Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersApril 4, 2017

Repeatedly saying that his concern is with her blanket statement to decline death penalty prosecutions, state Rep. Bob Cortes renewed his call Tuesday for the resignation or suspension of Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala. Cortes is emerging as one of Ayala’s sternest critics after the state attorney for Florida’s 9th Judicial Circuit announced last month […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 4, 2017

In Jacksonville Tuesday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott discussed his ongoing war with State Attorney Aramis Ayala. In March, Scott took the Markeith Loyd murder case away from Ayala, due to her reluctance to pursue the death penalty for the cop killer. In April, Scott scored another pre-emptive strike: reassigning 21 first-degree murder cases that “represent a horrific loss of life.” […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 4, 2017

When it comes to Gov. Rick Scott and Northeast Florida, is there such a thing as too much of a good thing? For the fourth time since the beginning of March, Gov. Scott was in Jacksonville Tuesday, as Scott held another “business roundtable” with Mayor Lenny Curry and other Jacksonville notables, including former mayor and UNF President […]

Scott PowersApril 3, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott has stripped 21 more first-degree murder cases from Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala and reassigned them to Ocala’s State Attorney Brad King to prosecute. In 21 new executive orders decrying Ayala’s announced policy to not pursue the death penalty in any cases in her 9th Judicial Circuit, Scott declared his “grave concerns […]

Staff ReportsApril 3, 2017

Sen. Bill Nelson holds a significant lead over Gov. Rick Scott in a hypothetical 2018 matchup, according to a new poll. The survey — conducted March 28 through March 29 by Gravis Marketing for The Orlando Political Observer — found Nelson leads Scott, 52 percent to 37 percent. According to the poll, 12 percent of […]

Drew WilsonApril 3, 2017

Volunteer Florida is gearing up for a busy April with a slew of initiatives and activities celebrating Florida Volunteer Month. “Volunteer Florida is proud to recognize Florida’s outstanding volunteers, who work hard every day to make the Sunshine State the best place to live, work, and raise a family,” said Volunteer Florida CEO Chester Spellman. […]

Mitch PerryApril 3, 2017

In Tampa, Florida Democratic Party Chair Stephen Bittel waxed optimistically last month about the Democrats’ chance of winning back the state Senate in 2020. Notably, he didn’t say anything about the House, where Republicans outnumber Democrats, 79-41. Tampa Rep. Janet Cruz, serving the first year of a two-year stint as Minority Leader and four weeks into the 2017 Session, admits […]

Mitch PerryApril 2, 2017

Governor Rick Scott has reappointed Virginia Sanchez to the Governing Board of the Suwannee River Water Management District. Sanchez, 54, of Old Town, is a co-owner of Sanchez Farms, LLC. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and her master’s degree from Florida A&M University. Sanchez is reappointed for a term beginning March 31, 2017, […]

William PatrickApril 2, 2017

Enterprise Florida Inc. could survive 2017 after all. Established in 1996, the taxpayer-funded organization has awarded nearly $2 billion in economic incentives to private businesses to create jobs and boost the state economy. Its record is mixed, and its reputation has been scarred by exorbitant executive pay, high-profile taxpayer losses and a failure to match private […]

Staff ReportsApril 1, 2017

On Friday, Gov. Rick Scott announced eight appointments and reappointments to a variety of Florida state boards and commissions. Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County, Inc. Scott began by reappointing Luke Buzard to the Early Learning Coalition Hillsborough County, Inc., which collaborates with agencies throughout the community to offer a range of early learning services. […]

Tag: Rick Scott
Image via OIC-SFL.

Bob Cortes, others renew call for Aramis Ayala’s removal

Rick Scott says decisions related to Aramis Ayala ‘nothing to do with politics’

Encore performance: Rick Scott messages economic incentives in Jacksonville

Rick Scott strips 21 more murder cases from Aramis Ayala’s jurisdiction

Florida Poll: Bill Nelson 52%, Rick Scott 37% in hypothetical 2018 U.S. Senate race

Volunteer Florida ready for the start of Florida Volunteer Month

Janet Cruz’s ‘tough haul,’ frustrations of the Democratic House caucus

Rick Scott reappoints Virginia Sanchez to Suwanee River Water Management District board

House speaker’s ‘corporate welfare’ crackdown runs into Senate roadblock

Rick Scott announces eight state board appointments