Author Archives: Ryan Ray
Zest of the Day: FL Sec’y of State issues order to restrict absentee voting
As reported in the Tampa Bay Times, Secretary of State Ken Detzner has issued a directive to Supervisors of Elections in all 67 counties instructing them to make the absentee voting process more difficult. Specifically, Detzner — a former lobbyist and Jeb Bush appointee brought on by Gov. Rick Scott last year — has directed SOEs to […]
Times, Herald malign Bill Nelson for practicing politics
A couple of big-deal Florida political writers seem to be typing through Democratic insider goggles lately. In the last few days Adam Smith of The Tampa Bay Times and Marc Caputo of The Miami Herald have both chastised Bill Nelson for possibly harboring the intention of running for governor. Wrote Caputo in Sunday’s Herald: After months of ebbing and […]
Charlie’s heart, Charlie’s stomach
The following column was submitted by a Democratic staffer working in South Florida who wishes to remain anonymous. __ Everything That’s Wrong With the Gubernatorial Primary in One Picture It’s been two weeks since I heard U.S. Congressman Alcee Hastings address this picture at a meeting of the Pompano Beach Democratic Club, and yet I […]
A Bill Nelson for Governor potpourri
According to national media reports, Senator Bill Nelson is considering a run for governor. Florida papers have been hounding him and editorializing about it since at least April. And of course the source above, MSNBC’s Hardball, has built its reputation such as it is by living every day like it’s silly season. But this newest round of speculation […]
Poll: Is Nan Rich a viable candidate?
Tampa Bay Times political editor Adam Smith wrote this afternoon that former Sen. Nan Rich “barely passes the threshold of viability,” citing her limited fundraising efforts. Smith notes that though the primary is still ten months out, she has raised less in her statewide race than St. Pete Mayor-elect Rick Kriseman raised for a municipal campaign. […]
Throwback Tuesday: The Cross Florida Barge Canal
A subject we’ve discussed a little bit in the past but never on its own, the Cross Florida Barge Canal and the movement to stop it are among the biggest environmental issues in the history of a state that is marked by huge environmental issues. Promoters of the canal sought to bisect Florida from Fernandina to Cedar […]
Zest of the Day: Sen. Jeff Brandes draws a challenger
Per the Times’ Buzz blog, Jeff Brandes now has a Democratic opponent for re-election in the Pinellas-based 22nd Senate district in the person of Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan, a professor of political science at USF-St Pete. Last week, we Squeezers discussed this seat as an ideal place from which to challenge the RPOF’s grip on the Senate. Brandes comes […]
Rick Kriseman Trounces Bill Foster in St. Pete Mayoral Race
Former City Councilman and Democratic Rep. Rick Kriseman scored the second big victory for Florida Dems in as many months, defeating de facto Republican Bill Foster 56 to 44. It marks the first time since St. Petersburg adopted a strong-mayor municipal structure in 1992 that an incumbent has been toppled and — perhaps — a […]
It’s Official: Charlie Announces in St. Pete
Accompanied by local Democratic leaders and an adult contemporary playlist, former Governor Charlie Crist announced this morning in St. Petersburg that he’s running for governor once again. Kathy Castor, Bob Butterworth, Dan Gelber and Rick Kriseman were among the dignitaries that flanked him as he gave a markedly left-leaning speech before a crowd of around […]
The Florida Squeeze 