Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 5, 2019

Removing party affiliation from several Hillsborough County elected positions might still be in play after a Florida Supreme Court decision upends what was once thought to be a done deal. Late in June, Hillsborough County Commissioners voted 5-2 to hold a referendum asking voters whether candidates for constitutional offices like Sheriff and Property appraiser should […]

Scott PowersFebruary 15, 2018

Matthew Fitzpatrick, a former teacher and vice principal in Orange County, has filed to run for the countywide chair position on the Orange County School Board. Fitzpatrick, 50, of Apopka, is an Orange Technical College administrator who previously ran for the School Board District 7 seat in 2016, losing to Christine Moore. He enters a […]

Scott PowersJanuary 8, 2018

A three-year fight over non-partisan elections in Orange County may be headed for the Florida Supreme Court — with the prospect of affecting county elections throughout the state. Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs announced Monday she wants the state’s high court to consider whether Orange County — and other charter counties like it — can […]

Scott PowersJanuary 4, 2017

Wednesday is the day that Orange County’s voters figured they had turned their sheriff, tax collector, property appraiser, clerk of courts, supervisor of elections and comptroller into non-partisan, term-limited county officials – but it’s not happening. And it is unclear if it will ever happen. Late Tuesday Judge Bob Leblanc of Florida’s 9th Circuit Court […]

Scott PowersMay 27, 2016

Thursday’s ruling by a 9th Judicial Circuit judge that Orange County constitutional officers must run in partisan elections creates a tight timetable for what happens in the Aug. 30 primary. Late Friday morning there still was no decision from the Orange County Mayor’s Office on whether the county will appeal the ruling by Judge Keith White, […]

Scott PowersMay 26, 2016

A judge ruled Thursday that Orange County had no authority to make the elections of constitutional officers nonpartisan contests, striking down the results of a 2014 ballot issue that did so. Those offices are now partisan again. Circuit Court Judge Keith White ruled in Orange County that the question put before county voters in the Nov. 2014, […]

Tag: non-partisan
A nice warm evening in Tallahassee on a very busy street while taking this shot.

Florida Supreme Court could put Hillsborough nonpartisan races back in play

Matt Fitzpatrick to run for Orange County School Board chair

Orange County appealing to Supreme Court in battle over non-partisan or partisan elections

Orange County’s charter amendments falling silently; despite election, no changes in county offices

Orange County partisan election ruling forces tight timetable

Judge strikes down 2014 Orange County ballot issue that made elections nonpartisan