Central Florida Political Pulse

Democrats gleeful over fundraising performance

Aaron Deslatte — 2009-07-11T14:11:52-04:00

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida Democrats are bragging about the fact that they (ever so slightly) outraised Republicans in state party contributions for the fundraising quarter that ended June 30. "As part of our commitment to building the grassroots movement to bring...

Cabinet officers spending a lot of time out of Tally

Aaron Deslatte — 2009-07-11T09:16:07-04:00

TALLAHASSEE - Three of Florida's four Cabinet members are spending more and more time away from their Capitol offices as they rush around the state to collect campaign checks at dinner soirees, fishing trips, coffees and private parties. The packed...

Fundraising tidbits: McCollum gone a lot, and Sink re-imburses for state plane use

Aaron Deslatte — 2009-07-10T17:13:47-04:00

TALLAHASSEE -- Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum has taken off nearly half the work-days since he announced he was running for governor on May 18. According to his daily schedules, the attorney general took off 14 of the 29 work...

McCollum collects $1 million

Aaron Deslatte — 2009-07-10T17:07:55-04:00

TALLAHASSEE -- The Bill McCollum camp is putting out word that they'll raise less than Democrat Alex Sink -- roughly $1.03 million for the six weeks between when he announced May 13 and the June 30 end of the fundraising...

House supports more funding for Orlando VA hosptial

Mark Matthews — 2009-07-10T16:19:09-04:00

This just in from the office of U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge: "WASHINGTON, DC – The House passed legislation today ... to provide the remaining money needed to construct the new Orlando Veterans Hospital. Funding for the facility is contained...

Sink finishes her state-plane review -- and she passes

Aaron Deslatte — 2009-07-10T16:10:55-04:00

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida CFO Alex Sink said the internal review of her use of state planes has been finished -- and she passed with flying colors. The review was prompted by reports late last month questioning her use of state...

Sink grabs $1.28 million for the quarter

Aaron Deslatte — 2009-07-10T15:33:48-04:00

TALLAHASSEE -- Democratic CFO Alex Sink raised $1.28 million in her first fundraising quarter as a candidate for governor, her campaign announced Friday. "I am overwhelmed by the continued outpouring of support from everyday Floridians who are ready for a...

Orange's 2010 Mayoral Race Money Chase Update

David Damron — 2009-07-10T14:23:49-04:00

Orange County Commissioner Bill Segal leads the fund raising pack in the Orange County 2010 mayor's race, although he may need all of it based on his weak showing in a recent poll done by the regional Realtor group. Segal...

> Photos: Crist honors Florida's top teachers

Joe Burbank — 2009-07-10T14:21:07-04:00

Gov. Charlie Crist stopped in Orlando briefly Friday morning to congratulate the finalists at the Florida Department of Education/Macy’s 2010 Florida Teacher of the Year Awards Breakfast. Crist officially presented a check to Hillsborough County teacher Megan Allen, who was...

Bonus Results from Orange-Seminole Realtor Poll

David Damron — 2009-07-10T13:46:19-04:00

The recent Orlando Regional Realtor Association poll shows some pretty angry voters, with politicians such as Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty receiving some surprisingly high unfavorable marks. See the story and some of its juicy...

In AG fundraising race, Aronberg on top

Aaron Deslatte — 2009-07-10T12:15:11-04:00

By Josh Hafenbrack, Tallahassee Bureau TALLAHASSEE -- Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, raised $173,000 in first-quarter fundraising, he just reported to supporters in an e-mail. Aronberg said he raised the money in just three weeks. (Legislators can’t raise money during the...

Crist turns to Johnny Damon, The Donald, to raise NY green

Aaron Deslatte — 2009-07-10T12:08:54-04:00

TALLAHASSEE -- Fresh off his $4.3 million killing last quarter, Gov. Charlie Crist is headed to New York next week for a fundraiser at the home of Jill and Bobby Zarin, attended by the likes of New York Yankees outfielder...

Schott: "I would've won" without opponent's partisan judicial campaign

Orlando Sentinel — 2009-07-09T17:24:25-04:00

Jeannette Rivera-Lyles of our Osceola Bureau just filed this post: Orlando attorney Fred Schott, who ran and lost to Osceola Circuit Judge N. James Turner last year, said he should be the bench, not Turner. “I firmly believe that if...

