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Bill Rufty has 71 articles published.

Former Ledger of Lakeland columnist Bill Rufty is Central Florida political correspondent for SaintPetersBlog and Florida Politics. Rufty had been with the Ledger from 1985-2015, where, as political editor, he covered a wide range of beats, including local and state politics, the Lakeland City Commission, and the Florida Legislature. Ledger editor Lenore Devore said about Rufty’s 30-year career: “[He is] a man full of knowledge, a polling expert and a war history buff … who has a steel trap in his brain, remembering details most of us have long since forgotten.”

Wife of former lawmaker Baxter Troutman catches the political bug

in The Bay and the 'Burg by

Former Republican state Rep. Baxter Troutman of Winter Haven left politics in 2010, but politics didn’t leave him. Still mentioned as a potential state Senate candidate when a likely vacancy opens in four years, Troutman is taking a back seat to his wife Rebecca, whom he proposed to on the floor of the Florida House while it was in session. Rebecca Troutman, who her husband said was not comfortable with politics when they were first married, has announced her campaign for the Polk…

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Democrats becoming challengers on I-4 again?

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

David Charles Poulin, a Lakeland Democrat, recently opened a campaign account for Florida House District 56, occupied by Wauchula Republican Ben Albritton, who is seeking his fourth two-year term to the seat. Poulin’s entry means all five House seats in or including parts of Polk County now have Democrats running in them. That hasn’t happened in years and there hasn’t been a Democrat from Polk County in the Florida House since 2000. Four of the five seats are held by…

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Federation of Republican Women: We support the nominee

in 2017/Top Headlines by

As big time Republican leaders prop up their egos and influence by supporting this presidential candidate or that presidential candidate and threatening not to support another, a significant grassroots GOP organization, which does the heavy campaign lifting right down to the grassroots, says it will support whoever the nominee is. The board of the National Federation of Republican Women unanimously approved a resolution that chapters, officers and rank-and-file members will support the party’s nominee. That means Donald Trump, Ted Cruz…

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I-4 heavy with traffic … of presidential candidates

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Motorists nearly always complain about the traffic on Interstate 4, but in the last two days with the Democratic and Republican primaries Tuesday, many on the crowded highway have been presidential candidates. On the Democratic side, both former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders worked Orlando, Kissimmee and Tampa Wednesday and Thursday. Sanders had planned a stop at Fat Jack’s Deli in Lakeland Thursday — “need family oriented eatery and don’t contact the press.” But his afternoon…

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Once-controversial Florida Poly University gets expansion funds

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Now in its second year of operation the state’s newest university, Florida Polytechnic in Lakeland, will receive money in this year’s state budget for its second major academic building and funding for a new program. In the budget, and approved earlier by the Board of Governors, are $5 million for the preliminary preparation and construction of the Applied Research Center and $2.5 million for a program named the Enterprise Center to spur and aid in developing local technology startups. “Though…

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Dennis Ross makes official announcement; running for fourth term

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

A fourth two-year term in Congress is what U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, a Lakeland Republican, is wishing for. On Thursday, Ross, 56, made his official announcement for the post in the three counties of his 15th Congressional District after redistricting orders from the Florida Supreme Court, warning of terrorism and the national debt. “Our work is not done. I firmly believe that these next two years are the most important two years in our lifetime. Our safety and security are at…

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Dennis Ross to announce re-election bid

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, a Lakeland Republican, is announcing Monday that he is seeking re-election to Florida’s 15th Congressional District. Ross’ district boundaries were redrawn during the recent Supreme Court orders that changed borders of several Florida congressional districts and state Senate districts. He plans three stops in his slightly reshaped district for the announcement: at 1 p.m., he will be at the Southeast Milk Plant, 2502 Turkey Creek Road, Plant City. At 2:30 p.m., Ross will announce Draken International,…

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