Former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner continues to build his team as he runs for the Republican nomination to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012. Last week Hasner named businessman Norman Braman, who used to own the Philadelphia Eagles, and three former ambassadors -- Al Hoffman, Earle Mack and Ned Siegel -- to his team focusing on South Florida ...Hasner and Karen Harrington will be on center stage Wednesday in Ocala in a fundraiser hosted by state Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala. During a call with bloggers on Tuesday, Harrington stressed this was the first of a number of such fundraisers as she hoped to work her way to a rematch with Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz ... Baxley is not the only House Republican backing Harrington. Rep. Chris Dorworth, R-Heathrow, and Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, will be hosting a fundraising event for Harrington on Thursday in Lake Mary ...
While running for statewide office is not an option for Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll in the immediate future, she did raise her profile a bit last week at the national level. Despite serving in her current post for only a little over seven months, Carroll was named to serve as South regional chairwoman of the National Lieutenant Governors Associations (NLGA) executive committee ... With a deal done on the federal debt ceiling, Floridas congressmen will now have to face their constituents -- no doubt, to hear an earful. Republican U.S. Rep. Rich Nugent was first. Nugent spoke at a town hall event in Land OLakes last Wednesday night and had a busy next few days. On Thursday, he spoke in Brooksville, Ridge Manor and Spring Hill before heading to Zephyrhills and Dade City on Friday. On Saturday, the freshman congressman heard from residents of Homosassa, and on Monday he headed off to Wildwood and The Villages ... Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack will also be hearing from residents. Hell be holding a town hall in Fort Myers on Aug. 22 ...
Some of the races for Florida House seats in 2012 have gotten more interesting in recent days ... Republican David Lee Bowman filed last week to run as a Republican against Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-Keystone Heights, one of the leading social conservatives in the Florida Legislature. Van Zant currently represents all of Putnam County and parts of Bradford, Clay, Lake, Marion and Volusia counties. It will be interesting to see if Van Zant, who is from Keystone Heights, will face Bowman who is from Ocklawaha after the Legislature goes through redistricting early next year. Van Zants fundraising so far in this election cycle has been unimpressive, though he could not raise cash during the legislative session. He raised $6,100 and loaned his campaign $2,500 -- but he spent almost $5,000 of that ... Meanwhile, up in the Panhandle, a Democratic opponent has filed to run against Rep. Clay Ford, R-Gulf Breeze. Gloria Ann Wiggins of Pensacola has filed to run against Ford who currently represents parts of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. While Ford brought in more than $20,000 during the first quarter of 2011, he did no fundraising in the second quarter despite spending more than $5,400 ... Down in Pinellas County, it looks like Rep. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg will be in a two-front war. Democrat William Nobles filed to run against the Republican freshman back in May. On Tuesday, attorney Matthew Decell Weidner filed paperwork to run for the seat with no party affiliation. With more than $27,000 already raised and $3,500 loaned to his campaign so far, Brandes starts with a solid fundraising advantage ...
Mark Kaplan, best known as being chief of staff to former Gov. Jeb Bush, is the new vice president of public affairs for the Mosaic Company, a phosphate and crop nutrition company. Kaplan had been handling public affairs for the company in the Sunshine State ... State Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad named Gerard ORourke, a veteran legislative staffer, as director of legislative affairs for the department. ORourke replaces Tom DiGiacomo who was named executive director of the Florida Transportation Commission ... Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, named Debbie Brown -- who has been working for the Senate since 1993 -- as the interim secretary of the Senate. In other Senate staff news, Lyndsey Cruley, who had been handling communications with the House majority office, will now serve as Haridopolos press secretary.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.