Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorAugust 23, 2017

With a new school year kicking off this month, parents across Florida logically expected that the state is providing the proper environment necessary for children to achieve their greatest potential. That’s why I was outraged to read last week about students in Hillsborough County who are languishing in sweltering classrooms because the school district simply […]

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 […]

Bill RuftyJune 21, 2017

Republican Legislators could find themselves challenged for election next year … by Republican candidates, Polk County Commissioner George Lindsey, a Lakeland Republican, confirmed Wednesday. In an interview before his address to the Polk Tiger Bay members, Lindsey said what he described as legislators’ attacks on home rule and local government, has many even in the […]

Staff ReportsMay 11, 2017

The political committee of Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam posted more than $800,000 in contributions for the month of April, the state’s campaign finance website shows. Florida Grown reported $809,156 in fundraising and $276,479 in expenditures for the month. That brings the committee’s total take since its February 2015 formation to $11.3 million in contributions. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 10, 2017

Adam Putnam will detail his vision for Florida’s future, laying out a plan to make Florida a “launch pad for the American Dream” when he formally announces his 2018 gubernatorial bid today. Putnam, the state’s agriculture commissioner, will launch his gubernatorial bid on the steps of the Old Polk County Courthouse in Bartow at 11 […]

Scott PowersApril 17, 2017

An effort to create a new model for water protection in Polk County got an enthusiastic approval Monday from the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee. Committee Substitute for House Bill 573, sponsored by state Rep. Colleen Burton would create a regional authority aiming to coordinate water projects in the critical Green Swamp region in Polk […]

Scott PowersJanuary 12, 2017

Airbnb, the internet-based home-sharing lodging service, announced Thursday it reached a deal with Polk County to collect tourism taxes from host clients. The company said it is seeing rapid growth in Polk County over the past year, ending 2016 with 160 hosts — people who make their houses or apartments available through Airbnb for visitors […]

Larry GriffinJanuary 2, 2017

Senator Linda Stewart spent her Monday getting the ball rolling on a bill that would require a 48-hour notice to be given to the public in the case of any spill that contaminates the state’s waters. As Monday was a holiday for many government workers, Stewart’s bill was just in draft and she had not filed […]

Larry GriffinNovember 17, 2016

The Orlando Political Observer, a local political news site, has changed hands — now it’s owned Doug Kaplan, a Winter Park-based pollster and president of market research firm Gravis Marketing. Kaplan purchased the Orlando Political Observer from founder Frank Torres, according to a story on the site written by Torres himself. Kaplan assured readers in the OPO story […]

Mitch PerryNovember 17, 2016

U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham is speaking out critically about the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, after she reviewed public records regarding the massive sinkhole at Mosaic’s facility in Polk County. “Unless there are records that were not produced as required by law, the disclosures show an alarming lack of communication among state regulators about a threat to the health and safety […]

Tag: polk county
Image via Palatka Main Street.

Janet Cruz: Hillsborough school AC issues part of much bigger problem

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

Polk GOP Commissioner warns Republican incumbents may face strong challenges

Adam Putnam fundraising panel notches over $800,000 for April

Adam Putnam to proclaim: ‘Florida can be launch pad for American Dream’

Bill to create ‘Polk Regional Water Cooperative’ gets committee approval

Airbnb inks tax deal with Polk County

New Linda Stewart bill would require 48 hour notice of any spill or contamination in water

Orlando Political Observer purchased by Doug Kaplan-led group

Gwen Graham still not satisfied after receiving DEP records about sinkhole