A trio of Florida-based lobbying firms is teaming up to launch a new advocacy alliance that promises clients one-stop access to political muscle from Miami to the Capitol.

The Advocacy Network (TAN) brings together Tallahassee firm The Advocacy Partners, Orlando- and Tampa-based Central Florida Public Affairs, and Miami shop Gazitua Letelier in a coordinated network focused on local governments, state agencies and the Florida Legislature.

Partners in the new venture include Slater Bayliss, Steve Schale and Stephen Shiver Jr. of The Advocacy Partners, Sharon Smoley of Central Florida Public Affairs, and Luis Andre Gazitua of Gazitua Letelier. The firms say the structure is designed to give clients statewide reach through a single engagement while keeping on-the-ground relationships at the center of their work.

“Florida’s policy landscape is evolving quickly, and effective advocacy now demands both statewide vision and hyperlocal expertise,” said Bayliss. “By joining this network, our firm is able to pair our decades of experience in Tallahassee with the on-the-ground insight of trusted regional partners. Together, we are building a unified, collaborative model that ensures clients receive the strategic depth of a top-tier state firm and the local relationships essential to getting meaningful results.”

TAN services cover state-level advocacy, including the Florida Legislature and state agencies, as well as School Boards, port and aviation authorities, special districts, and city and county governments.

The firms say TAN will focus on a suite of sectors that frequently intersect with state and local government: procurement and contracting strategy, transportation and aviation projects, K-12 and higher education and workforce policy, infrastructure and utilities such as energy, water and broadband, and economic development and appropriations work.

The network will also work in hospitality and concessions, public-sector technology, law enforcement and public safety, and broader government and business consulting.

“Central Florida Public Affairs was founded on the belief that impactful advocacy happens when strong relationships, community understanding, and smart strategy come together. This network reflects that same philosophy on a statewide scale,” said Smoley. “By partnering with leading firms across Florida, we can extend our reach while staying true to the local, hands-on approach that has fueled our growth.”

Gazitua added, “Miami has earned its reputation as a ‘Capital of Capital,’ attracting global investment and serving as the financial and commercial gateway to the Americas. For more than fifteen years, we’ve delivered value for our clients in this competitive, opportunity-rich environment.”

“This network allows us to pair our hyperlocal expertise with a trusted statewide advocate. It’s the best of both worlds: a deep Miami presence supported by a collaborative team we can hold accountable.”

TAN plans to expand services in Tampa in the near future, extending its reach to include most of Florida’s major metros.

On Tuesday, voters will choose between Democratic Delray Beach Commissioner Rob Long and Republican lobbyist Maria Zack for the open seat representing House District 90.

Independent candidate Karen Yeh, a local businesswoman, is also on the ballot, but she’s raised only a modest sum and is widely viewed as a long shot.

The Special Election in HD 90 will decide who finishes late Democratic Rep. Joe Casello’s term.

Long, a civil engineer, is running on his record in local government and environmental work. He has emphasized public safety, infrastructure, redevelopment and water quality as his primary issues, highlighting his past service on the Palm Beach Soil & Water Conservation District and his role on the Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency Board.

He’s also significantly outraised his opponents. Through Dec. 4, Long and his political committee reported close to $152,000 raised and roughly $91,000 on hand, drawing support from labor groups, environmental and LGBTQ organizations, police and firefighter unions, trial lawyers and business interests like Associated Industries of Florida and the Florida Association of Realtors.

Long’s backers now include every Democratic legislator from Palm Beach County and several members of Congress. At one point, the list also included Republican businessman Bill Reicherter, whom Zack narrowly defeated in the GOP Primary in late September.

Reicherter endorsed Long in early October after telling the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that Zack is a “single-issue conspiracy theorist.” But in a late-breaking press release published last week, Zack’s campaign apparently reversed his position, urging voters to back her instead and criticizing Long’s record on public safety and city priorities.

Zack, a longtime lobbyist and founder of The Strollo Group, has leaned into a hard-right platform centered on eliminating property taxes, “stopping the harm of illegal immigration,” and expanding school choice. She also promises to support law enforcement.

Her campaign materials showcase photos with national Republican figures and endorsements from former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and the anti-abortion group Florida Right to Life.

She also brings heavy baggage. Zack’s nonprofit, Nations in Action, has promoted debunked claims that satellites over Italy helped hack U.S. voting machines in 2020, a QAnon-linked theory known as “ItalyGate.”

Zack has said she “can’t tell” who really won that election, but assumes it was Donald Trump.

