seven new medical facilities for veterans in Florida. Nelson said in a news release Wednesday that the new Veterans Affairs facilities will be located in Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Ocala, Tampa and Lakeland, with two in Gainesville. A total of 28 around the country were approved. Some are […]

Bill RuftyOctober 14, 2016

The vitriolic presidential campaign and its controversies are due in a major part to the education system failing to retain one of its traditional and historical obligations, the teaching of civics, U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, a Lakeland Republican, told a meeting of a Kiwanis Club in his hometown Thursday. “I have never seen anything like […]

Bill RuftySeptember 18, 2016

Randall Edwards stood up as straight as the 20-year-old sailor he once was after being unexpectedly introduced early Friday morning in a tree-lined Veterans Memorial Park in Lakeland. The occasion was an observance of POW/MIA Day, which took place all over the nation. In Florida, the day was marked with a special declaration by Gov. […]

Bill RuftyAugust 17, 2016

Strong mayor pushed because of weak responses The city of Lakeland has been going through a series of bipolar political moves — or lack of moves — over the last few decades. Its leaders and business executives in the city can’t seem to figure out if they want to be a big municipality or a small […]

Jim RosicaJuly 19, 2016

It’s the one word that strikes fear — or at least puts heartburn — in the chests of corporate management: Union. And the new barons of journalism aren’t immune. The Ledger‘s newsroom workers now are moving to unionize, according to a Tuesday press release from the NewsGuild-CWA (Communications Workers of America). The Ledger, Lakeland’s newspaper of […]

Bill RuftyJune 3, 2016

Republican incumbents Congressman Dennis Ross, State Sen. Kelli Stargel, and state Rep. Colleen Burton, all from Lakeland, will participate in a voter canvass by the Republican Party of Florida. Republican canvassers will meet Saturday, June 11, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. beginning in Room 104 of the Ordway Building at Florida Southern College, 111 Lake Hollingsworth Drive, Lakeland. In […]

Bill RuftyMay 24, 2016

A fundraiser for Sam Killebrew, Republican primary candidate for Florida House District 41, is scheduled for 5:30-7 p.m., Thursday at the home of Harriet and Dean Boring, 2112 Hawthorne Trail, in Lakeland. Killebrew, retired contractor and a GOP fundraiser and activist, is competing with retired appellate Judge Charles Davis for the party’s nomination. The winner […]

Phil AmmannApril 18, 2016

Local Amazon customers could soon enjoy one- and two-hour delivery service, as the online retailer launches Prime Now in the Tampa Bay area. As first reported by Ashley Gurbal Kritzer of the Tampa Bay Business Journal, Amazon is leasing about 30,000 square feet of warehouse space center off Adamo Drive and is currently providing orientation […]

Bill RuftyDecember 3, 2015

Republican U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross of Lakeland said he can live with the new shape of his 15th Congressional District approved by the Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday even though it cuts more of his home county out of his district. Like many Florida members of Congress, Ross’ district boundaries changed when the court certified […]

Tag: Lakeland

Polk grassroots Democrats pick up the slack in HD 39

Legislation calls for 7 new VA medical clinics in Florida

More civics, more civility says Dennis Ross

Bill Rufty: Former WWII prisoner of war marks POW/MIA Day, monument in Lakeland

Polk political notebook: Strong mayors, weak spellcheck and dueling websites

Lakeland’s The Ledger newsroom aims to unionize

Lakeland Republican incumbents to voter canvass June 11

HD 41 candidate Sam Killebrew to hold Lakeland fundraiser Thursday

Amazon to launch Prime Now one, two-hour delivery service in Tampa Bay area

Dennis Ross glad he’s “still living in his district” after redistricting