In case you missed it, U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam scored a big endorsement for his bid to become the states next Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services (before the quarterly fundraising deadline). Former Gov. Jeb Bush has come out for Putnam. Putnams chief Democratic rival also got a big endorsement and a happy birthday. Former Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox turned 42 and got the unanimous backing of the AFL-CIO
There is a new Republican challenger to U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown and he is starting off on the right foot. Dean Black, a farmer and businessman based in Jacksonville, announced his candidacy for Browns House seat and opened the campaign by bringing in $30,000 at his first real fundraiser U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meeks U.S. Senate campaign says they now have the signatures needed to put the Democratic challenger on the ballot by petition. Meek will be turning in signatures in Miami on Monday. Later in the day, in Tallahassee, Meek will be joined by Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, and Florida Democratic Chairwoman Karen Thurman, as they turn the petitions in to the Board of Elections. If successful, Meek will be the first candidate for statewide office to get on the ballot by petition
Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton continues to have headaches over labor negotiations with two unions representing 2,500 city workers Former Tallahassee City Commissioner Allan Katz was confirmed by the Senate to be Ambassador to Portugal. He was supported by both Sen. Bill Nelson and Sen. George LeMieux. Katz was an early backer of President Barack Obama and served on his national campaign finance team
With only 63 percent of Broward County residents having filled out the census in 2000, the areas political leaders are going all out to get that number up to 80 percent. Outreach efforts in the county are being led by Sunrise Mayor Roger Wishner and Rep. Hazelle Rogers, D-Lauderdale Lakes Former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz had a busy week, leading an anti-Castro rally up at Harvard and pushing for greater broadband access in his new role at the Alliance for Digital Equality in an essay in Roll Call Diazs replacement, Mayor Tomas Regalado should have it so easy. Regalado announced that Miami has a $28 million deficit and city commissioners voted to drop the citys financial reserves from $94 million down to $39 million to cover last years deficits. Regalado has his hands full, but new City Manager Carlos Migoya promises a plan to build the reserves back up
Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, is hitting the campaign trail hard in his bid to be Floridas next attorney general with events in Coconut Creek, St. Petersburg, Aventura, West Palm Beach and Lake Worth this week as well as the session in Tallahassee Former Suwannee County Commissioner Randy Hatch has also been hitting the campaign trail but at a slower pace. Hatch brought his Florida at 20 MPH tour to Jacksonville this week. Hatch is going around the state on a tractor in his campaign to be the states next Agricultural Commissioner. He was also in Tallahassee this week
A day after reporting that she has received death threats over her vote against health-care legislation, U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite announced that she will be undergoing surgery for a blockage in her abdomenJames O. Powell, long time Arkansas Gazette columnist and editor, passed away at the age of 90. While best known for his work in Arkansas, Powell, a World War II vet and a graduate of the University of Florida, also worked as a reporter for The Miami Herald and as associate editor for The Tampa Tribune where he also covered the statehouse. Powell served as an aide for U.S. Sen. George Smathers in 1955 and 1956 before returning to journalsim.R.I.P.
