The Week Ahead in Florida Politics

By the News Service of Florida

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE…..With the Aug. 26 primary elections looming, many Floridians during the coming week will take advantage of early voting to cast ballots. State government, meanwhile, will be relatively quiet, though Gov. Rick Scott and members of the state Cabinet will meet Tuesday after a two-month hiatus. Also, a judge is expected to hear the latest round of arguments in the legal battle about congressional districts.

MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2014

BOARD OF ED DISCUSSES CHARTER SCHOOLS: The Florida Board of Education will hold a conference call to discuss issues involving charter schools in Columbia, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. (Monday, 10 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-339-2688. Code: 889 907 79)

SOUTHERLAND, PUTNAM TO DISCUSS EPA REGULATIONS: U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and officials from business groups will take part in a news conference to discuss legislation aimed at preventing expanded regulation of water bodies by the Environmental Protection Agency. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., steps of the Old Capitol.)

HUMAN TRAFFICKING AT ISSUE: Attorney General Pam Bondi will convene the first meeting of the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking. (Monday, 2 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2014

CABINET MEETS: Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet are expected to take up a series of issues, including a discussion with Citizens Property Insurance Corp. President Barry Gilway about international travel by officials from the state-backed insurer. Scott has sought to halt such travel. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

BILIRAKIS TO HOST HEALTH ROUNDTABLE: U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., is scheduled to host a roundtable with patients and patient advocates to discuss ideas for getting better treatments to patients. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., Bethany Center, 18150 Bethany Center Dr., Lutz.)

CRIST TO OPEN BOCA RATON OFFICE: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist is expected to take part in the opening of a campaign field office in Boca Raton. (Tuesday, 2:30 p.m., 9045 La Fontana Blvd., #120, Boca Raton.)

UTILITY RATE MEETING IN MARIANNA: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a meeting to take input from customers about a proposed rate increase for Florida Public Utilities Co. (Tuesday, 5 p.m. Central time, Jackson County Agriculture Conference Center, 2740 Pennsylvania Ave., Marianna.)

RICH TO RAISE MONEY: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nan Rich is scheduled to attend a fundraiser in Palm Beach County. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Don Ramon, 7101 South Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach.)

BEAN TO HOLD TOWN HALL: Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, is scheduled to hold a town-hall meeting to talk with constituents. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Southside Baptist Church, 1435 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville.)

MURPHY TO OPEN CAMPAIGN OFFICE: U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., is expected to take part in the opening of a campaign office in Royal Palm Beach. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., 1159 Royal Palm Beach Blvd., Royal Palm Beach.)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2014

HEARING IN REDISTRICTING FIGHT: Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis is expected to hear arguments about redrawn congressional districts and a possible special election. Lewis last month ruled that a 2012 map was unconstitutional, spurring a special legislative session to redraw the congressional lines. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Leon County Courthouse, 301 South Monroe St., Tallahassee.)

SPACE FLORIDA BOARD TO MEET: The Space Florida Board of Directors will meet in Brevard County. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront, 1550 North Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach.)

OFFENDER REVIEW PANEL TO TAKE UP CASES: The Florida Commission on Offender Review, formerly known as the Florida Parole Commission, will consider numerous cases involving felons who committed crimes in the 1970s and 1980s. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

UTILITY RATE MEETING IN FERNANDINA BEACH: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a meeting to take input from customers about a proposed rate increase for Florida Public Utilities Co. (Wednesday, 5 p.m., Atlantic Recreation Center Auditorium, 2500 Atlantic Ave., Fernandina Beach.)

RICH TO CAMPAIGN IN PALM BEACH COUNTY: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nan Rich is scheduled to speak at a Palm Beach Civic Association meet and greet. (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., Nick & Johnnie’s Palm Beach, 207 Royal Poinciana Way, Palm Beach.)

DESANTIS TO SPEAK TO VOLUSIA BUILDING INDUSTRY: U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., will speak during a Volusia Building Industry Association event. (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., LPGA International Clubhouse, 1000 Champions Dr., Daytona Beach.)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2014

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION PANEL TO MEET: The state Environmental Regulation Committee will meet and discuss issues such as a rule change dealing with Pace Swamp in Santa Rosa County. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Douglas Building, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee.)

DEFENSE ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Florida Defense Support Task Force, which works to protect Florida’s military installations and missions, is scheduled to hold a conference call. (Thursday, 10 a.m. Call-in number: 1-800-501-8979. Code: 8784566.)

JONES WORKS ON RESTORING CIVIL RIGHTS: State Rep. Mia Jones, D-Jacksonville, along with The D.W. Perkins Bar Association and Three Rivers Legal Services, is scheduled to hold an event aimed at helping people restore their civil rights. (Thursday, 6:15 p.m., Wells Fargo Historic Springfield Community Learning Center, 1601 North Main St., Jacksonville.)

BILIRAKIS SPEAKS TO GOP GROUP: U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., is scheduled to speak to the North Pinellas Republican Club. (Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Conservative Action Center, 3150 Tampa Road, Oldsmar.)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2014

BILIRAKIS TO HOST HEALTH ROUNDTABLE: U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., is scheduled to host a roundtable that will include representatives from the University of South Florida, Nemours Children's Hospital, the Moffitt Cancer Center and other organizations to discuss issues such as spurring innovation in health care. (Friday, 1:30 p.m., Bethany Center, 18150 Bethany Center Dr., Lutz.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE: Political candidates and committees are required to file updated campaign-finance reports, which will be the final disclosures before the Aug. 26 primary elections.