Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Martin DyckmanApril 23, 2017

When former Florida Gov. LeRoy Collins was nominated in 1964 to head the nation’s new Community Relations Service, South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond opposed him aggressively because Collins had renounced racial segregation. “…I hope that as long as the good Lord lets me live on this earth I will continue to grow and to recognize […]

Martin DyckmanApril 18, 2017

He would put it off as long as he could, aides said, and trembled when he finally had to sign a black-bordered death warrant. Despite his profound opposition to capital punishment, LeRoy Collins sent 29 men to their doom during his six years as Florida’s governor. He was in anguish each time. To some people, […]

Martin DyckmanMarch 9, 2017

It would tax the imagination to come up with anything that Florida needs less than to elect a secretary of state once again. Why would the Legislature even consider that? Sen. Aaron Bean, the sponsor, explained it the other day. As reported by FloridaPolitics.com, the Fernandina Beach Republican told the Senate ethics committee that in […]

Gary FineoutJanuary 30, 2017

After repeated delays, the mansion that was once home to one of Florida’s most well-regarded governors is finally going to swing open its doors to the public. The Grove, a historic house that symbolizes much of the state’s terrible past and transformation, will have its grand opening in March following an extensive renovation that cost […]

Martin DyckmanDecember 23, 2016

Thanks to Vladimir Putin‘s hackers and his outlets in the American press, we know that Hillary Clinton said different things in public and in private. Imagine that. But I suspect that you couldn’t find very many politicians (or other people, for that matter) who don’t speak differently depending on who’s listening. Money could safely be […]

William MarchFebruary 21, 2016

A proposal to remove a statue of a Confederate leader at the National Statuary Hall is generating speculation among Florida legislators about whose image should replace it. Legislation to replace the statue of Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith doesn’t propose a successor. Smith’s place in history is due to his being the last officer to surrender […]

Martin DyckmanDecember 30, 2015

Florida had been a state for less than a century when it came time to honor famous citizens with two statues at the U.S. Capitol, and there were few plausible candidates. Dr. John Gorrie, the physician who invented mechanical refrigeration – imagine modern Florida without it – was an outstanding choice. But from today’s perspective, […]

Martin DyckmanDecember 29, 2015

Florida had been a state for less than a century when it came time to honor famous citizens with two statues at the U.S. Capitol, and there were few plausible candidates. Dr. John Gorrie, the physician who invented mechanical refrigeration – imagine modern Florida without it – was an outstanding choice. But from today’s perspective, […]

Bill PrescottAugust 26, 2015

Writer, international scholar, FSU English professor, opinion columnist and environmentalist Diane Roberts entertained a crowd of North Florida Democrats Tuesday evening with her incisive wit and pointed observations about the state of Florida and its leaders. Referring to herself as “that professor conservatives warn you about,” Roberts let fly a quiverful of bon mots as […]

Guest AuthorAugust 19, 2015

About a year ago a dear friend gave me a copy of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America by Gilbert King. The 2012 book earned the 2013 Pulitzer for general nonfiction and the Pulitzer Committee described the book as a “richly […]

Tag: Leroy Collins
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Martin Dyckman: On death warrants, Florida governor’s ‘awesome moral responsibility’

Martin Dyckman: Clemency and Florida’s overbearing ‘politics of death’

Florida doesn’t need an elected Secretary of State, or Agriculture Commissioner

Historic home to Gov. LeRoy Collins finally opening

Politicians can learn lesson from LeRoy Collins balance of public, private speech

Legislators speculate on great Floridian for Capitol statue

Many Floridians of note deserve U.S. Capitol honor

Martin Dyckman: Many Floridians of note deserve U.S. Capitol honor

Diane Roberts skewers ruling class during Tallahassee talk

Terri Susan Fine: I question whether we have learned 'citizenship' in our generation