On Wednesday, at an event in New Port Richey, Gov. Rick Scott appointed Rep. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, as Pasco County tax collector. Fasano will give up his seat in the Florida House.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd will be taking over as the president of the Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA). Judd is very familiar with the FSA, having chaired its board of directors and having been treasurer, secretary and vice president of the group.

Sheriff Judd was selected for this position because of his extensive experience in various roles within law enforcement, said FSA Executive Director Steve Casey in a statement on Wednesday morning. He brings more than 40 years of experience, a highly successful tenure as a leader, as well as multiple honors and awards.

In a statement on Wednesday and at the state Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott showcased Floridas reduced debt. On Tuesday, Scott announced $3.5 billion in debt had been paid down by the state and pointed to glowing assessments of Floridas economy from Moodys.

A new national poll finds Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey is leading the field of Republican presidential candidates in 2016, but two favorite sons from Florida are hot on his trail while former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is a heavy favorite for the Democratic nod.

The latest Granite State poll by WMUR and the University of New Hampshire was released late on Tuesday and it shows former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with a strong lead for the Democratic nomination in New Hampshire, home of the first presidential primary.

The latest Granite State poll by WMUR and the University of New Hampshire was released late on Tuesday and it shows U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., sinking in New Hampshire, home of the first presidential primary. Rubio is expected to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. In recent months. Rubio has drawn fire from conservatives for his prominent role in supporting immigration reform.

Former Congressman Allen West took aim at President Barack Obama on Tuesday night on a host of fronts.

West, a favorite of the tea party who has opened the door to a political comeback in 2016, sent an email to supporters on Tuesday night, attacking Obamas response to scandals and problems.

Former state Rep. Rachel Burgin, the executive director of Florida Right to Life, came out swinging on Tuesday against the Orlando Womens Center, an abortion provider, for giving away coupons to poor women in a crisis pregnancy so they can save money on their abortions! Burgin sent out an email late on Tuesday ripping the center for hiring the notorious Dr. James Scott Pendergraft.

Earlier this week, U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., helped launch the Bravante VI which was built by the Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Panama City for the Bravante Group. The ship will be based in Brazil, home of the Bravante Group. By creating ships for Bravante, Eastern Shipbuilding has created 300 jobs in the area and helped create more than 1,500 ancillary jobs.

The Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF) announced on Tuesday that Theresa Antworth will be coming on board as vice president of special programs and external relations. Antworth has spent more than three decades in higher education including spending the last 17 years as director of state scholarships and grants at the Florida Department of Education.