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Bill Rufty - page 7

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.”

College student files to challenge Neil Combee in HD 39

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Victor E. Sims spent much of his childhood in foster care, going from house to house. Now, as an adult with a college degree upcoming, he is running for the Florida Legislature challenging an incumbent state representative. Sims, a Winter Haven Democrat, officially opened his campaign Thursday for House District 39 held by Rep. Neil Combee, a Polk City Republican who is seeking his third two-year term. Now 20, Sims said he will complete his bachelor’s degree from University of…

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Polk County’s 4-star hero could replace Confederate general in U.S. Capitol

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Twenty-three years ago a young House member introduced a bill to replace the statue of Confederate Gen. Kirby Smith in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol with one of Gen. James A. Van Fleet. It passed the House, but the Senate sponsor got cold feet after receiving phone calls from several Confederate memorial groups. That House member, Joe Tedder, a Lakeland Democrat, who is now Polk County Tax Collector, is again working to get the famous World War II and…

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Susannah Randolph takes on Congressional run with deep knowledge

in 2017/Top Headlines by

Want the boss’ job? For Susannah Randolph, you run for it. Randolph, 41, an Orlando Democrat, has been the district director for Congressman Alan Grayson … both times. Now that Grayson, an Orlando Democrat, is running for the U.S. Senate, Randolph is running for his seat from Florida’s 9th Congressional District. Democrats actually have a congressional district in the 9th where they can have a crowded primary instead of the often one lone, unknown Democratic candidate taking a roll of…

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In celebration of a barrier breaker

in Apolitical/Top Headlines by

In 1949, an educator applied to the University of Florida Law School and was turned down. The applicant, Virgil Hawkins, was black. The law school and the court system in Florida were white and racist. The application began a nine-year fight going all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled for Hawkins. That landmark fight will be celebrated as part of Black History Month in a special program at 7 p.m. Saturday in Branscomb Auditorium on the campus…

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Denise Grimsley: I’m running again, and vote for Marco Rubio, too

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Anyone who had dreams of running for an open seat in the newly redrawn Senate District 26 should dream on for another four years. Sitting in that seat is Sen. Denise Grimsley, a Sebring Republican who confirmed during a text message endorsement of Marco Rubio for president Monday that she is indeed running for re-election in the redistricted SD 26. Grimsley, who is an administrator of two hospitals, one in Highlands County and the other in Hardee County had told…

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Winter Haven state Rep. John Wood endorses Marco Rubio

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

State Rep. John Wood, a Winter Haven Republican, endorsed U. S. Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida’s Republican junior senator, for president on Saturday. A recent statewide Florida Southern College opinion poll showed Rubio running second to Donald Trump heading toward Florida’s March Presidential Primary. In the South Carolina Republican Primary, Rubio made a strong showing. Wood, chair of the Florida House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee and a staunch fiscal conservative, made his endorsement hours before the polls closed in South Carolina…

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Ed Smith leaves Florida House race for school board

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Polk County Commissioner Ed Smith, a Lake Alfred Republican, has pulled out of the Republican Primary for Florida House District 41, and has entered the nonpartisan race for Polk County School Board against incumbent Dick Mullenax. Smith said his decision to switch to run for a local office is based “solidly on the health of my wife.” The change in races leaves two candidates in the Republican Primary for the legislative seat and to woo Smith’s large bloc of supporters…

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