Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiOctober 9, 2018

With four weeks before the primary, Republican gubernatorial nominee Ron DeSantis brought on yet another seasoned hand for his campaign’s stretch run. Florida Politics learned Monday evening that operative Tim Baker joined the campaign last week in a senior leadership role, offering strategic and political guidance. Baker, one of a series of recent staff moves in DeSantis […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 27, 2018

Roughly two years ago, veteran Jacksonville political operative Susie Wiles took the helm of the Donald Trump Florida campaign, guiding that effort to a slim but still meaningful win. On Wednesday, Florida Politics broke the news that Wiles will assume the chair of the Ron DeSantis campaign for Governor during the final stretch. The campaign confirmed the reporting early […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2018

Did the mayor’s office move toward a sale of Jacksonville’s utility before Council had a chance to weigh in? And what does that mean for the process going forward? A profound rift has emerged between Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and the City Council on the question of JEA privatization. And, say some Councilors, existential questions loom […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 17, 2018

On Friday, the federal government filed an indictment for the 13 Russian cyber-provocateurs of the Internet Research Agency. Per the indictment, the organization members collaborated “to interfere with elections and political processes.” Their MO: to exploit American assets and vulnerabilities, which were especially profound on the right. At least one of those operations had a specific […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 28, 2017

Two consecutive years have seen hurricanes strafe Duval County shorelines. And Jacksonville leadership wants $10 million in federal help. Last week, Jacksonville’s Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa emailed Susie Wiles, a City Hall veteran and Ballard Partners lobbyist who ran the stretch run of President Donald Trump‘s Florida campaign. The subject: getting federal movement on beach renourishment funds. […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 8, 2017

Jacksonville’s House District 12 will see a competitive election next November between incumbent Republican Clay Yarborough and Democrat Tim Yost. Clearly not taking re-election for granted, Rep. Yarborough posted his strongest total since June: $21,750 of new October lucre. Big Pharma was a well represented interest group; $3,500 came from drug companies, including Pfizer and Merck. Local […]

Peter SchorschOctober 3, 2017

First it was Washington D.C., now it’s Europe. Ballard Partners, the Florida-based government affairs firm with strong ties to President Donald Trump, has formed an international strategic alliance with Alber & Geiger, a political lobbying powerhouse in the European Union, in efforts to leverage both firms’ governmental expertise in their respective countries. Ballard Partners is led […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 20, 2017

Some aspects of the hyperbolic version of pro-Trump nationalism that popped up during the 2016 campaign were Russian agitprop, per The Daily Beast Wednesday. The online report focuses on a specific substratum: Aug. 20, 2016 “Florida Goes Trump!” events staged by the “Being Patriotic” page, events which, per The Daily Beast, were billed as a “patriotic […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 19, 2017

On Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott was in Jacksonville for a job creation event. But national stories involving the President crowded out the gaggle. The big story: the subject of the stalled out movement to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. In recent months, Scott has played a pivotal role in attempts at healthcare reform, but […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 19, 2017

In Jacksonville Wednesday for a job creation event, Florida Gov. Rick Scott discussed a white-hot scandal that now has a Florida tie: meetings between Russians and Trump campaign members, either for the purposes of discussing adoption of Russian children or opposition research, depending on who you believe. Russians, including attorney Natalia Veselnitskaya, met with senior level representatives […]

Tag: Susie Wiles

Ron DeSantis campaign brings in operative Tim Baker for final stretch

The takeover: Susie Wiles now in charge of Ron DeSantis campaign

Latest JEA sale revelations roil Jacksonville City Council

Gary Snow rally: Jacksonville’s connection to Russian election interference indictment

Jacksonville seeks $10M from feds for beach renourishment

Cash gap spreads in HD 12 clash

Ballard Partners forms strategic alliance with European lobbying firm Alber & Geiger

Report: Pro-Trump Florida ‘flash mobs’ were Russian fronts

Rick Scott to Congress: ‘Do your job,’ repeal and replace Obamacare

Rick Scott talks Russia scandal, Donald Trump Jr., Lanny Wiles