Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayMay 18, 2015

Republican Sen. Wilton Simpson made his 2018 intentions official last week, filing paperwork Friday for a re-election bid in his rural central Florida Senate seat that takes in all or parts of Hernando, Pasco and Sumter counties. Simpson’s move to open a campaign account comes days after Marc Caputo of POLITICO reported that the Senate’s “Chicken Man” […]

Peter SchorschMay 14, 2015

The half-decade-long race to determine who will serve as president of the Florida Senate from 2016 to 2018 — either Jack Latvala or Joe Negron — has taken on all the difficulty of a Chinese finger puzzle after a series of recent developments designed to solve the matter have only made the issue more complicated. Most […]

Guest AuthorMay 7, 2015

A few days ago we saw an unfortunate failure of leadership in the Florida Legislature. As a businessman still somewhat new to the process, I was disappointed that the will of the majority was bypassed. By putting politics before the work of the people, too many important issues were left stuck in the balance. One […]

Guest AuthorMay 6, 2015

A few days ago we saw an unfortunate failure of leadership in the Legislature. As a businessman still somewhat new to the process, I was disappointed that the will of the majority was bypassed. By putting politics before the work of the people, too many important issues were left stuck in the balance. One issue […]

Peter SchorschApril 7, 2015

Last week, the Senate Commerce Committee heard Senate Bill 742. As Sen. Nancy Detert pointed out, “ticket wars” happen session after session. The battle has traditionally been viewed as a power struggle between Ticketmaster and StubHub. This year, things have changed. Sen. Wilton Simpson amended his bill in committee and stated that with the changes, this […]

Bruce RitchieApril 6, 2015

What had become the “year of the environment” for the 2015 legislative session has become a year of disappointment for some environmentalists. Amendment 1 and statewide water policy were major issues heading into the session, with growth management also emerging once the opening gavel dropped. Approved by 75 percent of voters in November, Amendment 1 provides […]

Bruce RitchieApril 5, 2015

What had become the “year of the environment” for the 2015 legislative session has become a year of disappointment for some environmentalists. Amendment 1 and statewide water policy were major issues heading into the session, with growth management also emerging once the opening gavel dropped. Approved by 75 percent of voters in November, Amendment 1 provides […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 30, 2015

It was battle of the sexes at a joint legislative panel meeting Monday morning with a bipartisan, bicamaral group of female legislators supporting a woman as the state’s new auditor general and a like group of men supporting the male candidate. It took a second vote — and Joint Legislative Committee Chairman Rep. Joseph Abruzzo […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 27, 2015

3-25-15-Joe-Guthrie-Mallory-Lykes-Dimmitt-copy-1024x1024.jpg

Conservationist Mallory Lykes Dimmitt, biologist Joe Guthrie and photographer Carlton Ward Jr. sat secluded while eating lunch in the back room of a Tallahassee restaurant on Thursday, unaware that rain that had begun pouring down outside. A week earlier they would have been out in the weather while hiking, bicycling, paddling and camping on a […]

Ryan RayMarch 23, 2015

Sen. Jeff Brandes‘ SB 934, which preempts local governments from creating labor agreements with contractors containing certain wage, residency or diversity requirements, found an unlikely “No” vote in Senate Community Affairs this afternoon: Brandes himself. The vote was part of a legislative maneuver undertaken by Brandes to bring his bill back from the dead. After […]

Tag: Wilton Simpson
Image via X (Duke Energy).

Wilton Simpson, future Senate president, files for 2018 re-election

The race for Senate President has become a Chinese finger puzzle

Wilton Simpson: We must create a statewide plan to restore, protect all environmentally sensitive areas

Wilton Simpson: A water policy for all of Florida

Peter Schorsch: Florida ticket-buyers need consumer protection

Bruce Ritchie: At session midpoint, disappointment replaces promise

Bruce Ritchie: At session midpoint, disappointment replaces promise

Legislators vote along gender lines to hire new auditor general

After 1,000-mile trek, trio meets with legislators to talk conservation

Local government labor contracts bill narrowly cheats death