Florida politicians came out in droves for the opening of the new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport just north of Panama City, the first new international airport in the U.S. since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Gov. Charlie Crist, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, U.S. Rep. Alan Boyd and his rival for the Democratic nomination Sen. Al Lawson of Tallahassee, Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, and Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna, all praised the airport for everything from its impact on the region to its architecture. The new airport features commercial flights from Delta and Southwest U.S. Sen. George LeMieux is leading the push in the Senate to include Hugo Chavezs regime in Venezuela to the list of states that sponsor terrorism
State Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink is saying that she talked with Bud Chiles, a potential rival for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, via phone and she is under the impression that he is still thinking about launching a campaign With the backing of the city council, Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton had to tap into the citys reserve funds to the tune of $5.6 million to balance the citys budget Deborah Henley, who was serving as interim director of the Florida Justice Association, has been tapped to serve as executive director U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan has come out strongly in favor of a federal ban on offshore oil drilling...
Green Cove Springs in Clay County is getting some attention from politicians this week. Republican attorney general candidate Holly Benson will be out there. Alan Kelso, who is challenging incumbent Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, in the Republican primary and Democratic candidate Doug Courtney will also be on hand at the event Benson is not the only GOP candidate for attorney general hitting the First Coast. Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp was in Jacksonville touring the Islamic Center of Northeast Florida, which was the site of a recent pipe bomb attack Big endorsement for Jeff Greenes bid to win the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate. Former Democratic National Committee treasurer Bob Farmer, who also served as the campaign treasurer for Bill Clinton in 1992 and John Kerry in 2004, has come out in support of Greene over U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek or former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre. Speaking of Greene, he has hired veteran Democratic operative Josh Morrow to manage his campaign. Morrow worked on Howard Dean's presidential campaign -- putting him in good company on the Greene team, which includes Dean veterans Joe Trippi and Paul Blank
Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Ft. Lauderdale, is coming out swinging at Crist, saying in an interview with Newsmax that the governor is playing politics with the oil spill in the Gulf. Bogdanoff is running for the seat that Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, is vacating to run for CFO Speaking of Atwater, his likley Democratic opponent Loranne Ausley is about to launch some major campaign mailings Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples, is gearing up for his bid for reelection. He had a fundraising event in Ave Maria on Wednesday Bob Parks, who has held a seat on the Broward County School Board for 24 years, is not running for reelection.
