Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bill RuftyAugust 19, 2015

Democrats in Polk County have been working feverously to attract a local big name to one of the Florida Legislature seats they’d like to win next year. With courteous phone calls and pleasantries, the party’s selection committee has been courting former Circuit Judge Robert Doyel to challenge Republican state Sen. Kelli Stargel of Lakeland for […]

Frank TorresAugust 3, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott on Monday said Amazon.com Inc. will add 2,000 new jobs at its fulfillment centers in Lakeland and Ruskin. Amazon’s fulfillment centers already employ more than 2,000 Floridians. Scott said, “I am excited to announce that Amazon is expanding in Florida and adding more than 2,000 new jobs, which will more than double […]

Mitch PerryMay 18, 2015

Last week, a delegation of Tampa area officials visited Cuba in a trip organized by the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. It was the third excursion to the communist island led by the Chamber in the past few years. It was “certainly the most productive and most historic,” Ronald Christaldi, a partner with the Tampa law firm of Shumaker, Loop […]

Phil AmmannMarch 10, 2015

Red-light cameras appear to have little or no effect on safety in many areas in Florida, according to a new report by WTSP 10 Investigates. But the state failed to include that information in its annual review of the program. Most of Florida cities and counties with the controversial RLC-monitored intersections have reported crash statistics […]

Adam WeinsteinDecember 18, 2014

There is a chance — slim, to be sure, but a still a chance — that Florida’s capital may finally get the newspaper it deserves. Which is to say, it may finally get a newspaper. It’s hard to describe what Leon County residents currently have, the Tallahassee Democrat, as anything other than an expensive wrapper […]

Guest AuthorNovember 14, 2013

The recent city elections in Lakeland appear to demonstrate the principle that if people are embarrassed or disgusted about something in their community, the guy at the top will get the ax, even if he’s not to blame. In the wake of an appalling string of scandals at the Lakeland Police Department this year – […]

Guest AuthorNovember 7, 2013

It didn’t take long after I arrived in Lakeland in 1997 to begin my duties covering the religion beat at The Ledger before I began hearing the name of Father John Caulfield. “Oh, you need to meet Father Caulfield.” “Father Caulfield? Great guy.” For 27 years, the Rev. John Caulfield was the pastor of St. […]

Guest AuthorOctober 24, 2013

The tragedy of Rebecca Ann Sedwick’s suicide continues to be compounded. One young life has been lost and two more are in danger of ruin, and one wonders which was worse, the lack of adult supervision that caused Rebecca’s death or the overabundance of it in the reaction that followed. Rebecca was 12 when she […]

Tag: Lakeland

Bill Rufty: A challenger for Kelli Stargel? Growing pains for Lakeland

Amazon adds 2,000 new jobs at its 2 Florida centers

Tampa Chamber of Commerce positioning area to prosper with post-sanctions Cuba

DHSMV review of red-light cameras failed to include crash increases, WTSP reports

Adam Weinstein: Finally, the right guy loses his job at Tallahassee’s newspaper

Cary McMullen: Reflections on Lakeland’s mayoral election

Cary McMullen: Farewell to a long-serving Lakeland priest

Cary McMullen: An eye for an eye is not justice for Rebecca