Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersApril 29, 2016

Orange County Commission candidate Betsy VanderLey responded Friday to reports that she had been hit by multiple liens for unpaid taxes in the mid-1990s, saying the liens were the results of mistakes made by the state at that time. State records do not back up that defense, though little information is available about the tax […]

Scott PowersApril 17, 2016

Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph is seeking a new judge in his lawsuit against Orange County, claiming the current judge has a Republican bias in a lawsuit over partisan politics. The partisan nature of the complaint may be relevant because the entire lawsuit is about an Orange County charter amendment dealing with partisanship. Randolph […]

Scott PowersApril 8, 2016

Leading candidates in Orange County’s three commission races made it clear Friday they don’t like each other: They pursued personal attacks but offered little to distinguish each other on business issues during a debate sponsored by BusinessForce of Orlando. While Orange County has seen highly contentious business-related issues arise in recent years, notably a petition demanding a […]

Scott PowersMarch 21, 2016

Winter Garden Commissioner Robert “Bobby O” Olszewski received the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police in the Orange County Commission District 1 race, his campaign announced Monday. In an endorsement letter sent last week, Stephen Klapka of the Fraternal Order of Police said Olszewski got the endorsement because of his experience, dedication and knowledge, […]

Scott PowersFebruary 10, 2016

Four years after the Orange County Commission was presented a citizen petition for a ballot initiative it wanted nothing to do with, officials are preparing stricter requirements for residents to put ordinances on the countywide ballot. The Orange County Charter Review Commission on Thursday will be voting to recommend a host of proposed charter changes that would require […]

Scott PowersJanuary 6, 2016

Winter Garden Commissioner Bobby Olszewski announced that several top Orange County political operatives will serve on his campaign finance team in his run for the Orange County Commission District 1 seat. The team will include Angel de la Portilla, Bertica Cabrera Morris, Chris Carmody, Eddie Fernandez, Frank Kruppenbacher, Jonathan Kilman and Wade Voss. Olszewski faces Betsy […]

Drew WilsonDecember 21, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott announced that drugstore chain CVS will add 500 jobs in Orlando and build a new 112,000-square-foot facility in Orange County. “We are excited to announce the creation of 500 new jobs for families in Orlando,” Scott said in a news release. “With hundreds of locations already in Florida, CVS’ decision to expand […]

Frank TorresOctober 6, 2015

Representatives from major hospitality organizations were in downtown Orlando on Tuesday afternoon to listen to a new proposal that would alter the process for spending tourism tax dollars. An Orange County Charter Review Commission committee is considering sending a referendum to voters that would allow outside entities to apply for revenue collected by hotel visitors, for projects […]

Frank TorresOctober 6, 2015

On Tuesday morning, the Orange County Commission opened discussions on possible ordinances to fight human trafficking in the region. Commissioner Pete Clarke introduced the concept after a recent two-year surveillance operation named “Papa Smurf” concluded with eight women rescued from a prostitution trafficking ring and a seizure of drug and guns, which resulted in the arrest of […]

Frank TorresSeptember 23, 2015

The sport of golf is on the decline in the United States, with 1,400 courses closing the last decade, including 7 here in Orange County. On Tuesday afternoon, county commissioners explored options for keeping the costs of maintenance for the large stretches of land off the backs of taxpayers. Many of these failing golf courses […]

Tag: orange county commission
State Sen. Vic Torres at U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost event before the collapse. Photo via Jacob Ogles.

Betsy VanderLey describes 22-year-old tax liens as state errors

Scott Randolph claims judge’s GOP bias, seeks new judge in Orange County case

Orange County Commission candidates’ debates offer heat but few business differences

Bobby Olszewski picks up FOP endorsement in Orange Commission D1 race

Orange County proposals to change ballot initiative process likely to rekindle ballot fight

Bobby Olszewski names Orange County Commission race finance team

CVS to add 500 jobs in Orlando, build new Orange County facility

Hoteliers clash with Orange County officials over tourism tax dollars

Orange County to examine possible human trafficking ordinance

Orange County leaders try to solve failing golf course puzzle