Kosmas, Grayson and Big Pharma back new healthcare deal

Mark Matthews — 2009-07-09T16:42:40-04:00

WASHINGTON -- In recent days, two Central Florida Democrats have received a seemingly unexpected surprise: television ads back home that tout their record on health care. The commercials, part of a $2.5 million campaign by the pharmaceutical industry, boasted about...

Atwater's impressive score

Aaron Deslatte — 2009-07-09T16:32:57-04:00

Senate President Jeff Atwater, said today he'd raised $500,000 in recent weeks for his campaign for the Republican nomination for chief financial officer. Atwater, who is leaving his coastal Broward-Palm Beach county Senate seek to seek the CFO nomination, has...

Mica: Don't surrender the War on Drugs

Mark Matthews — 2009-07-09T16:20:08-04:00

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep John Mica of Winter Park joined with fellow Republicans today in announcing the creation of a drug task force designed to develop a strategy for fighting narcotics -- while serving as a foil to the policies...

Orange County GOP party fight getting ugly

Orlando Sentinel — 2009-07-09T15:35:35-04:00

An internal fight for control of the Orange County Republican Party -- a pitched battle between longtime Chairman Lew Oliver and upstart Deon Long -- is likely to get even nastier with a decision by the Republican Party of Florida...

Rubio-Friendly GOP Club in Windermere is Still Just Learning About Him

David Damron — 2009-07-09T13:27:38-04:00

The crowded banquet tables at a new Republican woman's club monthly meeting in southwest Orange County were circled this afternoon with diners who want former House Speaker Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate. Those hoping to graduate Florida Gov. Charlie...

Crist raises more than $4.3 million in first quarter

Aaron Deslatte — 2009-07-09T12:10:21-04:00

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Charlie Crist raised more than $4.3 million in less than seven weeks as a U.S. Senate candidate, an astonishing sum of money that is more than his likely Democratic challenger raised in six months. “I am humbled...

Dyer straits? Orlando mayor's agenda stalls

Aaron Deslatte — 2009-07-09T08:45:10-04:00

By Mark Schlueb, Sentinel Staff Writer Not too long ago, life was good for Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. He had muscled an unprecedented $1.1 billion plan for community venues through treacherous political waters and managed to get surrounding counties to...

Kosmas boasts of measure to help Space Coast businesses

Mark Matthews — 2009-07-08T18:07:24-04:00

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas managed to attach an amendment to House legislation today that gives preference in receiving government loans to small businesses affected the upcoming retirement of the space shuttle, due to fly its final mission in...

From Fruitland Park to Orange County, disgruntled locals sound off on growth bill

Aaron Deslatte — 2009-07-08T14:43:17-04:00

By Christine Show and David Damron, Sentinel Staff Writers Fruitland Park commissioners agreed to take part in the suit challenging the Legislature's growth-management repeal after the city was contacted by the city of Weston, said city manager Ralph Bowers. The...

Update: JQC's charges against Osceola judge denied

Aaron Deslatte — 2009-07-08T12:38:35-04:00

TALLAHASSEE -- An investigative panel has found probable cause that Osceola Circuit Judge N. James Turner improperly engaged in partisan politics and allowed his campaign workers to also participate in partisan campaign activities in last year's judicial election. Florida judicial...

Thrasher hauls in big bucks in Senate bid

Aaron Deslatte — 2009-07-08T12:06:14-04:00

TALLAHASSEE -- Former House Speaker-turned lobbyist-turned state Senate candidate John Thrasher is telling supporters he hauled in roughly $268,000 for the fundraising quarter that ended last month. Not bad for a man who was still lobbying the Legislature on SunRail...

Ocala councilman will run for Speaker's seat

Aaron Deslatte — 2009-07-08T11:50:29-04:00

TALLAHASSEE -- Ocala City Councilman Kent Guinn has filed his paperwork to run for the Florida House District 22 seat held by current Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, who must give the post next year due to the state's voter-imposed eight-year...