Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschApril 10, 2016

Is State Sen. Greg Evers becoming the Hamlet of the Florida Panhandle? Reports first floated last year that the Okaloosa County Republican was toying with the idea of running for Santa Rosa County sheriff, to replace the retiring incumbent there. He was later mentioned as eyeing the job of Okaloosa County’s property appraiser. And Pensacola political blogger Rick Outzen added a 2018 run for Commissioner of Agriculture to […]

Guest AuthorMarch 11, 2016

U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller has set off a series of dominoes with his announcement Thursday that he will not seek a ninth term in Congress. Congressional openings are rare. Over the past 45 years, Northwest Florida has only had four U.S. Representatives: Bob Sikes, Earl Hutto, Joe Scarborough, and Miller. The last two, Scarborough and […]

Shannon NickinsonAugust 9, 2015

I know that the beautiful sunsets and sugar-white sands can inspire flights of fancy in every brain. I know that the heat and humidity can make even the most focused mind wander. But some folks need to come in out of the sun. The July 31 murders of 76-year-old Voncile Smith and her two sons, […]

Phil AmmannMay 16, 2015

Sen. Don Gaetz took to Pensacola talk radio to ridicule Gov. Rick Scott for his plan to have Florida hospitals share proceeds with other, less profitable health care facilities. In the first part of his interview with Rick Outzen on his “Pensacola Speaks” radio show, the Niceville Republican said: “When Governor Scott, who as you […]

Guest AuthorDecember 17, 2014

We have known for the past 10 years that our government tortured prisoners in our war against terrorism. Our leaders told us that these were bad men, unworthy of the rights granted under the Geneva Convention. They claimed to have obtained valuable information that prevented further attacks, saved American lives and led to the killing […]

Guest AuthorAugust 13, 2014

Last week, Gannett Company announced its latest contribution to journalism, the “Newsroom of the Future.” Its newspaper reporting will be driven by digital metrics, such as page views, clicks, traffic source referral patterns and social boost. The newsroom will have a content coach, community content editor, engagement editor and producer. Reporters must not only write, […]

Guest AuthorJuly 13, 2014

A political odd couple recently held a press conference in Tallahassee on what has been a hot button issue for conservatives since Barack Obama was sworn as president — immigration reform. As part of a national day of action, Florida Chamber of Commerce and Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops joined with human rights activists and […]

Guest AuthorJuly 6, 2014

Florida elections have become wars fought with emails, television spots, press releases, staged press conferences and mailers. There is always someone trying to dig up dirt on the opposition and others willing to push it across the web. There was a time when campaigning wasn’t so cutthroat. My father was an election commissioner for Washington […]

Guest AuthorJune 4, 2014

On Tuesday, I watched a man that I have long admired, Thad Cochran, fight to hold his seat in the U.S. Senate. With 99.5 percent of the votes counted, challenger Chris McDaniel and Cochran each have about 49 percent of the votes cast in this Mississippi Republican primary. They likely will meet again in a […]

Guest AuthorMay 28, 2014

Government bureaucracies are nearly indestructible and immovable. Elected officials are mere gnats that can be swatted away. These dinosaurs don’t care who occupies the corner suite on the top floor either. They don’t care what the people they “serve” think about them. They will outlast everyone. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is the second […]

Tag: Rick Outzen
A nice warm evening in Tallahassee on a very busy street while taking this shot.

Peter Schorsch: The Top Five stories from Tallahassee – and more

Rick Outzen: Political domino games begin with Jeff Miller’s announcement

Shannon Nickinson: Murders, gruesome clues, waterfront project, City Hall intrigue roil Pensacola’s bubble

Don Gaetz blasts Rick Scott’s hospital profit sharing plan, ‘Washington talk’

Rick Outzen: The lunacy of torture

Rick Outzen: Quality journalism can’t be measured by social media clicks

Rick Outzen: Sanity comes to immigration reform debate

Rick Outzen: Elections do not have to be mean-spirited

Rick Outzen: Tea Party-backed challenger poised to defeat respected senator

Rick Outzen: ‘Sea change’ may be at hand for massive VA bureaucracy