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Former city spokesperson oversees new political publication

Mark Parker

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Summit Communications Strategies founder and former city spokesperson Janelle Irwin Taylor will now oversee a recently launched publication. Photo by The Workmans.

Janelle Irwin Taylor, St. Petersburg’s former communications director, will now serve as publisher for a local political insider’s recently launched “visionary endeavor.”

Peter Schorsch, publisher of Florida Politics, hired Taylor to oversee and help grow a spinoff, Southeast Politics. The new online journal covers “campaigns, elections, government, lobbying and politics below the Mason-Dixon Line.”

Taylor was Schorsch’s senior editor at Florida Politics before January 2022, when Mayor Ken Welch appointed her to serve in his cabinet. Taylor resigned eight months later due to workplace conflicts and launched Summit Communications Strategies, a local political consulting firm, in March.

While she has temporarily returned to writing with Southeast Politics, Taylor eagerly awaits delegating those duties to new hires and focusing on the “business side of things.”

“A lot of these places have media deserts,” Taylor said. “So our work in some of these states will be very important.”

Taylor said Schorsch began developing his latest venture in 2022. It covers Alabama, Arkansas, the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

Taylor noted Florida Politics found success with its exclusive coverage of state government and legislation. Politicians and lobbyists comprise its target audience, and she said it captures much of the nuance excluded from traditional newspapers.

Taylor said Southeast Politics will fill a similar gap throughout the region.

“What I envision is something that focuses on the state as a whole and provides that information on what the legislatures are doing and how people are reacting,” she added. “And then taking that a little further and kind of understanding each state’s role in the region in general.”

Taylor called Georgia “a really big player” in regional politics as it is now a critical battleground state. Virginia and North Carolina races are typically hotly contested, while Louisiana, Alabama and Arkansas are “ruby red.”

Southeast Politics will feature the 2024 presidential election prominently – and how it affects the region. Taylor noted a recent Associated Press poll found Republicans and Democrats equally believed democracy is at stake, albeit for contrasting reasons.

“Regardless of where you are on the political spectrum, you are looking at our current climate, and you’re seeing the polarization between the varying sides,” she said. “And it’s not even just the top of the ticket. We’re going to see Congressional races across the states – and this is where Southeast Politics will be a huge part of the national conversation throughout 2024 and beyond.”

Two Pinellas County Commission seats are up for grabs, and Taylor said those races will significantly impact local government. She believes longtime Commissioner Charlie Justice, a Democrat, will face stiff competition from former mayoral candidate Vince Nowicki.

Nowicki became known as a political watchdog who uncovered the fact that former St. Petersburg City Councilmember Lisa Wheeler-Bowman no longer lived in her district. She promptly resigned.

Taylor said Nowicki has the local – and likely the state – GOP’s “full backing.” Current Commission Chair Janet Long, also a Democrat, will not seek reelection, and Taylor said the board’s 4-3 Republican majority could easily expand to a 6-1 super majority.

“I think that has implications for the makeup of the Pinellas County Commission for at least the next decade,” she added. “It’s going to be very, very hard for them to come back from that big of a deficit.”

Taylor has not shied away from her liberal beliefs since leaving the world of journalism. She also realizes the need for some guidelines as she grows Southeast Politics.

Her consulting firm will remain active as more of a side project.

She acknowledged that Schorsch often faces criticism from both sides of the political aisle. Taylor said he is also providing critical information to voters in rural, low-income areas.

While she credited the outlets currently serving the southeastern U.S., Taylor said the two are eager to add to the media landscape. “This is a visionary endeavor,” she said.

“And I’m thrilled that he has put his trust in me to grow this into something important.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Avatar

    vince cocks

    December 20, 2023at9:05 pm

    Congratulations Janelle!!!!

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