Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryAugust 1, 2017

Land O’ Lakes business owner and banker Ardian Zika is the latest Republican to file to run for the Pasco County state House seat being vacated by term-limited Richard Corcoran. The 37-year-old Zika was born in the former Yugoslavia and emigrated to the U.S. from Kosovo in 1997. “I’m the product of American exceptionalism and […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJuly 31, 2017

Ask the team that helped propel Jose Felix Diaz to victory in his Senate District 40 primary how they did it, and their answer is simple: They just had the better candidate. That might be true, but it only tells part of the story. The affable 37-year-old state representative didn’t find himself up against a […]

Staff ReportsJuly 31, 2017

Attorney General Pam Bondi activated the state’s price gouging hotline, after Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in 31 counties in preparation for Tropical Storm Emily. State law prohibits extreme increases in the price of essential commodities — like food, water, hotels, gasoline and equipment — that is needed as a direct result […]

Phil AmmannJuly 31, 2017

On Friday, Gov. Rick Scott announced four appointments to both judicial courts and state boards. 12th Judicial Circuit Court Scott began by appointing Judge Charles Sniffen to the 12th Judicial Circuit Court, which covers DeSoto Manatee and Sarasota counties. Sniffen, 44, of Parrish, is currently a county judge for Manatee County. He previously worked in […]

Gary FineoutJuly 28, 2017

Florida’s price tag for losing legal battles – which has included courtroom fights over drug testing, voting rights and gay marriage – continues to grow under Gov. Rick Scott. Scott recently agreed to pay $1.1 million to cover the legal bills of physicians and medical organizations in their successful challenge of a law that restricted […]

Terry RoenJuly 27, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott joined local law enforcement and legislative officials Thursday to ceremonially sign a bill that brings stiffer penalties for dealers of synthetic opioid drugs and fentanyl. The bill cuts through the bureaucracy and allows state officials to immediately draw more than $27 million in federal grant money from the U.S. Department of Health […]

Associated PressJuly 26, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott wants the state’s highway patrol troopers, wildlife officers and law-enforcement agents to get another pay raise. Scott announced the proposal Wednesday during a visit to a Florida Highway Patrol station in Jacksonville. This year legislators agreed to give the state’s nearly 4,000 sworn-law enforcement officers a 5 percent raise. Scott wants to […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 26, 2017

In Jacksonville Wednesday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott gaggled with local press after an event announcing $30M in proposed raises for state law enforcement in his next budget. The gaggle afterwards was more wide-ranging, however, and included queries about President Donald Trump‘s proposed ban of transgender people from the military, as well as the fate of U.S. Attorney General Jeff […]

Staff ReportsJuly 25, 2017

Dan Raulerson is resigning from the Florida House. The Tampa Bay Times reported Tuesday that the Plant City Republican has announced he will resign his seat effective Aug. 15. The announcement, according to the report, comes about a month after he made public comments critical of House leadership. Raulerson had back surgery, which kept him […]

Phil AmmannJuly 22, 2017

For those in Jacksonville City Hall, these are halcyon days (somewhat). The mayor proposed the most ambitious budget in nearly a decade, addressing long-deferred needs. But, as is always the case in a Florida summer, storm clouds are on the horizon — with quiet assaults on the mayor’s vision. We cover two of them here: […]

Tag: Rick Scott
One of several proposed designs for Florida's new Margaritaville license plates. Image via the office of Rep. Linda Chaney.

Pasco businessman Ardian Zika to run for House District 37 seat

What it takes: How Jose Felix Diaz ended a political dynasty

Pam Bondi activates price gouging hotline ahead of Tropical Storm Emily

Rick Scott announces four judicial, board appointments

Florida’s cost for losing lawsuits keeps growing

Rick Scott ceremonially signs legislation to fight opioid abuse

Gov. Scott proposes $30M for state law enforcement recruitment, retention

Rick Scott addresses military transgender ban, Jeff Sessions

Report: Dan Raulerson resigning from Florida House in August

Jacksonville Bold for 7.22.17 — Shadow play