Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsOctober 17, 2018

AshBritt Environmental, a “rapid-response disaster recovery and special environmental services contractor” in Deerfield Beach, has hired Ballard Partners‘ namesake Brian Ballard and its Christina Daly Brodeur. Veteran influencer Ron Book also remains the company’s lobbyist, according to lobbying registration records accessed Wednesday. Daly Brodeur, formerly Secretary of Florida’s Department of Juvenile Justice under Gov. Rick Scott, joined Ballard’s firm last month. The […]

Peter SchorschJune 26, 2018

After what most would agree was a highly successful first term in office, Lauren Book — um, SENATOR Lauren Book, was recently re-elected to the Senate without opposition. How did she do that? When she returned home she simply did not slow down. That’s an assessment based on feedback from many friends and colleagues in […]

Jim RosicaMarch 20, 2018

A proposed constitutional amendment to give equal rights to crime victims won preliminary approval from the full Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) on Monday. Commissioners voted 30-3 to send the measure (P96) to the panel’s Style and Drafting Committee for preparation as a ballot question. Hank Coxe, Arthenia Joyner and Bob Solari voted against it. The proposal still faces a final […]

Peter SchorschMarch 19, 2018

The 17th Judicial Circuit Court last week approved a permanent restraining order to keep Derek Logue away from Democratic state Sen. Lauren Book, according to documents obtained by Florida Politics. According to the petition filed by Book’s attorneys, Logue has targeted Book since at least 2009 through obscene YouTube videos and a website dedicated to […]

Staff ReportsMarch 14, 2018

Survivors, advocates, elected officials and law enforcement turned out in St. Petersburg Wednesday to rally for an end to sexual abuse, taking added significance in light of the growing #MeToo movement. Hosted by the nonprofit Lauren’s Kids, the rally was part of the 8th Annual Walk in My Shoes, a 13-day Tallahassee-to-Key-West advocacy event led […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 19, 2018

A proposed constitutional amendment to give equal rights to crime victims on Friday cleared its only review panel and heads to the full Constitution Revision Commission. The amendment, if OK’d for the 2018 statewide ballot and passed by 60 percent of voters, includes the right “to refuse an interview, deposition, or other … request by the defense,” […]

Staff ReportsApril 19, 2017

An emotional and eye-opening display featuring about 1,000 shoes worn, decorated and submitted by sexual assault survivors of all ages from across the state of Florida – with accompanying stories – are decorating the Capitol rotunda through Friday of this week. They commemorate National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The […]

Phil AmmannApril 19, 2017

Child advocate and state Sen. Lauren Book‘s inspirational story will be featured in Sheryl Sandberg‘s newly launched initiative on themes of resilience through tragedy. On April 19, Book — a survivor of childhood sexual abuse who became an internationally renowned activist — will exhibit an installation decorating the Capitol rotunda, made up of more than 750 […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 24, 2016

Just call her an instant winner. Lauren Book won her Senate District 32 race Friday after no other candidate qualified for the race. A second Democrat, Emmanuel Blimie, had indicated he planned to run, but state records show Blimie did not qualify. “Having met thousands of people in the Senate district, listening to and learning […]

Phil AmmannApril 26, 2016

Gwen Graham’s recent semi-surprise, twofer announcement has the Florida chattering classes (temporarily) taking their attention away from 2016 and toward a post-Rick Scott state Capitol. The year 2018 will mark 20 straight years in which Republicans have monopolized the Governor’s Mansion. Democrats are understandably terrified about that continued dominance, particularly when they consider the judicial […]

Tag: Lauren’s Kids

Lobby Up: Hurricane cleanup firm AshBritt Environmental hires Ballard Partners

Lauren Book’s formula for success

‘Marsy’s Law’ wins initial OK as state constitutional amendment

Restraining order issued against stalker of Lauren Book

Lauren Book’s ‘Walk in My Shoes’ takes to the streets of St. Pete

Crime victims’ bill of rights clears lone constitutional review panel

Shoes are stark reminders of sexual abuse

Lauren Book unveils display on resilience, triumph over sexual abuse in Capitol rotunda

Lauren Book headed to Florida Senate, wins SD 32 race unopposed

Ben Pollara: Baby got bench: Florida Democrats’ 2018 field