Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschJanuary 19, 2015

Jackie Schutz, the communications director in Gov. Rick Scott’s office, is one of the rising stars of Florida politics. Scratch that. That is not accurate. Schutz is beyond that. She’s already a star. Mentored by at least two of the best professionals in the business, Brian Hughes and Cory Tilley, Schutz has already assembled an impressive […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 12, 2015

The first full week of January brought lawmakers and politicos to Tallahassee for a round of legislative committee meetings and the inauguration of Gov. Rick Scott. This provided quite a clash of cultures at local institutions where the natives mix with the out-of-towners. On one side were the legislators, lobbyists and staffers still hung over […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 11, 2015

The first full week of January brought lawmakers and politicos to Tallahassee for a round of legislative committee meetings and the inauguration of Governor Rick Scott. This provided quite a clash of cultures at the local institutions where the natives mix with the out-of-towners. On one side were the legislators, lobbyists, and staffers still hungover […]

Peter SchorschDecember 8, 2014

She’d outpester any pest Drive a hornet from its nest She could throw a whirling dervish out of whirl She is gentle! She is wild! She’s a riddle! She’s a child! She’s a headache! She’s an angel! She’s a girl! How do you solve a problem like Maria? For whatever reason, that Rodgers and Hammerstein […]

Peter SchorschDecember 8, 2014

She’d outpester any pest Drive a hornet from its nest She could throw a whirling dervish out of whirl She is gentle! She is wild! She’s a riddle! She’s a child! She’s a headache! She’s an angel! She’s a girl! How do you solve a problem like Maria? For whatever reason, that wonderful Rodgers and […]

Peter SchorschNovember 23, 2014

The first sign of trouble for Adam Hollingsworth arrived via email one year ago yesterday, when Miami Herald reporter Marc Caputo emailed Gov. Rick Scott’s communications director, Melissa Sellers, with a pointed question. “I’m hearing Hollingsworth was fired from CSX for lying about his academic credentials. True?” With Rick Scott away in Arizona for a […]

Peter SchorschNovember 17, 2014

Gov. Rick Scott is appointing his campaign manager to be his new chief of staff. Scott announced on Monday that Melissa Sellers will take over the position that has been held by Adam Hollingsworth since 2012. Sellers was communications director for Scott before she stepped down to run Scott’s re-election campaign. Scott, a Republican, defeated […]

Peter SchorschOctober 30, 2014

Come next Tuesday (or maybe early Wednesday morning), we will know who is left standing in the Florida’s governor’s race. We will know whether the three incumbent members of the Cabinet have been re-elected. We’ll know whether it’s legal to smoke medical marijuana. Come Election Day, we’ll know a lot more than we do right now. […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 29, 2014

The details of a messy divorce between Gov. Rick Scott and campaign finance co-chair Mike Fernandez became public last week, shedding unflattering new light on the dysfunctional political culture Scott has created in Tallahassee. It’s a light that could help millions of Florida voters see through this year’s attempted “extreme makeover” of Scott, intended to soften […]

Tag: Melissa Sellers
Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville is developing a 'mini-brain' for those suffering from Lewy body dementia (LBD).

Please, Jackie Schutz, don’t do it

Peter Schorsch: Insights from the inauguration

Takeaways from Tallahassee

Peter Schorsch: It’s time for Scott’s new chief of staff to turn on the charm

How do you solve a problem like Maria, err, I mean, Melissa (Sellers)?

Peter Schorsch: For now, prospects not bright for Scott’s former chief of staff

Gov. Scott taps campaign manager Melissa Sellers as top aide

Peter Schorsch: An early assessment of who to blame if certain campaigns lose on Tuesday

Daniel Tilson: Gov. Rick Scott’s culture of insensitivity and paranoia