Her campaign finance reporting has also drawn scrutiny. Initial filings showed tens of thousands of dollars in spending that wasn’t backed by reported contributions or loans, an apparent violation of state law barring campaigns from operating in the red.

Zack later amended her reports to add nearly $32,000 in self-loans and called the discrepancy a bookkeeping mistake.

Zack has raised about $82,000 directly, more than 40% of which came from her bank account, with the rest from out-of-state donors and high-profile supporters like former Trump spouse Marla Maples.

Yeh, meanwhile, raised $1,900, of which all but $700 went to a qualifying fee.

HD 90 is a Democratic-leaning district in Palm Beach County that spans Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Golf, Gulf Stream, Briny Breezes and parts of Highland Beach, Manalapan and Ocean Ridge.

Health care providers and insurers in Florida could opt out of providing or paying for health care services, such as abortion, that violate their conscience and under a 2023 state law, they cannot be sued in court for denying the care based on their beliefs.

Two Northeast Florida Republicans have filed bills that would allow those health care providers and insurance companies to file lawsuits for damages, injunctive relief and attorneys fees for adverse action taken against them for exercising their medical conscience rights.

HB 551 is sponsored by Rep. Dean Black; Sen. Clay Yarborough is offering the identical Senate companion bill, SB 670.

“Well, I think in this situation, the concern is that a provider — a doctor, a nurse, a lab tech — whatever, is being compelled to perform a service that violates their conscience. … So, think, you know, being forced to perform transgender surgery or an abortion, something like that,” Black told the Florida Phoenix.

“Those would be two examples that would commonly jump to mind. And that’s not meant to be an exhaustive list, but those would be two things.”

Black and Yarborough both represent parts of Nassau and Duval counties. But Black said the civil enforcement provision isn’t being driven by local constituents. It’s left over from the 2023 Session, when the original law was passed.

“There were lots of people that were interested in similar language before. That hasn’t stopped, and there’s a steady stream of people that are not letting that go. They still feel that there’s unfinished business there. And Sen. Yarborough and I agree,” Black said.

Existing law

The law defines “conscience-based objection” as one based on a “sincerely held religious, moral, or ethical belief.” And it says a health care provider “may not be discriminated against or suffer adverse action” because they declined to participate in or pay for a health care procedure.

The 2023 legislation was hotly debated and closely watched by advocates for gay, transgender and women’s health care who worry that it gave physicians and payors legal protections to discriminate against patients. It was closely tracked by the Florida Justice Association and insurance companies, in part due to the civil enforcement provisions.

As initially filed, the 2023 law would have allowed health care providers whose medical conscience rights were violated to file civil suits, as Black and Yarborough are pushing for in the coming Session.

But after robust lobbying efforts, the 2023 bill sponsor, Rep. Joel Rudman, offered an amendment to his bill deleting the civil enforcement language. Instead, the Legislature agreed to a regulatory scheme that required health care providers and insurance companies that allege their rights have been violated to file complaints with the Attorney General’s Office. If that office determines the law has been violated, the office can file a civil suit.

The law authorizes the AG’s Office to take depositions; make inspections; issue and serve subpoenas; compel the attendance of witnesses; and require the production of books, papers, documents and other evidence while investigating the complaints.

It’s not clear how many providers have filed complaints with the AG’s Office, which did not immediately respond to Florida Phoenix’s request for information.

Black noted the existing law permits, but doesn’t require, the AG’s Office to file civil suits for substantiated complaints and described enforcement efforts to date as “nebulous.”

But Black also stressed that the legislation isn’t about Attorney General James Uthmeier’s performance. Instead, it’s about ensuring people have protections under the law, regardless of who is elected AG of Florida, he said.

‘Put the power in the hands of health care providers’

The 2026 legislation wouldn’t unravel the complaint process, delete the AG’s ability to investigate alleged violations, or strip the AG’s ability to file civil litigation. But it would allow those who filed complaints to move ahead with their own civil suits if the AG’s Office hasn’t acted within six months.

“What we’re aware of is there are people in the medical community who are concerned about not having the protections that the new bill would afford them. You’re relying upon the AG, which right now the AG might really jump on that energetically if there was a violation of existing law,” Black said.

“But who’s to say who the AG would be in future years? And never mind that. We also just think it’s a good idea to put the power in the hands of the health care providers and let them avail themselves of remedies under the civil justice system.”

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Reporting by Christine Sexton and Livia Caputo. Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: [email protected].