Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Sally SwartzAugust 24, 2015

Florida lawmakers did one thing worth celebrating in this year’s Legislative Session: They approved, at long last, a law that protects residents from SLAPPs: Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation. Two champions deserve special credit for the success of the anti-SLAPP campaign: the Florida Press Association and the Motion Picture Association of America. On the Treasure […]

Ryan RayAugust 15, 2015

The South Florida Water Management District was joined by Republican elected officials Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Rep. Matt Caldwell this week in saying tighter restrictions on agriculture in the Everglades Agricultural Area are unnecessary because best management practices, or BMPs, are working. Levels of harmful phosphorous – a product of agricultural runoff into the ecologically sensitive […]

Sally SwartzAugust 4, 2015

It’s skunk week in Martin County. Not to malign Florida’s real skunks, but their human imitators have left an odiferous trail countywide this week. On the hit list: A respected environmental group, Martin County government, and residents who have fought developers who don’t want to follow the county’s protective growth rules. The stinkers: Sugar industry […]

Phil AmmannJuly 28, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott appointed Miami-Dade grower Sam Accursio to the South Florida Water Management District, the regional agency that administers water resources for 16 counties. SFWMD serves 8.1 million customers from Orlando south to the Florida Keys. Accursio, 52, of Homestead, owns Sam S. Accursio & Sons Farms, which cultivates 2,000 acres in Miami-Dade County. […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 10, 2015

On Wednesday, the Florida Chamber announced the appointment of Michael Minton to a one-year term as the Florida Chamber’s Palm Beach/Treasure Coast Regional Board Chair. Minton is a shareholder and chair of the Agribusiness Industry Team of Dean, Mead, Minton & Zwemer. Minton, who returned to his hometown of Fort Pierce in 1987 to practice law, has […]

Guest AuthorJune 1, 2015

Last month, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) voted to forgo purchasing U.S. Sugar-owned land to build a vital reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). That decision is a setback to Everglades restoration and to communities enduring damaging discharges of polluted Lake Okeechobee water along Florida’s east and west […]

Guest AuthorMay 31, 2015

Last month, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) voted to forgo purchasing U.S. Sugar-owned land to build a vital reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). This decision is a setback to Everglades restoration and communities enduring damaging discharges of polluted Lake Okeechobee water along Florida’s east and west coasts. […]

Peter SchorschMay 29, 2015

Some people simply won’t take no for an answer, such as Republican State Sen. Joe Negron. After the South Florida Water Management District rejected a land deal for the state to buy thousands of acres south of Lake Okeechobee for water treatment and storage, environmentalists and a handful of politicians – including Negron – are not letting go. […]

Diane RobertsMay 20, 2015

It’s tempting to take a break from the 83-car pileup that is Florida government and amuse ourselves with, say, the festival of unseemliness that is former Congressman Alan Grayson who, when he’s not accusing the Tampa Bay Times’s Political Editor of being a robot with bowel issues (I paraphrase, for which you should thank me), […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 11, 2015

Health care experience may not be a prerequisite to get onto the newly created Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding, but contributing to political committee and candidates doesn’t hurt. Carlos Beruff, a Parrish home builder, is executive director of the commission. A review of campaign finance records shows that Beruff has given $107,369.69 to Republican candidates […]

Tag: South Florida Water Management District

Sally Swartz: Free speech victory rose from Session morass

State officials say Everglades water policy, BMP regime are working

Sally Swartz: Stinky lawsuits befoul Martin County development fights

Gov. Scott names Sam Accursio to South Florida Water Management District

Florida Chamber appoints Michael Minton as Palm Beach/Treasure Coast Chair

Eric Eikenberg: Everglades Foundation still eager to work with Legislature on water storage

Eric Eikenberg: Everglades Foundation still eager to work with Legislature on water storage

Email insights: Say it ain’t so, Joe Negron

Diane Roberts: Big Shug and Rick Scott's minions poison land deal and Amendment 1

Health care panel appointees gave to Rick Scott, his PAC, other GOP hopefuls