Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaOctober 17, 2017

State Sen. Tom Lee, who also sits on the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC), has been gauging support for a constitutional amendment to end greyhound racing, sources told Florida Politics on Tuesday. Lee, a Thonotosassa Republican running for state chief financial officer in 2018, has called some of the state’s dog track owners to “take their […]

Peter SchorschOctober 16, 2017

Chad Chronister is looking to shed the “interim” tag in front of his title as Hillsborough County Sheriff next year, and a peek at the host committee he’s wrangled for his Oct. 25 campaign kickoff shows his support is both far reaching and bipartisan. Chronister has been with the office since 1992 and was a […]

Peter SchorschOctober 12, 2017

Republican Sen. Tom Lee has been somewhat open about his intent to run for Chief Financial Officer next year and his committee, The Conservative, just posted its first big fundraising report since the end of the 2017 Legislative Session. The new report, covering September, saw the former Senate President bring in $253,250 in committee cash […]

Phil AmmannOctober 11, 2017

Influential Republican lobbyist Ron Pierce is crossing party lines to support Janet Cruz in her bid for Hillsborough County Commission. Cruz, the term-limited Democratic House Leader, is seeking the District 1 seat now held by Republican Sandy Murman, also term-limited from running again. As president and CEO of Tampa-based RSA Consulting, Pierce began his career […]

Mitch PerryOctober 10, 2017

Perhaps the sleepiest Cabinet campaign going into 2018 election is the choice for Chief Financial Officer. Although current CFO Jimmy Patronis and Brandon Republican Tom Lee are expected to join the contest, they haven’t yet, leaving former Margate Democratic state Senator Jeremy Ring as the only candidate officially in the race. Ring raised $35,184 in September, […]

Staff ReportsOctober 6, 2017

State Sen. Tom Lee‘s office announced he had again filed legislation to add financial protections for residents of continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). The Thonotosassa Republican, a former Senate president, filed the 70-page bill (SB 438) on Thursday; he filed similar legislation last session. “Part independent living, part assisted living and part skilled nursing home, CCRCs […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 26, 2017

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. On: Jonathan Capps became a legislative analyst for the Senate Majority Office. Off and on: Staff director Jennifer Hrdlicka has moved from the Senate Criminal Justice to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development. Lauren Jones replaces Hrdlicka on […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 5, 2017

Democratic CFO candidate Jeremy Ring will report a combined $168,822 raised last month between his campaign and committee accounts, his campaign finance director said Tuesday. Shelby Rogers said the former state senator brought in $154,322 of the money through his campaign account and another $14,500 through his committee, “Florida Action Fund.” “Our August fundraising numbers […]

Jim RosicaAugust 31, 2017

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis has told his hometown television station he will decide “in the next 30 days” whether to run for a full term in 2018. Patronis, a former state representative, stepped down from the Public Service Commission (PSC) when Gov. Rick Scott appointed him two months ago to serve the remainder […]

Peter SchorschAugust 28, 2017

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Florida’s top Republican lawmakers are lending a helping hand to the GOP nominees in three special elections going down this fall, according to fundraising invitations sent out Friday. A fundraiser benefitting Republican Rep. Jose Felix Diaz’s Senate bid is set for Sept. 14. Senate President Joe Negron and the two Senators in line to succeed […]

Tag: Tom Lee
Lake Mary’s team celebrates in the eighth inning of the Little League World Series Championship game against Taiwan. Florida won in eight innings 2-1. Image via AP.

Tom Lee may file constitutional amendment to ban dog racing

Chad Chronister boasts bipartisan backing in fundraiser invite

As he weighs CFO bid, Tom Lee raised $253K in September

Prominent GOP lobbyist Ron Pierce backing Democrat Janet Cruz in Hillsborough race

Jeremy Ring added $35K in Sept. to his campaign for CFO

Tom Lee files bill to protect seniors

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Jeremy Ring adds $168K in August for CFO campaign

Jimmy Patronis will decide on 2018 run in ‘next 30 days’

Fundraisers set for three GOP special election candidates