9 Things to Watch in Florida Politics in 2016

By BRANDON LARRABEE THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, December 31, 2015……….After a strange and at times exhausting 2015, Florida’s government and political establishment is bracing for what could be another intriguing year. The legislative session that kicks off in January might not be as bizarre as last year’s gathering, but everyone will…

Florida Judges Hire Lobbyist — A Former Judge — To Fight Proposed Term Limits

TALLAHASSEE Facing the threat of term limits, Florida’s appellate court judges will beef up their presence in the Capitol by hiring a lobbyist with strong political connections and a controversial past. The judges hired a former colleague, Paul Hawkes, who resigned a lifetime appellate judicial position in 2011 to avoid a trial and possible removal…

Sen. Thad Altman to Run for Florida House in 2016

Florida Sen. Thad Altman has filed to run for the Florida House seat now held by Ritch Workman, who cannot seek re-election because of term limits. Because of the Florida Senate redistricting process now underway, Altman’s current District 16 Senate seat will be on the ballot in 2016. But Altman, R-Rockledge, will not be able to seek re-election under Florida election…

A Tom Lee vs. Bill Galvano Fla Senate Primary?

Political junkies in Tampa Bay awaiting the redistricting process to finally wrap up a few months ago chattered about the prospect of an epic GOP primary fight between state Sens. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, and Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg. The potential for such a battle-for-the-soul-of-the-GOP race seems to have ebbed, while the more common speculation is about another Yuuuuge…

Raschein Draws Challenger for House Seat

BY TIMOTHY O’HARA Citizen Staff tohara@keysnews.com Retired South Miami Dade County school teacher Artie Leichner will challenge State Rep. Holly Raschein in the 2016 general election. Leichner, a Democrat from Redland, is taking his first crack at politics in his quest for the House District 120 seat. District 120 includes the entire Florida Keys and a small…

Chris Sprowls Now Has Majority of Class in House Speaker’s Race

Though not quite as protracted (and definitely not as written about), another leadership battle in the Legislature seems to have settled after days of arm-twisting, pledge-wrangling and nose-counting. State Representative Chris Sprowls, a Palm Harbor Republican, reportedly has swayed enough defectors from fellow Rep. Eric Eisnaugle, an Orlando Republican, to make Sprowls the likely Speaker of the Florida House of…