Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersJune 27, 2017

Vacation home-rental marketing giant Airbnb said Tuesday its expanding list of tax agreements and its growing business should lead it to equal last year’s total sales and tourist tax payments just in the first six months of 2017. The company announced that its five-month totals in sales and tourist taxes paid to the state and […]

Les NeuhausMarch 28, 2017

A House committee voted unanimously Tuesday in favor of a bill to begin the Forensic Hospital Diversion Pilot Program in the Panhandle’s Okaloosa County. Rep. Mel Ponder, who sponsored HB 1051, introduced the measure to the House Children, Families and Seniors Subcommittee. The bill intends to alleviate overcrowding in the state’s prison corrections system with […]

Associated PressAugust 30, 2016

A legislator who backed comments describing Black Lives Matter as a terrorist group and another who held an online giveaway of a semi-automatic rifle are among eight Republicans trying to succeed a retiring congressman in Florida’s conservative Panhandle. U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller‘s heavily conservative 1st Congressional District, which is home to five military installations and […]

Guest AuthorAugust 12, 2016

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In the age where cannabis is finally being re-recognized as treatment for a vast plethora of human ailments and regaining the stature it had for centuries before it was degraded by lies, bigotry and greed, it’s time that the media grow up, and start by using the appropriate nomenclature for the plant that has been […]

Peter SchorschJuly 22, 2016

From the start, Wayne Harris, a Republican running for Matt Gaetz’s House District 4 seat, has strutted his conservative credentials. A recent mailer to voters in HD 4 even boasts Harris as an “Emerald Coast tax cutter.” But after a closer look, it becomes increasingly difficult to describe Harris in those terms, especially compared to the […]

Drew WilsonNovember 9, 2015

After a six-figure haul in October Republican George Gainer has passed Shalimar Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz in on-hand money in the race for Senate District 1. The Gainer campaign brought in $118,590 last month and spent $46,887, leaving the Bay County Commissioner with just under $573,000 cash on-hand heading into November. Gaetz’s report wasn’t as […]

Drew WilsonOctober 12, 2015

Three of five Republicans running for House District 4 posted strong September fundraising numbers, with Wayne Harris still hanging on to a five-figure lead he built when he was the only candidate in the race. Harris has collected a little over $40,000 in contributions since he filed for the seat held by exiting Rep. Matt Gaetz in […]

Phil AmmannAugust 12, 2015

Citing leadership skills and conservative credentials, former State Rep. Don Brown announced his endorsement of Wayne Harris for House District 4. Brown, a DeFuniak Springs property insurance expert, is well-known in Panhandle Republican politics. He has held a variety GOP leadership roles, including state representative and Walton County commissioner. Harris is the Okaloosa County commissioner running […]

Shannon NickinsonJune 30, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott touted the 2015 state budget as the Keep Florida Working budget. While that remains to be seen, one thing seems clear: It sure isn’t the Keep Florida Healthy budget. One of the casualties of Scott’s veto pen was the Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, a nonprofit based in St. Petersburg […]

Shannon NickinsonFebruary 2, 2015

Tim Wyrosdick has a big idea that could change the educational and economic future of the Pensacola metro area. If you have $55 million, he says he can provide the staff and students to fill it. “It’s a pie-in-the-sky dream kind of thing,” says Wyrosdick, Santa Rosa County School District superintendent. The idea – Innovation […]

Tag: Okaloosa County

Airbnb says county agreements should lead it to equal 2016 tax payments in first six months

House advances pilot program to treat mental health versus jail

Matt Gaetz, Greg Evers among candidates in Florida’s 1st District

Gary Stein: Time for Northwest Florida Daily News to respect medical marijuana

HD 4 hopeful Wayne Harris might call himself ‘tax cutter,’ but he is anything but

After October haul, George Gainer passes Matt Gaetz in on-hand cash for SD 1 race

Wayne Harris hangs on to fundraising lead in five-way HD 4 race

Former state Rep. Don Brown endorses Wayne Harris in House District 4 race

Shannon Nickinson: Rick Scott vetoes hurt health care for poor

Shannon Nickinson: Santa Rosa dreams of Innovation High School