Phil Ammann - page 565

Mike Hill, founder and leader of the Northwest Florida Tea Party, has won the special election for the vacant House District 2 seat. Hill takes the place of Republican Rep. Clay Ford of Gulf Breeze, who died in March after battling cancer. With his win, Hill becomes the only African-American Republican currently serving in the Florida Legislature. Hill collected nearly 58 percent of the vote, while Democrat Jeremy Lau, a labor-union leader, received about 42 percent. After Tuesday’s results came in,…

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Owners of “head shops” in Florida say a new law restricting the sale of bongs and glass pipes may not be strong enough to have a real effect on business, Tbo.com reported Monday. The bill was sponsored by St. Petersburg Rep. Darryl Rouson and signed into law last Wednesday by Gov. Rick Scott. This makes “knowingly and willfully” selling drug paraphernalia a first-degree misdemeanor. The new restrictions include bongs as well as acrylic, glass or ceramic smoking pipes. Rouson’s goal…

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This morning, Darden Rice picked up another important endorsement, this time from Democratic State Rep. Mark Danish of North Tampa. “It is with great pride that I endorse Darden Rice for St. Pete City Council District 4. Darden Rice is a proven, effective leader who will work to make St. Pete Strong,” Danish says in a press release. “Her vision for St. Pete mirrors my vision for Florida. Darden has a real plan to grow jobs and provide efficient public…

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After months of speculation, the political season in St. Petersburg is officially about to begin. Starting tomorrow, voters will have a chance to separate the serious candidates from ones filled with hot air. Beginning June 11 at 8 a.m., candidates in the City of St. Petersburg elections begin the qualifying period. Those individuals intending to run for Mayor and city council will have until 5 p.m. June 24 to complete all the necessary formalities to participate in the citywide elections…

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Florida Republican Party vice chair Blaise Ingoglia invites friends and supporters to a Campaign Kick-Off party Wed., June 19. The fundraising event begins 5:30 p.m. at the Silverthorn Country Club in Brooksville. Ingoglia, a popular Spring Hill homebuilder and former tournament poker player, is running for House District 35, which covers most of Hernando County. Ingoglia announced his candidacy in May to replace term-limited Republican Rep. Rob Schenck, who currently represents District 35. Since then, he has racked up a long…

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This morning, Darden Rice received a key endorsement from the Tampa Bay’s largest labor union in her bid for St. Pete City Council District 4. West Central Florida Federation of Labor (WCFFL/AFL-CIO) represents over 100,000 active and retired members from 116 unions in the Tampa Bay area. The WCFFL covers the 13 counties in the full Tampa Bay area, including Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee and Sarasota counties.  “We have endorsed Darden Rice based on her record of community advocacy…

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What a difference a letter makes. After two unsuccessful Congressional runs as a Democrat, Jim Roach is attempting another try for the Cape Coral House District 77 seat currently filled by Republican Rep. Dane Eagle. This time, however, Roach has a different strategy. He is changing the “D” to an “R,” facing Eagle as a Republican next year, reports Betty Parker for News-Press.com. Roach tells Parker he is “more of an issues candidate than a party candidate,” and believes that…

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