Democratic Debate Ramps Up Before Primary

Democratic Debate Ramps Up Before Primary

By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — With one candidate equating this year’s election to the Normandy battle and another proclaiming it “the most important election in Florida’s history,” five Democrats seeking to succeed Gov. Rick Scott briefly took off the gloves Thursday night in their last onstage matchup prior to the […]

Leon County School Board Hires Four Attorneys for DCF Reporting Issue

Leon County School Board Hires Four Attorneys for DCF Reporting Issue

Officials with the Leon County School Board have confirmed that the Board has hired four attorneys to represent school employees in an investigation into whether school employees violated the state’s mandatory sexual assault reporting laws. The Leon County School Board would not confirm the identification of the employees the attorneys would be representing. The investigation […]

Gwen Graham Ignores Tampa Bay Times Questions About Leon Schools “Notebook”

Gwen Graham Ignores Tampa Bay Times Questions About Leon Schools “Notebook”

Days after FDLE released a memo stating that the federal investigation of Jackie Pons and the Leon School Board was closed, the Tampa Bay Times (TBT) reports that gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham refused to answer questions related to the “notebook” which put the four-year investigation into motion. Writing about her resigning her job at the […]

Jackie Pons’ Attorney, Stephen Dobson, Blames Rocky Hanna

Jackie Pons’ Attorney, Stephen Dobson, Blames Rocky Hanna

After FDLE and the FBI announced the investigation of Jackie Pons was closed, Tallahassee Reports talked to Pons’ Attorney Stephen Dobson. In an exclusive interview, Dobson told TR that “the entire notebook was obviously fabricated to be used against Pons politically by Rocky Hanna.” The notebook created a stir after it was delivered to a number […]

Jackie Pons Case Closed, No Charges Filed

Jackie Pons Case Closed, No Charges Filed

Below is statement from FDLE: In April 2014, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Office of Executive Investigations (OEI), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) initiated a joint investigation to investigate allegations that Leon County Schools (LCS) Superintendent Jackie Pons was steering construction contracts to campaign donors and disregarding proper procurement procedures outlined […]

Mayor Andrew Gillum Paid by PR Firm with No Website, Will Not Identify Clients

Mayor Andrew Gillum Paid by PR Firm with No Website, Will Not Identify Clients

How many public relation companies do not have websites? Or a Facebook account? Or a Twitter account? TR found at least one, and that PR company happens to be located in Tallahassee with a well known employee named Andrew Gillum. Candidates running for governor of Florida were recently required to file financial disclosure forms with […]

Analysis: Latest Local Campaign Finance Reports

Analysis: Latest Local Campaign Finance Reports

With approximately four weeks before primary election day, the latest campaign reports filed with the Leon County Supervisor of Elections shows which candidates will be in the best financial position to influence voters through advertising. The amount of money raised by candidates can be an indication of support in the community. However, these reports do […]

Poll Gives Edge to Graham, DeSantis in Governor’s Race

Poll Gives Edge to Graham, DeSantis in Governor’s Race

By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — With the primary elections almost exactly a month away, a poll released Friday shows Democrat Gwen Graham and Republican Ron DeSantis as the front-runners in the race to replace Gov. Rick Scott. The Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy poll came after Florida Atlantic University also released […]