Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersOctober 31, 2017

State and federal cuts in funding for mental health services are hamstringing funding for Orange County’s primary center to deal with people in crises because of mental health issues, officials told the Orange County Board of Commissioners Tuesday. A 40 percent federal cut in grant money used by local mental health diversion centers means a […]

Scott PowersOctober 31, 2017

Federal and state comprehensive, strategic plans are desperately needed to coordinate services for Hurricane Maria evacuees from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands so that they can best find the services wherever they’re available in Florida, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said Tuesday. Jacobs warned that someone needs to be coordinating where tens of […]

Scott PowersOctober 21, 2017

Rene Plasencia sees it in the faces of countless Puerto Rican Hurricane Maria refugees when he or someone else says, “we’re here to help you.” A mixture of anguish, relief, pain, joy, fear, confidence, hopelessness, hope — all the emotions of losing everything and traveling to a strange, new place with almost nothing, and then […]

Scott PowersOctober 12, 2017

Eight months after she lit statewide firestorm debates over the death penalty and Florida government separation of powers, and five weeks after she lost those debates in the Florida Supreme Court, Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala appears at peace. Speaking with a gathering of journalists Thursday morning, the controversial, still-new state attorney for Florida’s 9th […]

Scott PowersOctober 10, 2017

Robert “Bobby O” Olszewski rode a grueling Republican primary campaign ending in August to a solid victory Tuesday to win the open seat for Florida’s 44th House District in a special election. Olszewski, of Winter Garden, won by a 56-44 margin over the Democrats late-entry replacement candidate, businessman Eddy Dominguez of Dr. Phillips, in the special […]

Scott PowersOctober 9, 2017

Republican voters swamped Democratic voters in early and mail-in voting for the House District 44 special election, possibly signaling an easy victory Tuesday for Republican Bobby Olszewski over Democratic replacement candidate Eddy Dominguez. Early voting ended Saturday night, and 1,114 Republicans showed up at early-voting locations during the eight-day period, while 708 Democrats voted there, […]

Scott PowersSeptember 20, 2017

Former U.S. Sen. and former Orange County Chairman Mel Martinez has endorsed state Rep. Mike Miller of Winter Park in the battle for Florida’s 7th Congressional District, Miller’s campaign announced Wednesday. “Mike Miller knows that a strong America is a prosperous America and I’m proud to support and endorse him to represent us in the […]

Scott PowersSeptember 19, 2017

The massive power outage Hurricane Irma left behind last week with more than 6.5 million homes and businesses is down to a handful of pockets outside the still heavily-darkened Monroe, Collier and Lee counties that were hardest hit by the storm. The latest data provided by the Florida Division of Emergency Management, showing power through […]

Scott PowersSeptember 19, 2017

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Duke Energy not only missed its deadlines for restoring power in Seminole and Orange counties and elsewhere but glitches in its information system provided little and often wrong information to customers, leading its lobbyist to apologize and promise better to Seminole’s lawmakers Tuesday morning. Duke, once faced with 1.3 million customers without power following Hurricane […]

Scott PowersSeptember 18, 2017

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Seminole County Florida lawmakers have sent a protest letter to Duke Energy for not meeting its electricity restoration goals and state Rep. Bob Cortes has asked Duke officials to attend a county delegation meeting Tuesday to look into delays. “Eight days after Hurricane Irma blew through our districts, the struggle for residents and businesses to […]

Tag: Orange County
Image via AP.

State cuts in mental health funding hamstring Orange County center

Teresa Jacobs expresses frustration over lack of FEMA, state coordination plans to help evacuees

Anguish, relief, fear, hope: Relief efforts serving thousands of Puerto Rico storm refugees

Aramis Ayala moving on after losing death penalty battle

Bobby Olszewski wins HD 44 special election

Republicans dominated early, mail-in voting in HD 44 special election

Mike Miller gets Mel Martinez’ endorsement in CD 7

Power restored except South, Southwest, Central Florida pockets

Duke Energy acknowledges problems, apologizes in Seminole County

Seminole County lawmakers want response from Duke Energy