Former Senate president and incoming state CFO Jeff Atwater named his transition team Tuesday. He chose Tom Petway from the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission as his chairman.
Petway is a minority owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars and led the host committee when the Super Bowl was in Jacksonville back in February 2005. Other members include former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, Susan Story from Gulf Power, outgoing U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart and former Rep. Dudley Goodlette. Atwater reached out to the other side of the aisle and has former Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson on the team Attendees at the conservative Restoration Weekend held at the Breakers will be treated to a screening of a documentary produced by former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and his wife Callista.Attendees will see America at Risk on Saturday. The documentary looks at American foreign policy since 9/11. Gingrich is widely expected to make a run at the Republican presidential nomination and most polls place him in the top tier of candidates With many Floridians still losing their homes to foreclosure, lame duck Gov. Charlie Crist promoted two events held this week by the U.S. Department of the Treasury Homeownership Preservation Office in West Palm Beach and Miami connecting homeowners looking to modify current loans to lenders ...
As oneelection cycle closes and another one opens, Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack published a piece in the Orlando Sentinel on Wednesday calling out Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson on extending tax cuts backed by President George W. Bush in 2001 and 2003. Mack is one of several Republicans -- including outgoing U.S. Sen. George LeMieux and Senate President Mike Haridopolos -- who is considering running against Nelson in 2012 ... After failing to knock off Republican U.S. Rep. John Mica, former Democratic congressional candidate Heather Beaven is back at the Florida Endowment Foundation for Florida's Graduates working on programs to encourage high school students to aim high Former U.S. Sen. George McGovern of South Dakota, best known for being the Democratic presidential candidate back in 1972, received a standing ovation when recognized by Garrison Keillor at Saturdays performance of NPRs Prairie Home Companion which was staged in St. Augustine. McGovern, who made a commercial with Beaven, moved to the area and has been increasingly active in the community
Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Renos honorary law degree from Georgetown University was sold on Ebay earlier in the month -- for $41. The degree was part of a collection of memorabilia bought at a government auction, and CIE Surplus sold it this month on the popular online auction site Eyes across Florida are starting to turn to the Tampa mayoral race. Two of the most prominent politicians in the region -- former U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, who was the Democratic gubernatorial nominee back in 2006, and former Mayor Dick Greco -- have expressed interest in running but have not formally launched campaigns Politicians for local office are starting to recognize the importance of YouTube. Four of the candidates battling it out to be the next mayor of Jacksonville have already created their own accounts to show campaign videos
Visit Florida and state agencies went all out to push Florida seafood in Washington on Wednesday night -- holding a dinner at the Florida House. Members of the congressional delegation and former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham were beating the drums in the Beltway to promote the event and remind consumers that Florida seafood is safe from contamination despite the oil spill in the Gulf that plagued the Sunshine State earlier in the year Outgoing Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer are gung-ho in luring one more attraction to Orlando -- the hall-of-fame for the World Wrestling Entertainment company While former Gov. Jeb Bush has shown so sign of wanting to run for the Republican presidential nomination, Fred Barnes of the Weekly Standard said at a forum earlier in the month that Bush teaming up with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie would be the strongest Republican ticket for 2012.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
