Senator Marco Rubio issued the following statement announcing his opposition to the nomination of Assistant U.S. Attorney General Thomas Perez to be the next U.S. Secretary of Labor: 

@PatriciaMazzei

Cutler Bay Mayor Ed MacDougall, who has spent the past few months opposing the Miami Dolphins' now-defunct push for a subsidized stadium renovation, plans to challenge Democratic Congressman Joe Garcia.

MacDougall, a Republican who has already opened a fundraising account, will kick off his campaign Wednesday night.

via @NadegeGreen

A North Miami mayor candidate was attacked at his campaign headquarters by an acquaintance who was upset that he is seeking higher office.

North Miami police arrested the acquaintance Tuesday night for punching Councilman Jean Marcellus in the mouth after a heated discussion about the upcoming election.

Blaise Ingoglia, the GOP activist perhaps best known for his Government Gone Wild seminars and who currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, filed today to run for the House of Representatives.

“Today I have officially announced that I am running for the Florida House of Representatives in District 35,” Ignolia tweeted. “I humbly ask for your support!”

@MarcACaputo via ThinkProgress:

@MarcACaputo

In the short time as a Republican, Emmanuel "Manny" Roman has made more than a few enemies at the Miami-Dade Republican Party.

And now that Roman is running for vice-president of the county party, he's feeling the backlash.

During the legislative session which ended last week, the House and Senate completed a far-reaching agreement on campaign finance reform.

The campaign finance measure (HB 569) abolishes “committees of continuous existence,” shadowy campaign groups that have been blamed for making some political contributions virtually untraceable; however, the unlimited donations that currently flow to CCEs could now be given to other political committees.

via @joeflech

A School Board member whose daughter died in an accident with a Hialeah police detective has sued the city.

Also suing City Hall: the girl’s boyfriend, who was seriously injured in the Oct. 19 wreck.

Susie Castillo, who was elected to the School Board in November, filed suit Tuesday against the city of Hialeah and Detective Raul Somarriba in Miami-Dade Circuit Court.

The city of South Bay will hold a special election Tuesday to fill two commission seats that have been vacant since commissioners John Wilson and Shirley Walker-Turner were charged with violating Florida’s Sunshine Law and suspended by Gov. Rick Scott in December.

Yesterday, Marc Caputo reported that St. Petersburg Democrat Rep. Darryl Rouson is out of work at the heavy-hitting trial lawyer firm Morgan & Morgan.

Describing him as a “great public servant”, the political godfather of North Pinellas and Pasco’s, Mike Fasano, is endorsing Chris Sprowls for State House District 65.

The endorsement isn’t much of a surprise as Sprowls is one of Fasano’s proteges. But isn’t that saying something in and of itself?

Fasano joins Sheriff Bob Gualtieri and State Attorney Bernie McCabe in endorsing Sprowls.

This morning’s must read is an op-ed  from Marco Rubio titled “What Boston means.” 

Rubio employs some pretty strong language against President Obama, charging that “he is failing to explain to the American people the consequences of this conflict, why it is important, what the stakes are, and who our enemy actually is.”

Today, St. Pete City Council candidate Darden Rice received the endorsement of Pinellas County Commissioner Janet Long. 

“I have worked with Darden for several years and have seen firsthand how well she works effectively with others. She is an exemplary young leader who will help lead our region to accomplish thoughtful, sensible, and reasonable policy for job creation, transportation, and conservation,” said Long.