Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jacob OglesDecember 9, 2018

Bob Starr, Republican state committeeman for Charlotte County, has no interest in getting into a fight with the next Governor, but as he prepares to run for state chair for Republican Party of Florida, he’s more concerned with the opinions of party activists around the state. “We have to get back to where the grassroots […]

Jacob OglesDecember 8, 2018

Outgoing Cabinet members like won’t meet again to address a pardon for the Groveland Four. But Attorney General-elect Ashley Moody said the cause won’t go ignored. Asked about how her office will address the pardon for the Lake County men falsely accused of raping a woman in 1949, Moody told Florida Politics she will look […]

Jacob OglesDecember 8, 2018

Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis kicked off his statewide “Thank You Tour” in New Port Richey this morning, promising to appoint conservative justices to the Florida Supreme Court and maintaining a state focus on job creation. DeSantis won Pasco County over Democrat Andrew Gillum by 34,369 votes in November. Considering he won the race statewide by 32,463 […]

Staff ReportsDecember 8, 2018

Yes Virginia, there is a Rick Scott. The Governor announced Friday that state offices “will be closed on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve in recognition of state employees’ hard work throughout the year, including the response and recovery from Hurricane Michael.” Office closures on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are in addition to regular […]

Peter SchorschDecember 8, 2018

This may come as a surprise, but state lawmakers don’t have an innate understanding of the legislative process. After all, subjects like bill drafting and budgeting don’t come easy — and they aren’t known to rile a political crowd during campaign season. Legislative leadership hopes to remedy this problem next week through a series of […]

Danny McAuliffeDecember 7, 2018

Cynthia Kelly, Gov. Rick Scott’s longtime policy and budget director, will keep her current job when Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis takes office. DeSantis announced on Friday that Kelly will continue to serve as the Director of the Office of Policy & Budget, or OPB. “Cynthia is a long-time, trusted advisor whose work ethic and dedication to the […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 7, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott on Friday rolled out two VISIT FLORIDA Hurricane Michael assistance programs to offer “critical relief and support” to storm-ravaged Panhandle and Big Bend counties. Per a media release: “The Tourism Recovery Grant Program for Hurricane Michael and Hurricane Michael Recovery Marketing Program are available to Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Taylor, […]

Scott PowersDecember 7, 2018

Melinda Miguel, former Florida Chief Inspector General under Gov. Rick Scott, will return to that post under Ron DeSantis, his transition committee announced Friday. Miguel left the Governor’s Office in the spring of 2017 after 28 years in government to run her own consulting service, the last six as the state’s Chief Inspector General, saying she […]

Jacob OglesDecember 7, 2018

As the question arises anew about whether Florida voters should elect a Secretary of State, Katherine Harris, the last person elected to the office, said it’s important to well-define the post. While she would not weigh in on whether a return to elected secretaries should occur, she did see certain benefits. Those range from board […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 6, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott rewards loyalty, and yet another example of that surfaced Thursday, when he appointed former Republican Party of Florida Chair Leslie Dougher to the St. Johns River College Board of Directors. Dougher, 55, of Green Cove Springs, is a realtor with Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty. The board appointment culminates an interesting few years for her. Dougher, a […]

Tag: Rick Scott

Bob Starr plans to offer alternative in race for GOP state chair

Ashley Moody: Groveland Four will be ‘one of the first things I look at’

Ron DeSantis launches ‘Thank You’ tour focused on jobs, courts

Rick Scott’s gift to state workers: Off on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Never too old to learn

Current budget director will stay in Ron DeSantis administration

VISIT FLORIDA ponies up for Panhandle, Big Bend

Melinda Miguel returning as Chief Inspector General under Ron DeSantis

Katherine Harris weighs in on electing Florida’s Secretary of State

Back to school: Leslie Dougher scores St. Johns River College board slot