Dwight Bullard Archives - SaintPetersBlog

Jose Felix Diaz, six others qualify to run in SD 40 special election

Published on May 31, 2017 in 2017 by Staff Reports

The race is set. State records show seven candidates — three Republicans, three Democrats and one no party affiliation candidate — have qualified to run in the special election to replace Sen. Frank Artiles in Senate District 40. The one-day qualifying period was set to end at noon Wednesday for the special election. State records show Republicans Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, former state Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla, and Lorenzo Palomares; and Democrats Ana Rivas Logan, Steve Smith, and Annette…

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As Frank Artiles departs, Dwight Bullard contemplates return to Senate

Published on April 21, 2017 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Staff Reports

Dwight Bullard, the Senate Democrat unseated by Frank Artiles last year, may be looking to return. Jessica Bakeman of POLITICO Florida reports that former Sen. Bullard is “seriously considering” a run after Artiles resigned Friday morning after the fallout from a racist and sexist tirade he made Monday at Tallahassee’s Governors Club. “I’d be lying if I said interest wasn’t there,” Bullard said, “but I still need time to process it all and make a final decision.” In 2016, Bullard…

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Former lawmakers Reggie Fullwood, Dwight Bullard fined for campaign violations

Published on February 28, 2017 in Statewide by Michael Moline

The Florida Elections Commission found Tuesday that former state Rep. Reggie Fullwood had committed 17 violations of Florida’s campaign financial disclosure rules and fined him $1,000 on each count — a total of $17,000. The case involved failure to disclose more than $17,000 in contributions to Fullwood’s 2014 campaign, and to disclose contributions worth more than $13,000. Additionally, his bank records showed $2,600 in expenditures not reflected in his campaign documents, according to the commission’s legal staff. The commission voted unanimously on its…

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Groundhog Day for Democrats: Selecting the Party chair

Published on February 27, 2017 in 2017/Top Headlines by Darryl Paulson

Democrats in Florida and at the national level have a similar problem. In both cases, there are more Democratic voters than Republicans, but in both cases, the Republican candidates have trounced the Democrats. Between 2009 and 2016, which coincides with the terms of Barack Obama as president, Democratic candidates suffered heavier casualties than many military divisions. Democrats lost 11 Senate seats (-16 percent), lost 62 House seats (-24 percent) and, in the biggest surprise, lost control of the White House.…

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Jeff Clemens bullish on Senate Democrats chances in 2018

Published on January 27, 2017 in Statewide by Mitch Perry

Although Florida Democrats failed to improve their numbers in the state Senate in 2016, Jeff Clemens is very optimistic that in two years their power will increase. “It just so happens that the way it plays out, the Democrats that are up for election in 2018 are in safe Democratic seats, so with the Republicans having to go defend as many as eight seats, there are opportunities,” the Lake Worth Democrat said Thursday night in St. Petersburg. “Whether it’s the two seats in Pinellas,…

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Builders Stephen Bittel and Donald Trump have things in common

Published on January 20, 2017 in Statewide by Bob Sparks

Everyone in America knows the name of President Donald Trump. On the other hand, few are familiar with Stephen Bittel, even in his home state of Florida. As of noon on Friday, Donald Trump officially became the President of the United States. As of January 14, Bittel became the latest Chairman of the Florida Democratic Party. For all of the obvious differences of party affiliation, the two men have some things in common. Both are wealthy developers. Both are known…

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Florida Democrats tab wealthy developer Stephen Bittel to lead party

Published on January 14, 2017 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Scott Powers

Despite challenges from leading, longtime Democrat activists from Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville and Kissimmee, wealthy South Florida developer and party fundraiser Stephen Bittel was elected chairman Saturday of the Florida Democratic Party. Bittel won on the first ballot, winning 55 percent of the weighted votes against Alan Clendenin, Dwight Bullard, Lisa King and Leah Carius, quickly ending weeks of wheelings and dealings, charges and counter charges. There remains a lawsuit in Miami-Dade challenging Bittel’s candidacy qualification. Bittel, who runs several companies in…

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