Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschJanuary 18, 2017

Dean Izzo, the Department of Economic Opportunity‘s chief of staff, is leaving the state’s jobs agency for a post at Capital City Consulting, the firm announced Wednesday. Izzo, who also has been chief financial officer and chief information officer for DEO, begins Jan. 30. He had been with the agency since its creation in 2011. “Dean will […]

Peter SchorschNovember 22, 2016

Second in a series. Most people are familiar with this joke about lawyers. Q: What do you call 2,000 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean? A: A good start. Well, to newly installed House Speaker Richard Corcoran, if you substitute “lobbyists” for “lawyers” in that joke, it’d be twice as funny. Despite his brother being a lobbyist, Corcoran does […]

Jim RosicaNovember 15, 2016

The latest lobbyist compensation reports may have readers think they’re seeing in triple vision. For the third quarter, the Top 5 earners in registered legislative lobbying, in order, were Ballard Partners, Ron Book, Southern Strategy Group, Capital City Consulting, and Greenberg Traurig. Look familiar? That’s because that was the same Top 5 for the second quarter, though in a […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 28, 2016

Updated Thursday: Ketchel’s hiring has been announced in a news release. This post has been updated. Andrew Ketchel, a veteran of Gov. Rick Scott‘s administration, is joining Capital City Consulting, FloridaPolitics.com has learned. Ketchel’s first day will be Oct. 17. He most recently was legislative affairs director for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. His coming on board signals that CCC […]

Blake DowlingSeptember 1, 2016

The annual Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Conference was held at the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island this August; if you have never attended, it is a solid get-together of North Florida’s business, political, educational and health care leaders. Master of ceremonies for the weekend, as in the 10 years that I been in attendance, was […]

Peter SchorschJuly 21, 2016

The last time supporters of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio gathered in Tallahassee it was to “bring the family together” in advance of Super Tuesday and update supporters on how they could help the then-presidential candidate’s White House bid. That was before Donald Trump won the Florida primary and dashed Rubio’s hopes — for now — of moving to 1600 […]

Jim RosicaJuly 21, 2016

Boyd Gaming Corp., which bills itself as “one of the largest and most successful casino entertainment companies in the United States,” has ended its relationship with its Tallahassee-based lobbyists. Lobbying registration records accessed Thursday show the casino company’s representation by The Mayernick Group was “canceled” last Monday. Firm principal Frank Mayernick declined comment and Boyd spokesman David Strow did […]

Peter SchorschApril 28, 2016

Were it not for Nicholas V. Iarossi, I may very well have won election as student body president at Florida State University. During my time on college, I probably was the most involved Greek (fraternity, not nationality) guy on campus. By my senior year, my ego told me I deserved to be SG president. I […]

Ryan RayMarch 23, 2016

The future of Florida’s aviation fuel taxation regime is set for a major overhaul on July 1, if Gov. Rick Scott signs an omnibus tax bill into law as expected. For the state’s largest air carriers, that’s a good thing indeed. The bill removes exemptions to the state’s jet fuel tax, which currently apply to once-upstart carriers like Southwest […]

Jim RosicaMarch 4, 2016

Just as it always does in recent years, a legislative effort to revisit the state’s gambling laws bloated and sank in the waning days of this year’s Legislative Session. After months of negotiations a proposed new “Compact” – a gambling agreement between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida – failed Friday when the […]

Tag: Nick Iarossi
Sen Rick Scott in Sarasota. Photo by Jacob Ogles.

Personnel note: Dean Izzo departs DEO for Capital City Consulting

How to get around Richard Corcoran’s new rules — Volume 2

Déjà vu all over again in lobbyist compensation reports

Personnel note: Capital City Consulting hires Andrew Ketchel

Blake Dowling: Are your customer service skills ‘noble’?

Marco Rubio’s major Tallahassee fundraiser planned for August 22

Boyd Gaming cancels Florida lobbying contract

Debuting today: The latest edition of INFLUENCE Magazine featuring this year’s ‘Golden Rotunda’ winners

Jet fuel tax changes set to become law July 1, barring unlikely veto

Sunshine State gambling #fails: A short history