Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Anne LindbergJune 6, 2016

A committee for the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority has recommended that RSA Consulting Group become the next state lobbyist for the county’s bus system. But the proposed deal comes with a string attached: Lobbyist Alan Suskey must be part of the contract. For the two — RSA and Suskey — the PSTA will pay up to $7,500 a month […]

Peter SchorschMay 17, 2016

Allyce Heflin, budget chief for the Florida House of Representatives’ Education Appropriations Subcommittee, is heading to lobbying firm Southern Strategy Group. Heflin has been with the House since late 2006, according to her LinkedIn profile. Two years before that, she started in state government working in the budget office for the Florida Department of Education. “The Florida House’s loss is SSG’s […]

Jim RosicaMay 16, 2016

Registered legislative lobbyists reported total median earnings of $36.4 million for the first three months of this year. The first-quarter results were posted by LobbyTools Legislative IQ on Monday. Once again, the top five earners come as no surprise: Ballard Partners, $2.4 million; Southern Strategy Group, $2.3 million; Ron Book, $2 million; Capital City Consulting, $1.5 […]

Staff ReportsApril 11, 2016

Miami-based attorney Ivette Arango O’Doski, who also lives in Tallahassee (she’s married to Advantage Consulting Team’s co-founder Rhett O’Doski), became part of the Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney team April 1. She will staff the Miami office. Her hire opens the door for the firm’s entry into the lucrative South Florida governmental relations market. In 2014, Gov. Rick Scott appointed her as a “consumer […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 29, 2016

At the start of the year, I made 12 predictions for 2016 in Jacksonville politics. A fourth of the way through, revisiting them is useful. Some I got right. Some I got wrong. Some are still in progress. Predictions 1 and 2 revolved around the Human Rights Ordinance expansion, which was the issue du jour. […]

Peter SchorschMarch 26, 2016

Easter – like the 2016 Legislative Session – came early this year. Feels weird to have it be all over in March, right? The moveable feast dates back to the mid-2nd century A.D. on the Christian calendar and celebrates a redemption and rebirth that Capitol-going advocates of some issues – say, Transportation Network Companies legislation or campus carry – will […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 15, 2016

Ballard Partners, the Tallahassee-based firm with offices around the state, has repeated as the top paid legislative lobbying concern, reporting median compensation of $2,346,000 for the last quarter of 2015. The state released lobbying compensation data on Monday, with LobbyTools crunching the numbers. Ballard Partners, formed by Republican insider Brian Ballard, also came out on top […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 11, 2016

The money race in HD 11 between Sheri Treadwell and Donnie Horner tightened further in January. As Horner’s momentum stalls, Treadwell’s surges. She’s close to catching Horner, who has about $76,000 cash on hand. Her $13,795 January brought her total up to $77,720, versus $8,554 spent. With a $10,000 personal loan, there is functional cash parity between […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 12, 2016

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry has a packed schedule for the first day of the 2016 Legislative Session, truly paying the cost to be the boss. With a pension tax plan needing approval from lawmakers, Curry is bringing his A-game to the State Capitol; indeed, his phone calls started at 8 a.m., as his driver ferried his […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 30, 2015

There’s no doubt 2015 was an amazing year in Jacksonville politics. A new mayor, 11 new members of City Council, and intrigue in Corrine Brown’s redistricting saga were among a few top-level highlights. While we have a reasonable sense of what happened in Jacksonville politics in 2015, the next question is what happens in 2016. Hence, a […]

Tag: Southern Strategy Group

RSA Consulting, Alan Suskey likely to be next PSTA lobbyists

Personnel note: Allyce Heflin leaving Florida House for lobbying firm Southern Strategy Group

State lobbyists earned more than $36 million during Q1 to lobby Legislature

Personnel notes: Ivette Arango O’doski, Karen Skyers and Jennifer Wilson making moves

A.G. Gancarski: So far, so good on 2016 predictions

Easter & Passover, as brought to you by these Florida lobbyists and political associations

Ballard Partners leads in top lobbying pay for Q4 2015

Sheri Treadwell closes HD 11 fundraising gap in January

Whirlwind Tallahassee Tuesday for Jax Mayor Lenny Curry

A.G. Gancarski’s 12 predictions in 2016 for Jacksonville politics