Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan NicolDecember 13, 2018

Governor-elect Ron DeSantis has recommended Jamal Sowell to serve as the next President and CEO of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI). Most recently, Sowell served as chief of staff for Port Tampa Bay. DeSantis praised him for his work in that role, in a statement. EFI’s Board of Directors officially must appoint Sowell, but DeSantis’ imprimatur all […]

Peter SchorschDecember 13, 2018

Ken Lawson, a veteran of Gov. Rick Scott‘s administration, will next lead the Department of Economic Opportunity when Ron DeSantis becomes Governor. That’s according to sources inside the transition team who spoke with Florida Politics on Thursday. (The hire was confirmed later in the day by an official news release.) Lawson is now president and CEO of VISIT […]

Staff ReportsDecember 10, 2018

Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis’ Transition Team announced this week’s meeting schedule for his Transition Advisory Committees. A public conference call number will be made available on DeSantisTransition.com before the meetings for members of the public and news media who would like to listen in. Otherwise, meeting locations will be provided on the site soon: — The […]

Danny McAuliffeDecember 7, 2018

Cynthia Kelly, Gov. Rick Scott’s longtime policy and budget director, will keep her current job when Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis takes office. DeSantis announced on Friday that Kelly will continue to serve as the Director of the Office of Policy & Budget, or OPB. “Cynthia is a long-time, trusted advisor whose work ethic and dedication to the […]

Scott PowersDecember 7, 2018

Melinda Miguel, former Florida Chief Inspector General under Gov. Rick Scott, will return to that post under Ron DeSantis, his transition committee announced Friday. Miguel left the Governor’s Office in the spring of 2017 after 28 years in government to run her own consulting service, the last six as the state’s Chief Inspector General, saying she […]

Drew WilsonDecember 5, 2018

Incoming Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried announced her inaugural committee Wednesday, with political consultant Ben Pollara and Jenni Shaffren — Fried’s sister — tapped to serve as committee co-chairs. Pollara was a senior adviser to Fried’s campaign and served as the campaign manager of the successful 2016 ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana in the Sunshine […]

Peter SchorschDecember 4, 2018

The under-the-radar scrum to lead the Republican Party of Florida for the next two years is threatening to expose a growing fault line inside the incoming administration of Ron DeSantis. On one side is powerful Congressman Matt Gaetz … on the other is, well, most everyone else advising the Governor-elect. Gaetz is one of four co-chairs […]

Peter SchorschDecember 3, 2018

Chris Kise joining Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis’ transition team is sure to catch some flak from Florida Democrats. After all, he did represent former Andrew Gillum confidant Adam Corey. However, there’s a case to be made that it really is just another sign that DeSantis is serious about continuing to build a highly competent and capable […]

Scott PowersDecember 3, 2018

Orange County Mayor-elect and still-Sheriff Jerry Demings has made no announcements yet on any of the imminent changes the county’s government will undergo on matters ranging from his chief of staff to departmental reorganizations when he is sworn into office Tuesday. But that doesn’t mean he’s not looking ahead. He says he is looking far […]

Jacob OglesDecember 1, 2018

Newly appointed economic advisers for Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis will meet next week in a public session at the University of South Florida. The Transition Advisory Committee on the Economy, led by former state Speaker of the House Will Weatherford, will gather at the university’s Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation at 1 p, m, […]

Tag: transition

Ron DeSantis wants Jamal Sowell to lead Enterprise Florida

Ken Lawson tapped to head DEO under Ron DeSantis

Ron DeSantis transition panels to meet

Current budget director will stay in Ron DeSantis administration

Melinda Miguel returning as Chief Inspector General under Ron DeSantis

Ben Pollara, Jenni Shaffren to chair Nikki Fried inaugural committee

Team of rivals: Inside the early days of the Ron DeSantis transition

Adam Corey drama aside, Chris Kise is a slam dunk transition addition

Jerry Demings’ eyes future to govern in Orange County

Ron DeSantis names economic advisers for transition